When I Grow Up

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a first grade classroom.  I taught first grade for eight years, so I always feel a little bit like I’m coming home when I enter the doors of those classes and get little germ-riddled hugs.  When I went to this class, though, I took a seat next to a pair of girls who were knee-deep in serious six-year old conversation.  Both of them immediately turned to look at me, and one said, very matter-of-factly,  “I want to be like you when I grow up.”  Now, I don’t know this little girl from Adam, so I wondered what in the world she thought I was.  When I asked her, she said, “You create books.”  Why she thought this, I have no idea--maybe because I was carrying paper and a pen when I walked in--who knows--she’s six.  Reality is not a priority at six.  

Anyway, it made me think about the handful of people I have met and have instantly thought, “I want to be like them when I grow up!”  Don’t get me wrong, I have met some amazing people who I dearly love, admire, and respect, but we all have those precious few that we just say “You are SO Cool!...I want to be like you when I grow up!”  It’s usually the people that do the things we wish we had the courage to do.  Well, I definitely have a few of those people in my life, and I would like to introduce you to one.

I had the privilege of working with Joan several years ago when she was a literacy consultant. From the minute I met her, she blew me away.  She had more energy and passion for teaching than anyone I had ever met, and I remember thinking I would have loved to have been in her classroom as a student. She is like a whirlwind that leaves everyone in her path feeling BETTER about themselves when she’s gone.  I love all of that, but what I love most about her is her adventurous spirit.  

One day, a couple of years after working together, she announced that she was retiring and going to do some good around the world.   She was always up for an adventure.  After one stint away, she returned to tell us about getting banned from a country and having the words “undesirable alien” stamped on her documents.  That’s when I knew I wanted to be like her when I grew up.

As educators, it is critical that we gain a global perspective of school and learning, so I asked Joan to write about some of the things she has learned about school and education as she has traveled the world working with education organizations and ministries.  She was kind enough to take time out of her adventures to write a guest blog, so I hope you enjoy.

Meet Joan Vaughan...my superhero. Click here to read about her adventures: Guest Blogger: Joan Vaughan