Opportunity in Leaving

 It's been a week of transition. New information required action from many - most of which resulted in a change of location, a change in colleagues or a change in responsibilities.

Yesterday, our 8th graders received their long-awaited high school acceptances. It was a combination of relief, joy, disappointment and fear of the unknown. I was gratified that so many kids reached out and shared their excitement or sadness or confusion about the future. Two different families sent me short videos of kids receiving their news, I was in a group text with two others who sought help in deciding where to go and some simply sent emails or messages on Instagram with the news. In all, it was a gift to be a part of this moment of change for kids.

Amid the joyful moments, there were some filled with disappointment or loss. Some students had one option and it wasn't the one they wanted. Some had none - and we as the adults who care for them will need to find a place for them to continue learning outside of our walls.

Change as a result of success is an exciting thing. We tend to think that change as a result of failure is not. Life has taught me that this is not true - and yet it's a feeling we all tend to perpetuate. Think of the joy that comes from leaving a bad work environment or relationship. Once you are in the new place you look back and say "how ever did I live that way?"

We all leave. We leave schools, work-places, relationships, ways of thinking, habits and thought patterns. As humans, we tend of leave because we have to - not because we think "how can I keep growing?" With this in mind, we have an opportunity to help others who leave under less than ideal circumstances to re-frame the transition and to see the possibilities that exist. 

The challenge for those of us who are staying behind and supporting the leaving of others is to focus on the opportunities to learn new things, to grow in ways that can't be imagined yet and to cheer-lead the steps that move forward. This requires listening, reflection and a lack of ego or pride. 

It's easy to assume that when others leave us, they are going to place that is inferior. As ridiculous as that sounds, we've all thought it. But knowing that opportunity for growth always exists and accepting that we are not the only conduits for learning is essential - not only for those who are moving on, but to keep us from believing the fallacy that we're the only ones who can do the work.