I am a part of a variety of discourse communities, but the one that’s closest to my heart is that of learner center educators. I wear the label educator as my highest badge of honor. For years, I had skitted through life unsure of where the path ahead of me led. I had a weird and occasionally tragic childhood. And I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world, as it shaped the person that I am today. Particularly, someone who strives to be a strong advocate for young people. After a long, occasionally rocky road, I stumbled upon my greatest passion in life, education.
Following a few years of clumsy experimentation in terms of learning where I fit into this new world, I was lucky enough to discover the world of project-based learning, at a school that calls itself “learner-centered”. It is here that I have been curating a new vocabulary, one that is designed to not only nurture children but help them thrive.
I was inundated with terms like “Scaffold” and “social-emotional”. These concepts that I always felt were missing from education and the way we care for our little ones had actual names. It was like watching pieces of my brain fall out of these strangers’ mouths. I had never been able to articulate precisely the care and intensity I felt could be applied in schools, and now I was able to not only connect with others that felt the same, but I could collaborate on systems and curricula that would actually benefit children. It was like finding my home.
What a powerful story! I can’t wait to read your Portrait. Be sure to paint us some scenes — show us people in action, using the language of the community.
As an aside, education is such an important thing. Educators have more influence over young lives than even they are willing to admit. It’s so wonderful that you found your passion here — our young people need that!
Oh wow! You caught my attention.