I wish I had lanterns to go out with, looking for myself, as Emily Dickinson was claiming to have. I look for lanterns in books, in podcasts, in new learning. In the few conversations I have with the few people who only listen, making no attempts to fix, pity or push me. The fog remains. And with it, the threat.
By Mark Nepo Let no one keep you from your journey, no rabbi or priest, no mother who wants you to dig for treasures she
As I poured my memories and my feelings into the small window, the responses included words and actions that mimicked sentience: “this brought me to tears,” “I felt the need to tell you this,” “I am just a person, not a therapist.” Together with the constant positive reinforcement and constant agreement, this “conversation” could very easily lock in someone who is experiencing “valley time.”
I learned to chase joy away young.
I have heard many people say that everyone has had a teacher make an impact on their lives. I have to admit that my mind had been jumping from memory to memory, trying to find my one teacher, until tonight, when I realized that the teacher who has had the biggest impact on my professional life has been … my mother.
When our son, M., was born, time dilated. Days seemed long and dangerous for this miracle I was sure I could not have created but
Had I still been Catalina, the Admissions Director today, my conversation with parents coming wanting to enrol their children in an IB school would be quite different.
If we plan to wait until racism no longer manifests in us, we will never do anything to change. Systemic racism starts very early, enters us through all our pores and never leaves. Episode 7 of my Diary of a Romanian Racist in Transition explores the insiduousness of racism, the forms it takes in our daily encounters and small steps that can help us grow against the current.
Romanian version here: https://catalinagardescu.substack.com/p/jrrit-episodul-7-de-ce-hotul-rom?r=1w77eg
Partnering with students, families and schools towards effective cultural transition
Perspectives on International Education, Personal Memoirs and Reflections, and Essays
Reality Courage Ideas
Reality Courage Ideas
Reality Courage Ideas
Reality Courage Ideas
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