Chris Kolar

Looking back, I realize that everything from last year’s experience stayed with me. That feels like an important insight: the work did not end when the experience ended. My thinking, my questions, and my connection to my why statement have continued to matter. I am grateful for what I carried forward, and I want to approach this next season with care for that continuity rather than assuming I need to begin again.

As I look toward Season 15, I fully intend to continue working with my why statement. I am still learning what it means to make that purpose useful in my day-to-day work, and I want to keep exploring it with openness. This is my first experience as a coach, so I do not come to the work with every answer. I do come with motivation and a willingness to explore again. I hope to let those qualities guide me as I learn, reflect, and consider what coaching can make possible.

One realization I am carrying is that the direction my school is going and the way it views learners seem to connect with my why statement. Seeing that alignment gives me a place to begin. It also invites me to look more closely: where, specifically, can I find the connection between my own purpose and my school’s growth plan? I do not yet need to have the whole path figured out. I can stay curious about the places where the two meet and listen for what those connections might ask of me.

I would like to use Cohort to help me explore that question. I hope it can be a space to understand where my why and the school’s growth plan connect, and to consider how I might contribute or find a way to empower my program. I want to hold that intention humbly. Contributing may begin with noticing, asking thoughtful questions, and learning alongside others. Empowerment, too, may take shape through continued reflection and a clearer understanding of how my purpose relates to the direction of the school.

I am thankful that last year’s experience has stayed with me and that I can return to this work with motivation. I do not want gratitude to keep me still; I want it to help me move forward with attention and hope. My next steps are not all settled, but my willingness to explore is real. I can keep returning to my why, remain open to what I learn about the school’s growth, and consider how the connection between them might inform my contribution.

As I continue, I want to leverage community, curiosity, and coaching. Community can help me see possibilities I might not notice alone. Curiosity can keep my questions open as I seek the connection between my purpose and the school’s direction. Coaching can give me a way to keep exploring that connection with intention. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue, and I look forward to discovering what this season can help me understand and contribute.