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Over the course of this PD, I set out to develop leadership skills and learn as much as I could from the collective, and I came away with so much. This pandemic year has been a ride, in so many ways. Though none of us would have chosen a pandemic, I came away with some valuable lessons that will stick with me long after this pandemic is over, and Cohort 21 has definitely added to that, and caused me to reflect in deeper ways than I usually do in my regular practice.
I was able to broaden my sphere of influence a little bit at my school, and I had the bandwidth to take on some projects that I think will benefit the school in the long run. I learned a lot about how to care for myself, and allow myself to feel my feelings, accept them, and move on with resilience, without having to just “cope” or suppress what I’m going through. This skill is incredibly valuable for me, both personally and professionally, and I think it’s going to lead me to eventually being able to beat down that common teacher giant: imposter syndrome.
My biggest takeaway of this year is that I have influence, I am enough, and I do not have to burn myself out to have influence or do my job well. These are life lessons that I really needed on my learning journey. I am really looking forward to continuing to learn and grow now that I have learned how to have more mental resiliency, and more headspace to use.
So, how did I learn this through Cohort 21? The connection and group venting sessions really helped me know that I am not alone in how I feel, and that others are working through these same emotional issues that I am, with the pandemic, and in our larger practices. This has been a safe place to express that I don’t have all the answers, and receive support and help when I needed it.
Thank you. This opportunity has taught me so much, and I hope to interact with you all again in the future.
Hey Melissa, what a great final post and you are no imposter! I love that idea of leading from the middle and exploring your sphere of influence. I have enjoyed learning from you in our sessions and through your blog.
Have you seen @BBlack blog post? https://cohort21.com/brandonblack/2021/04/30/do-as-little-as-needed-not-as-much-as-possible/ such a great read about burning ourselves out.
Our group will always be there for you to vent, chat, inspire, collaborate. Thanks for all your efforts and work this year. You have done great things and I look forward to seeing where you go next in the journey!
@mkurenoff Thank you for sharing and articulating a common theme that is surfacing from this year. While this experience has always been about PD and up-skilling; this year more than addressed a shared need for community, connection and validation around a shared experience we were going through…teaching during a pandemic. Thanks for learning and leaning into the process.
Great work @mkurenoff, and I agree with @jmedved on this! Once the dust settles from this year, let’s be sure connect on the learnings and how we can inform Season 10!