Christine Ho Younghusband

A New Vision

This note kind of makes me giggle. It’s one thing to correct (or not correct) people when they ask me if I’m doing a masters or PhD. But this note makes me smile. Unknowingly, it’s a pleasant surprise… incorrect… but nonetheless, nice. I’ve been holding off on my new vision for quite some time thinking that I may (or may not be) on the right track (or not). Welcome to second guessing and hesitation. Yup. What does procrastination lead to? The same. Am I satisfied with ‘the same’? Umm… no. As mentioned, it’s time. At last, I can see my new vision. I may have said this in a previous blog, but I realized “my (old) vision” last April. Done. Finished. Complete. Who would have thought? Not me. I held onto that vision for more almost 10 years. Dream BIG. Think BIG. I didn’t expect that it would actually happen. It did. I’m blown away.

As much as it is exciting to realize your vision, you then become burdened with creating another one. Because once you arrive, you have an opportunity to maintain the new status quo or dream again. Well… I’m not one for the status quo for any length of time… so when I say burden, I really mean gift. I must admit, it takes time to realize what the hell you want to do next. It’s bigger than “what do you want to do when you grow up.” I am a grown up. I have a career. I turned the corner. Guess what? I’m turning the corner again. Where am I going? It’s scary… exciting… and about bloody time. I can spend many days cognitively paralyzed, but it’s time to JUMP… again. It took some time to accept it, embrace it, and love it. I’m sold!!!

As much as I think that my new vision is totally crazy and almost dream-like… I can see and feel exactly how it will unfold. It’s insane. I can feel the fabric, hear my name, and see into the eyes of people in my vision. Way too trippy, but I am encouraged by the fact that my (old) vision realization coming true, I’m stoked for the next vision. And, as soon as I realize this vision… I’m ready for the next one… and the one after that. I know that I’m moving in the direction I am suppose to… and I am totally excited. Right now I am turning the corner on my dissertation, I am facilitating a workshop in September, I am working on a research project with my supervisor, and I am instructing a graduate level course in the fall. I am reunited with some of my edu-loves… assessment, teaching, learning, and curriculum. And, I am only mentioning a few things happening this fall. Yup… 2015 is ending with a BANG.

Deep breath… Just trust your vision. What do you want for yourself? What is your dream? What are you going to do about it? I am so passionate about education. The next few steps ahead of me is only the beginning. As many times you get ‘the whisper’ that things are going WRONG… there are just as many whispers telling you when things are right. Focus on those feelings. I knew that I was on the right track a few weeks ago when I started planning for the workshop I will be facilitating. I had a potent dose of Vietnamese Iced Coffee and I could not stop imagining how the workshop would unfold. I even planned a poetry lesson. Super WEIRD… it’s not my favourite topic or subject area… but I loved the planning process. It just felt good. What inspired me to write tonight’s blog was the completion of the DRAFT plans and notes for that workshop. Now, I’m ready for my next task to complete.

Doing what you love… it’s effortless and timeless. Figure what that is for you and visualize. I love what I am doing and so happy to come to terms with my new vision. Yay… BTW: I have not disclosed what my new vision exactly is. I gave you some hints in terms of where I’m heading, but I’m going to keep my new vision to myself. Be assured that I will report to you bloggies when the new vision has been realized.

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it, keep looking. Don’t settle.” – Steve Jobs

Finding Your Jam

What a nice reminder… Loved watching Elliott BROOD at Persephone Brewing Company in Gibsons last weekend. It was a public event but also a celebration of my friends’ 10th wedding anniversary. The event was well attended. The weather was great…. and the band was awesome. I loved how this couple celebrated this special day. I much enjoyed listening to the band and was so impressed with the sound of this 3-person band. Not seen in this photo, but Elliott BROOD played the ukuleles. The song was called The Valley Town. I just love the sound of the ukulele. It reminds me of Hawaii but it also sounds whimsical, happy, and joyous. It makes me smile.

I was reminded of my favourite pastime of JAM FINDING. I am just drawn to people who are living their passion. It is such a gift to be doing what you love… and it shows. Elliott BROOD was jamming alright. Loved watching their performance. You can see it their body language, hear it their voices, and feel it in their music. I was enjoying their jam. I wrote about this phenomenon in The Jam Effect (2011) and Found My Jam (2013). It’s funny reading old blogs. Seems appropriate to be writing about JAM once again in 2015. Hey, I’m a math educator who likes patterns. Be assured that I will likely write about this again in 2017. Just wait and see.

When reading my old blogs… I was just scratching the surface. You’ve got to dig deep to really know and understand your JAM. My jam is more than just talking to other people about their jam. And, my jam is more than just teaching, learning, and leading. That is quite a broad scope. It’s like saying that Elliott BROOD’s jam is singing, playing, and writing music. Maybe so, but I think what drives them to do what they do goes deeper than that. There is something in what they are doing that derives them great joy and happiness. This is not to say that their journey was easy or straightforward, but we are all driven by something deep down inside. This is the JAM.

So what’s my jam? Am I really willing to admit it? Whoa. The whole idea of digging deep and understanding my why kind of FREAKS me out. I am easily provoked when my why is tapped. I even sit here… stalled… as I try to find the words to articulate my why. Ultimately, every student has the right to thrive… not just survive. My passion is to find ways to enable this. Learning experiences should not be ones that kill the spirit or extinguish the light. It should be ones that inspire, motivate, and transform. No wonder I get bothered by the status quo when I know it could be better. I have no problems questioning the status quo, if it requires reassessment. I wholeheartedly endorse breaking the rules, if it makes the learning situation better. I will go against the grain, if it creates a system change to enhance student learning. I will not hide from or close my door to situations where student learning is being hindered.

I get aggravated when students feel constrained, belittled, or defeated. What a horrible place to be. Yup. This is my why… student learning and student success. I can see why I do what I do. I tutor students, I facilitate teacher professional development workshops, and I am a school trustee. This is not to mention working with the BCAMT, curriculum development, or writing my dissertation. Everything that I am doing is aligned to my WHY and it’s about finding ways to help students thrive and give them HOPE. Yes, I was doing this as a classroom teacher… for 16 years… and many others out there in my PLN who share my why are excelling in their practice. For me, I grew dissatisfied with enacting change and educational reform with 30 students at a time. This was not creating system change. I found my JAM.

It’s Time

Whoa. It’s time. It’s a strange feeling I get inside… one that I have denied before. This time, I hope I am a bit more responsive and the turnaround time is a bit more expedient. Lately, I’ve been feeling that feeling for quite some time. I try to suppress it with hopes of it fading away. However, what starts off as a whisper sometimes turns into a kick in the face. I don’t want to be caught off guard. I am answering the call.

Nothing beats a good dose of denial. Denial turns into avoidance. Avoidance transforms itself into numbness. Yup. Going through life numb is the furthest thing from living your life to the fullest. Many of us do it… without even knowing it. Been there. The existence is bleak. I love being on the learning curve. It excites me. It scares me. It challenges me. So, why push those feelings aside? Acknowledge them.

Let’s be clear… I don’t want to make this a doom and gloom blog entry. That is furthest from my intentions. In fact, I did a hefty free-write yesterday and now it’s undergoing some serious revisions to get to this final product. What I do know for sure is this… You will not be rewarded for enduring another day of numbness. You just won’t. So what are you going to do about it? Will it be the status quo?

I am so grateful for friends who ask me the tough questions… Who is in your tribe? What is your obsession? Will you be returning back to teaching? Blah, blah, blah… I have no idea. Never thought about it. Tribe… Obsession… Teaching… I think that sums it up right there. I have met some incredible people in the last 5 years and know who I resonate with. I am obsessed with professional learning and how it connects to student learning. And yes, I realized that I really miss teaching in the classroom.

Teaching is something that I do all of the time. I teach as an educational consultant. I teach as a workshop facilitator. I teach as a school trustee. Teaching is a broad term and we all do it to some capacity. It was just today that I had visions of teaching math classes again. I loved the challenge of making mathematics fun, exciting, and engaging… for me and the students. I loved getting in the faces of my students.

Just the other night, I was so charged up (on Vietnamese Iced Coffee) as I was planning for a workshop I am delivering to teachers in the next month. I loved visualizing the crowd, predicting what they need to learn, and creating a structure to the day that would provoke professional learning. That was a BIG high for me. This is my obsession… Creating meaningful learning experiences for others.

Hmm… this gets me thinking about my tribe. Those who are in my tribe are those who can talk about education as much as I do. I love talking about assessment and evaluation, effective pedagogy, and educational leadership. I get so energized talking to people about education. You know who you are. Some are trustees. Some are superintendents. Some are teachers. There is not one distinct cohort per se where my tribe resides, but I’m sure glad there are people out there who are just like me.

So back to those feelings that have been niggling in my spirit and soul. Things are pretty lined up for the rest of the summer and the fall. I am currently challenged with new work and I am enjoying every opportunity that has presented itself to me as it relates to education. I feel that that there is a momentum building and I want to be prepared for the new year. What are my next steps? Where am I heading?

Hmm… I think this a nice segway to my next blog. Thank you bloggies for reading and letting me vent my thoughts. I know that I’m not alone. I’ve been letting go lately and saying goodbye. I guess this is my way to make space for what’s next. #awesome

Memoirs

At camping this summer, I was afforded the time to read my dad’s self-published book of memoirs. I’ve been wanted to read his book for months… now, I’ve been wanting to write about my dad’s book in my blog. This is not a book review, per se, but an opportunity to express what I have learned from his book. It’s been a few weeks since I have read his book and waited for the right time to write this blog. It’s time. Today, I was inspired… for a few reasons. As mentioned in my last blog entry, Introverted Self, I tend to be the person who likes to learn in the presence of others. It’s through conversation that I am provoked to reflect, think, and reconsider what’s important to me. I had several conversations today. Each one, I cherish for different reasons. I will not mention the conversations I had today, but will mention the lessons I’ve learned from my dad’s book that relate to these conversations.

Lesson 1: We are stronger as some, not as one

Ultimately, my dad’s book was about teaching, learning, and leading. It’s not a book on education, but he wrote about key life events that defined who he is, taught him some life’s lessons, and motivated him to make certain decisions at certain times. I often felt throughout the book that my dad was alone on his journey. His struggles were genuine, but he took it upon himself to solve his problems. There was some deception and he spent much of his formative years hiding a secret. As a result, no one had his back. He had no one to trust or confide in. He was alone on his journey. Keeping his secret from others was not his personal struggle, but it was the isolation and his need for belonging. He does not say that in his book, but it’s inferred. Luckily, he learns this lesson of trust, friendship, and the “power of we” later in life in Australia from the not so usual suspects. As much as we don’t like to be vulnerable with others about our perceived weaknesses, we are more powerful together than apart.

Lesson 2: The barriers we experience are the ones we create

So, what was his big secret? It’s not a BIG secret, but my dad struggled with English as a child. As a student in Hong Kong, he was great at math and sucked at reading and writing. He did some crazy things to accommodate this perceived weakness. For example, he paid someone on the street to fill out his school application, he changed his report card to change teachers, and he lied to his parents about his academic performance so that he could move to Australia to school. Can you say AVOIDANCE? He was the eldest of 7. There was face being saved… but really? My dad had excellent problem solving and critical thinking skills. However, he was on the run. No matter the situation, his ability with the English language was always a deciding factor. Unfortunately, his academic hang up is mine too. I can empathize with his decision making, but would be horrified if my daughter did the same. What I love about the book is that my dad conquered his fear at 75 with his book. What a beautiful metaphor. The barriers we create for ourselves can also dispelled by our doing.

Lesson 3: Sacrifice is only worthwhile if the payoff is greater

The final lesson I would like to share with you is passion and sacrifice. I think about some of the decisions my dad made during his life’s journey. Many decisions were based on fear. Some decisions were based on duty. While others were about integrity and justice. My dad accepted jobs when he knew that he would never be promoted. He found his passion but made concessions for his own little family and moved to Canada. Things were so desperate that he took the first job he could get in Canada. He did not move to Toronto, as initially intended, but moved to Prince Rupert. From my perspective, we led an ordinary life in Prince Rupert. I was born and raised there. From my dad’s perspective, it was living day-to-day with hopes of keeping employment. Those were challenging times for my parents. My mom even cried when she first landed in Prince Rupert in 1968. I have fond memories of Rupert. My dad sacrificed his career and passion for his family and survival. I hope that he feels that the payoff was worth it in the end. I adore Prince Rupert. I think he does too.

FINAL THOUGHTS: My dad is an opportunist and risk taker. I get that about him. The apple does not fall far from the tree. I appreciated that he wrote his book of memoirs. It’s a thoughtful gift to his family. I love that he was inspired to write the book after taking a continuing education course at SFU. He was the only one in his class to complete and self-publish. You can find a copy of his book at the SFU Library. My dad was proud and honoured to be selected. Understanding his story helps me to understand my story. He is a lifelong learner. He takes action and he’s not afraid to make mistakes. We all have defining moments in our lives and it’s not to wallow in the misery, set backs, or failure… but it’s what you do after that matters. My dad had always picked himself up and took the next step. I admire that about him.

Introverted Self

Talk about embarking on an part of my being that I am totally unfamiliar with… INTROVERSION. It is certainly not my strength. I have great admiration of those who are introverted. These people will perform when they need to, but I am envious of them that they are able take a moment for themselves, read a book, or be in a state of silence for some length of time. I do not claim that I am not one of these people. Resistant for years, I have to come to terms with my introverted self.

For those who know me, I am an extrovert. According to Myers-Briggs, I am an ESTJ… an extroverted thinker. That’s my strength. I guess that’s why I love doing what I’m doing on various boards I serve on. It’s a collaborative effort. Voices are heard and decisions are made. I learn best working with people. I love listening, connecting, and dialoguing with others. Writing a dissertation is not an extroverted experience. It’s somewhat isolating, which makes me exceptionally UNCOMFORTABLE.

For years I wanted to create learning community for my doctoral work. Not sure what I was thinking, but I wanted the learning experience to be interactive and engaging. I have my EdD cohort, supervising team, and EdD Sunshine Coast Sub-Cohort to connect with, but I spend much of my time in my head. Too much thinking and not doing… the learning experience is self-directed and I was challenged by it.

Aside from experiencing the self-inflicted barriers of perfectionism and imposter syndrome, I did not have the faith or confidence if I could write my dissertation by myself. It’s amazing how our stories hold us back, which reminds me of my Dad’s book of memoirs. He struggled with the English language and catered many of his life’s decisions based on this perceived weakness. Hello??? He wrote a book!!! I could not put the book down. I loved reading about his lived experiences and him telling his story. He conquered his fear of reading and writing at the age of 75.

For me, I’m almost 45. I feel that my Dad and I have lead similar journeys with respect to the English language. Reading and writing are not my preferred modes of communication. After reading my Dad’s book, I was inspired to work on my dissertation with a different mindset. I have a learning community and I am not alone. Thank you to all those who participated in my pilot test, helped me learn, and provided unconditional support. I can convey my ideas and engage in a quiet way. Getting comfortable with the discomfort. Being introverted is a gift.

CSBA Congress 2015

First of all… nothing I hate more than looking at a picture and realizing I need a haircut. Annoying. Besides that, look at these lovely school trustees sitting and standing beside me. Here we are gathered together at the Canadian School Board Association (CSBA) Congress 2015 in Saskatoon, SK. In the photo, there are 3 BC school trustees (mentioned above) and my friend from Winnipeg whom I met on Twitter and face-to-face at the 2013 CSBA Congress in Vancouver. Here we are gathered together at the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival the day before CSBA 2015.

As mentioned in my previous blog entry, Nature School, I came to CSBA this year to watch the SD46 team present the nature school program to school trustees at this conference. Another good reason to come to CSBA is the professional learning. Some highlights for me were the Youth Panel near the end of the conference, the field trip to the Saskatoon Trades & Skills Centre, and the aboriginal student dancers at St.Mary’s Wellness and Education Centre. The bannock was yummy too. Love learning from students. The Youth Panel was exceptional. I also loved learning about community partnerships and how programs can be made possible in education.

The third reason to come to CSBA is connecting with other school trustees from around Canada. Loved connecting up and meeting trustees from BC at this event, but I’ve also met trustees from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and New Brunswick. It’s so interesting to learn how some aspects of our work are similar and yet other aspects so different. Sometimes the best learning comes from those spontaneous conversations with colleagues that make the whole trip worthwhile.

From my professional learning, I will bring much of what I learned back to my board of education along with my Board Chair Betty Baxter. It was great to connect with BCSTA members, the SD46 team, and Canadian school trustees. It’s funny that we are able to connect so much better when we are not in the hustle and bustle of our own hometown. This is the beauty of conferences and professional learning. We all walk away as winners… learning more about education, governance, and each other.

Nature School

I can still remember the day when environmental education was an agenda item for the SD46 Education Committee. I was a new trustee and newly appointed chair of the Education Committee in 2012. At one of my first Education Committee meetings, I remember being presented with a 2-inch thick study looking at the viability of environmental education in our school district. The study was completed more than 10 years ago and environmental education was still a topic of discussion.

On this committee, we were determined to forgo another study and move forward with a recommendation to consider implementing environmental education programs in our school district. We were a new board and we were in the midst of developing a new strategic plan for the upcoming term. Embedded in the plan was environmental education with hopes that elementary and secondary programs would soon develop. From governance to operations, the strategic plan provides guidance to SD46 staff on direction, decision making, and how to proceed forward.

Not really knowing the details of it but Principal Sally Thicke proposed to the Superintendent to introduce a Primary Nature School at Davis Bay Elementary. This school was close to being closed in the term previous but managed to stay open with less than 50 students. K-3 Nature School was one alternative to kickstart enrolment at Davis Bay but also provide an alternative learning opportunity to primary students to learn outside. We live on the Sunshine Coast. We should all be outside and Davis Bay is an ideal location as it is steps away from the ocean, beaches, and streams.

Before moving forward with the development of the program, the teaching staff were hired who were equally invested in the program as Sally. What an incredible team. Jenny teaches K-1 in the NEST and Linda teaches 2-3 in the HIVE. Three years later, the Primary Nature School expanded to include grade 4’s this year and grade 5’s in the upcoming school year. A new member of the team has been recently hired and this program is taking on a momentum that exceeds my expectations.

The program is predominantly situated outside, they are implementing the new curriculum, and incorporating e-portfolios as a way to engage students in their assessment and evaluation. This program is on the cutting edge and were sharing it with others. Hence, the photo taken above. The nature school team, now called NEST (Nature Education for Sustainable Todays and Tomorrows) presented at the Canadian School Board Association (CSBA) Congress 2015 in Saskatoon. Almost 40 attendees from across Canada attended this workshop to see how their board and school district/division can think ‘out-of-the-box’ or develop their own Nature Program to suit the learning needs of their students. I was not going to miss this presentation.

The Board of Education Chair Betty Baxter presented with the SD46 NEST team to describe to other school trustees how ideas can turn into action. I was so proud to see and listen to all 4 of these SD46 people describe their role in the development of NEST and how they support student learning. I must give thanks to some special people who made it happen for me to attend this workshop and CSBA Congress 2015. First, I would like to thank my brother who provided me with AirMiles with two airline carriers to fly to Saskatoon. Second, I would like to thank my friend for sharing her bed in her little hotel room for 6 nights. I was willing to sleep on the floor, but she was so generous to share her bed with me. I am truly grateful. And, I would like to thank my mom for subsidizing my meal costs, etc. for the trip. Of course, I would like to thank SD46 for supporting this team to travel, share, and celebrate the NEST program in Saskatoon along with my professional development.

Return to Blog

It’s been 5 years since I’ve embarked on a life of self-employment and academic studies. Unlike teaching in secondary schools or learning as a student in K-12 schools or university for that matter, I create my own deadlines, my own rules, and my own weekly routines. I am unaccustomed this. Think about it… from the age of 5 to 40… I have been comfortably subjected to a schedule created by somebody else. As a K-12 student, university student, or high school teacher, I would simply comply to the bell schedule or timeline. I was being pushed from behind to get the job done.

Now as an adult learner trying to complete her dissertation and self-employed as an independent educational consultant I am privileged (or burdened, pending on perspective) with the responsibility of having to create my own schedule. Admittedly, I relished in the idea of being unconstrained by someone else’s rules, at first. I felt empowered. I was the creator of my doing. What? I am the creator of my doing? Only in my 40’s do I realize that I was ill-equipped to manage my 9-5 work schedule.

Took me a few years to reach out for help to gain some perspective and strategies to prioritize. My focus was divergent. I wanted to do everything and anything. This is not a bad place to be when my objective is exploration and discovery. It was time time to refocus and converge my time and energy into what’s truly important to me. For me, it’s professional learning as it relates to student learning. Last year, I worked with Leah Goard along with the DDA group to harness my pedagogical journey. I learned a few lessons from Leah and the work she engages you in.

First, it takes a community. You can’t move forward by yourself. It’s impossible. Well, it is possible but others can leverage you into places where you never thought possible. I thank Leah and the DDA group for helping me to realize this. I love my PLN and learning community, my SFU supervisors and cohort, and the boards that I serve on. Learning is a collaborative effort. I appreciate the patience, kindness, and expertise people around me are willing to share to help me grow and thrive.

Second, your personal wellness equates to your professional wellness. I am not sure if those are the exact words Leah would use, but this is my take away. It is so true. If I’m confused and unhappy, then my business is confused and unhappy. So much of my work over the last few years have been rebuilding myself, understanding my self-efficacy, and engaging in opportunities of professional and personal growth. I am doing more each day that scares me to realize it’s all good. I love that!

Finally, Land and Launch. This took me quite some time to conceptually understand because this is where I am most reluctant to spend my time. As mentioned in a previous blog, Grounding Oneself, sometimes you have to invest the time in ‘landing’ so that you can take your next step in ‘launching.’ Next steps are suppose to be strategic, purposeful, and intentional. Landing and launching enables you to see where you are, consider where you need to go, and block the time.

I am saying YES to my edu-blog. For the past few months, my blogging has been sporadic at best. In saying that, I have not been overly obsessed about my website, marketing, or educational/business plan. I have Tzaddi, Carolyn, and Leah to thank for that. I have landed. I am making choices on what’s important to me, taking steps that moves me forward, and creating a schedule to enable this action.

In 2015, I stepped away from Leah Goard‘s work to COMPLETE some of my goals and move forward. I am making progress. “One step at a time” … a good friend would say to me. This is an act of patience, kindness, and expertise development for myself. What does it mean to be a writer, researcher, or public speaker? To understand it, I have to be it, live it, and do it. So, expect some more CYH Edu-Blogs. 🙂

Grounding Oneself

I am not sure how all of YOU take the time to ground yourself… but I am one of those people who cannot multitask. With so many things on the go, house cleaning takes a low priority. Sadly, the house begins to take on a life of its own. When I have to take time out out of my day to clean out of necessity, I am ‘not so nice’ person. Today was different… I “chose” to clean my house. Yes, true empowerment.

The school year has just ended, I was out of town for a week in Saskatoon at a conference, and returned home soon after to go camping with my family. Due to unexpected circumstances, we returned home a day early from camping. My daughter had to catch the first ferry the next morning to play in a beach volleyball tournament in Vancouver. Upon returning, a ‘camp explosion’ vomits onto my living room floor. I haven’t even unpacked yet from my Saskatoon trip and I am overwhelmed with sleeping bags, floatation devices, and camping gear.

I spent much of yesterday just putting that camping stuff away… and in the meantime, I started house cleaning. Joy? Not really. However, I liked getting the first floor of my home sorted and organized. Strangely, it was such a good feeling. As of midnight, I completed the first floor but not the second. So frustrating. I have a huge need for closure. As it turned out, my husband graciously took my daughter to volleyball. I was ‘off the hook’ and had the day to CLEAN… aka. ground myself.

So cathartic… vacuuming, folding laundry, and scrubbing down toilets. Who would have thought that house cleaning would be a grounding experience? Not me. I was being productive, with little on my mind, and appreciating the fruits of my labour. Oh man… so rewarding. With the house relatively tidy… with exception to the garage, my daughter’s room, and my husband’s media room… things are in order. COMPLETION. That’s my theme word for 2015. This is just another version of that.

Wowza. I feel closure and now I can address all of the other things I need to do. Being away for a couple of weeks, much of my work and academic studies have been accumulating. I’ve been getting anxious. It’s tough to relax when I want to get things done. With the house clean… aka. a barrier removed… things are getting done. I underestimate the benefits of house cleaning as a mechanism to moving forward. Laundry equates to inner peace. I feel grounded. #awesomeness

Chatelech 2015

Here is the speech I delivered to the Chatelech Secondary Graduating Class of 2015 on behalf of the School District No.46 (Sunshine Coast) Board of Education… #honoured.

Mayor Bruce Milne, Superintendent Bocking, Invited Guests, SD46 Staff and Students, Parents and FAMILY… and the Graduating Class of 2015…

Good evening…

My name is Christine Younghusband, School Trustee from the District of Sechelt.

I am proud to be here tonight to say a few words to Chatelech Secondary’s Graduating Class of 2015 on behalf of the SD46 Board of Education.

First of all I would like to say…. What a good-looking group graduates!!!

Congratulations to all of you on reaching THIS milestone in your life!!!

Wow… 13 years have come and gone. Who would have thought that we would be here today? So soon… and we’re celebrating your academic achievements.

It was not that long ago when you took your first steps… spoke your first word… or read your first book. Now… some of you can conjugate “avoir” in passé compose, play a musical instrument, factor trinomials, balance equations, write poetry, fix a vehicle, compete in high performance sport, bake a soufflé, or paint a portrait.

YOU are a diverse group of learners with a diverse group of interests, passion, and skill set. For this, we are proud of you. From K to 12, you have endured some good times and not so good times. Remember… every experience is a learning experience.

Educator and philosopher John Dewey suggested, “Education is a social process. Education is growth. Education is, not a preparation for life, education is life itself.”

I would agree with him… Treat every moment as a learning opportunity. There are NO mistakes. Do not dwell, regret, or second-guess. Live in the present & celebrate!

On behalf of the SD46 Board of Education, CONGRATULATIONS Class of 2015 and best wishes to all of you on your future endeavours… BE BOLD and BE BRAVE.

Thank you.