A career -v- to career

A couple of days ago I was interviewed for a new promotional video that the school is making - apparently I'm seen as a positive person and colleagues here feel that the passion for what I do oozes out of me.  I was asked a number of very interesting questions about the ways that ASB uniquely engages its students, about the ways in which ASB is forward thinking and about the professional culture at school.  Actually I can hardly believe the professional development opportunities that I have been given here:  I have done an online photography course through the ASB Online Academy, I have done a course to become an online workshop leader and am currently facilitating a Making the PYP Happen online workshop for the IBO.  I have done the DataWise training.  This weekend we are hosting the first every Indian Google Summit and I'm a presenter.  Next week I'm going to be involved in Teach4India's InspirED Conference, the week after that it's TEDx.  After Christmas we have two days of professional development as the school hosts ASB Un-Plugged's Brain Workshop.  In March I'm going to the Flat Classroom Leadership Workshop in Japan.  In June I'm off to San Antonio for ISTE.  As well as all this I contribute to parent newsletters, am on the school's R&D core team, and make presentations to parents as part of ASB's Tech Connection Points.  I'm growing in so many new ways and I absolutely love it.

I've just been reflecting on the word career, on how it can have two very different meanings (both of which I've experienced).

A career: an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progress.  This is what I have now and I feel that I am being given every possible encouragement to move forward and become the best possible educator that I can be.

To career:  to move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way in a specified direction.  This characterizes my experience in a different school, where I was actively discouraged from moving forward - I was on the treadmill of mediocracy.  Lewis Carol puts it well:
"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.
"I don't much care where ... " said Alice.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.
" - so long as I get SOMEWHERE," Alice added as an explanation.
"Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."

So when I'm asked if ASB has lived up to my expectations, what can I say except that it has been an inspiration to work here.  There is an amazing leadership team and an overwhelming sense of trust in what they are doing as they "chart the route".  It's a place where new paths are cut through the educational jungle by people who have thought about where students need to go in the future, and where people walk along these paths, even though they have the freedom not to.

Chalk and cheese really.

Photo Credit:  Colours by Camdiluv, 2007