As an SD46 school trustee, I had the greatest pleasure of canoeing tonight with various service providers from the Sunshine Coast who support community members with mental illness and addictions. Those who participated in The Spirit of Wellness Canoe Circle come from different agencies and the intention of building relationships amongst service workers and the Sechelt Nation. This canoeing event is part of a proposal known as the Community Action Initiative (CAI). The canoe is a wonderful metaphor for leadership and working together towards a common goal. There were three canoes immersed in Porpoise Bay this evening: the SD46 Spirit Canoe, The Grandmother’s Canoe, and the Sechelt Nation Canoe. It was an amazing experience to share stories, make connections, and feel inspired. The Spirit of Wellness Initiative is scheduled for August 1st, 8th, and 15th @5pm. Looking forward. All my relations.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, August 02nd, 2012 | Comments Off on It’s About Relationships
The Dimitri – Pulling Together 2012 – Return to Sliammon
This is the Dimitri Canoe. On the Pulling Together 2012 Canoe Journey – “Return to Sliammon” – I had the fortune of pulling three times in the Dimitri. It was pretty luxurious. I would call this canoe the Cadillac of Canoes. I am pretty proud of myself for paddling in a different canoe. For the 2010-2012 Journeys, I have been part of the SD46 Spirit Canoe Crew. Two years ago (or even last year), I would not have considered pulling for another canoe, with another skipper and another crew. This year, I enjoyed pulling in a different canoe, meeting new people, and experiencing new leadership. Why is this year so different?
Not to dwell on my past life, but two years ago I was a different person. To put it bluntly, I trusted no one. If you get burned a few times by a few people, you start to give up. You start to believe that the only person you can trust is yourself. This is an isolating experience. Betrayal, lying, or abuse will lead anyone to a flight of fight situation. If you choose to fight, you will burnout. If you choose flight, you have to give up on the battle. Being in a situation when doing what you love does not surpass the negative crap, it’s tough to move forward.
I feel fortunate to be a part of the SD46 Spirit Canoe crew in 2010. This was the beginning of my healing process. The blessing is in the breaking. I had to be broken in order to rebuild. In 2010, I learned how to trust others, to see the good in others, to rely on my canoe family to pull together. This was a powerful life lesson to be awakened to. In 2011, I was in a state of change. I was trying to find my way with the help of my canoe family, once again. I am truly grateful to know that my canoe family supported me and I supported them. My trust was being restored. The 2012 Journey was a litmus of my transformation and healing. Because I knew that my canoe family was there for me, I was able to leave the canoe. It’s like a child leaving home for the first time. It felt good. I felt confident. I felt loved. It was meant to be.
Pulling Together is about building relations. It’s about building trust. I am thankful to the SD46 Spirit Canoe and crew, to the Sunshine Coast Pulling Together Family, and to all those who are a part of the Pulling Together Canoe Journey.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, July 25th, 2012 | Comments Off on Building Trust
It’s been 4 years since I have started my Doctor of Education program at SFU-Surrey Campus. I am part of a K-12 Education Leadership 2008 Cohort and 6 of us are currently completed the program. I am still in progress. That’s OK. My coursework and comprehensive exam were completed in 2009 and since then I have been mulling over my research question and dissertation proposal. Seems excessive but I have been learning about higher education, educational research, and the learning process. All in all, it’s been a humbling journey.
For years, my masters of education program included, I’ve been told what to do, when to do it, and why. Being a doctoral candidate, I determine what to do, when to do it, and why. This, in itself, has been troubling. First of all, I have to acknowledge that I’m in charge. Second, I need to be open to feedback from others. Finally, I learned that you never know unless you try. A month ago, I put in a proposal for the SFU Summer Institute. This event is hosted at the Surrey Campus by the Faculty of Education. Student work is highlighted and invited speakers address the theme of the conference as it relates to educational leadership. Four years ago, I was a graduate student attendee wowed by each speaker. This year, I was a presenter. I also presented at the EGSA (Education Graduate Students’ Association) Seminar Series 2011 and at the EGSA Sasamat Retreat. That is now THREE peer-review events I have presented at as an education graduate student. Four years ago, I would not have thought that would have been possible. Who knows what’s next…
All I can say is… I am making revisions, I am open to change, I am exceeding my expectations, I am excited for the future, and I am going to finish my dissertation in a timely manner. Feeling good. Feeling strong. Looking forward.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, July 21st, 2012 | Comments Off on SFU Summer Institute 2012
BCAMT Executive Geocaching at Simon Fraser University
Near the end of each school year, the BC Association of Mathematics Teachers (BCAMT) congregate and team-build at Think Tank. For many years, this event was held at Bowen Island. Times changed, costs increased, and decisions made, the 2012 BCAMT Think Tank was held at Simon Fraser University (Burnaby Campus). What I truly enjoy about the BCAMT Think Tank is that it’s an opportunity to work with and dialogue with like-minded people who all want to improve mathematics instruction in BC by finding ways to support the professional learning of practicing K-12 mathematics teachers. Also, it’s a unique opportunity to listen to people tell math jokes, play music trivia, and geocache for fun. This was my first experience geochaching and it was an awesome learning experience. This is something that math students of all ages would enjoy that incorporates outdoor/environmental education with mathematics. It also promotes collaboration, teamwork, and problem solving. Finally, it makes a connection to a “real-life” activity that happens around the world. Apparently, there are over 3 million geoboxes to be found. I had no idea. Thank you BCAMT Think Tank for introducing me to geocaching. I may have to go geobox hunting on the Sunshine Coast. Learning something new everyday… Cool.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, July 21st, 2012 | Comments Off on BCAMT Think Tank 2012
“The key to change… is to let go of fear.” – Rosanne Cash
The Dissertation Journey is extremely challenging and life-changing, to say the least. One of the biggest reasons why the dissertation process has been so difficult is my willingness to change. Although change is a constant in life, I like to hold onto old ideas and beliefs. To truly change, one has to overcome one’s fear. Facing fear is not easy. I carried many false beliefs about my writing ability, teaching practice, and academic potential. To my delight, I have been proven wrong. What have I learned so far? Don’t underestimate yourself. Let go. And, anything is possible. Last weekend, I attended and presented at the SFU Faculty of Education Summer Institute. I followed through, shared my thoughts, and got feedback. As a result, my research has shifted (again). It’s all good. With one step forward, my false beliefs were negated. That is super cool. Must do again. My dissertation will be done… in due time. Now, back to academic writing.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, July 19th, 2012 | Comments Off on A Willingness to Change
Just the other day, I was traveling on SkyTrain and observed a woman who boarded the train en route from SFU-Surrey to Vancouver. The woman sat down, opened a plastic bag, grabbed a can of beer, opened it, and started to drink it. It was a matter of fact. She drank a can of beer on this Saturday afternoon with no regard for the rules or what other people thought of her.
Feeling disconnected. Sometimes life sucks. To cope, I have a few preferred strategies to temporarily avoid life. I play BeJeweled, watch TV, eat chips, and sleep excessively. These are my vices. It’s OK to escape life from time to time but if it becomes a way of life, one has to stop and question… What’s happening? What’s going on? What’s the source of my unhappiness?
This woman was disconnected. Drinking an Extra Old Stock on Skytrain tells me that she was not living her life. What is her story? What is her pain? In the end, you can only control yourself. You cannot control others. Ultimately, you choose. Avoidance sucks! Blaming sucks! Own it, deal with it, and move on…
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, July 18th, 2012 | Comments Off on Disconnected
I’m back. From July 2-10, I was in Powell River, BC at the 2012 Pulling Together Canoe Journey – “Return to Sliammon.” It was an amazing experience. I met so many new people, reunited with others from Pulling Together 2010 & 2011, and paddled in another canoe. This has been my third year pulling with the SD46 Spirit Canoe. Half of the crew were new, the other half returnees. I was an extra puller and paddled part-time with the SD46 Canoe, when needed, and paddled with the VPD Dimitri. I truly enjoyed that experience. As per usual, I had life lessons to learn on the Journey. With that said, I had much gratitude for those pulling in the Sunshine Coast Pulling Together family, the youth, and the Sliammon People. The hospitality was awesome. We visited sacred ancestral sites, sang many songs, and enjoyed home cooked meals. Thank you Pulling Together Society, the Vancouver Police, and Collingwood Canoe Club for orchestrating the 2012 Pulling Together Journey with the Sliammon Nation. Lots of memories, lots of leadership, and lots of inspiration… Pulling Together is an incredible opportunity to help build relations between aboriginal youth and police. I feel honoured to be a part of this canoe journey. If you are interested to see some pictures, stories, or people from the Sunshine Coast Crew, check out our SCPT Blog at http://sunshinecoastpullingtogether2012.wordpress.com/
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, July 14th, 2012 | Comments Off on Return from Sliammon
Going in a couple of days to Powell River to be a part of the Pulling Together Journey 2012 – Return to Sliammon from July 2nd to 10th. This will be my third canoe journey with School District No.46 (Sunshine Coast) Spirit Canoe. First and foremost, I feel honoured and privileged to be a part of the 2012 Journey and look forward to it.
Initially, I was not on the original crew list for this canoe journey. I was a late addition. I am glad to be back, but I was also good with the idea of inviting new people to paddle. Truthfully, I thought it was a good sign from the universe that my transformation was complete and proceed with life. Apparently, this is not the case and I’m back.
The intentions of the Journey is to build relations with the police/RCMP and aboriginal youth. This year, the Return to Sliammon, is hosted by the Vancouver Police and Collingwood Aboriginal Youth Canoe Club. For me, the Journey is a catalyst. In chemistry, a catalyst is not consumed by the chemical reaction, but the rate of reaction is expediated.
In 2010, I was a secondary mathematics and science teacher, I met my BFF on the Journey (and I’m her side-kick), turned 40, and left the teaching profession. In 2011, I was self-employed continuing my graduate studies in educational leadership, I had to forgive myself, redefine my purpose, and find my self-worth. Whew. It was not an easy task.
In 2012, I am now a school trustee, still continuing with my studies, and my business is flourishing. I love what I am doing, I work at Simon Fraser University, and I’m taking advantage of opportunities as a graduate student and municipal politician. Not being invited on the 2012 journey was a good sign. Being invited back makes me curious.
I believe that things happen for a reason. I love working with the youth on the journey and meeting new people. What I do appreciate are the life lessons to be learned along the way. I feel the same excitement today as I did on my first journey in 2010. No expectations, but wondering what may happen. If anything, I will be learning something new.
If you want to follow the Sunshine Coast Pulling Together crew during the 2012 Pulling Together Canoe Journey in Powell River – Sliammon… follow our blog at http://sunshinecoastpullingtogether2012.wordpress.com/ or Twitter: @PullingTogether. It’s my job on the journey to stay in touch the the outside world on behalf of the #SCPT2012.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, July 01st, 2012 | Comments Off on The Journey
As mentioned in a previous blog entry, it was an amazing and unique opportunity to greet these very students in this photo from my Math 11 class in 2010 on their graduation day as school trustee in 2012. I loved being with this math class. They were so dynamic, diverse, and engaged… it was a math teacher’s dream. I also loved addressing their graduating class on behalf of the Board of Education and shaking their hands as they received their school leaving certificates and grad photo composite. I am very grateful to have this memorable experience with these students in the classroom and on stage.
This picture was taken on my last day of work, November 26, 2010. Yes, I left in the middle of the semester. Yes, timing could have been better. Yes, it was the right time to go. Strangely, because these kids and my other classes of Science 9, Math 12, and Workplace Math 10 were so great, it seemed like a good time to embark on other education leadership adventures that involves teaching and learning. My students were so upbeat and seemingly self-sufficient to advocate for their own learning, it’s much easier for me as a teacher to let go and take a different direction. I love these guys so much… they reciprocated their love and respect for me by letting me go with grace and dignity in 2010 and continued our mutual love and respect with hugs and kind words at graduation.
To be truthful, I will always remember this graduating class. I was at the face with change in 2010 and they were there for me. In 2012, they are at the face of change and I was there for them. I will never forget the support this class and many other students had given me almost two years ago. I am truly enjoying my new role as school trustee as a means of support students and their learning. But the point of this blog was to talk about “the greatest compliment.” Honestly, the greatest compliment is when students ask me when I will be returning back to teaching… when parents ask me when I will be returning to teaching… when colleagues ask me when I will be returning back to teaching. This question has struck a chord with me lately and I feel that I should acknowledge these people who asked in my blog.
This is not an easy question to answer. I love teaching. I love learning. I love educational leadership. Right now, I am enjoying my role as school trustee, graduate student, and entrepreneur. I like that I get to go on field trips or school assemblies with my daughter. I like being a part of policy making and governance of a school district. I like checking out different schools to see how people do their jobs and watch students engage in their learning. I like that I can explore an aspect of teaching as a researcher and investigate the problem with some objectivity. I like that I am still teaching students and teachers with my company. I am in a good place right now. However, once my 3-year term has ended as school trustee and my dissertation is complete… who knows what the future holds. I may return back to teaching or explore other options that promotes teaching and learning. We’ll soon see. It’s one day at a time.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, June 29th, 2012 | Comments Off on The Greatest Compliment
Addressing the Chatelech Grads on Behalf of the Board
What a highlight to my educational leadership career as school trustee to address the Chatelech Secondary Graduates of 2012 on behalf of the SD46 Board of Education. I worked at Chatelech for 16 years as a secondary mathematics, science, and chemistry teacher. As much as I enjoyed teaching and leadership opportunities as an employee of the school district, I loved having the opportunity to speak to the Grad Class as a whole in addition to all of their families, community members, and honoured guests as school trustee. The best part was being a part of the procession line, shaking hands as student receive their Grad Class composite photo, and reuniting with former students. I could not do that as a practicing teacher. I would have been on the side lines, looking from a far, clapping my hands. As school trustee, I was right there immersed in the experience. I could feel the students’ excitement and joy. It was wonderful. Congratulations Chatelech Grad 2012.
Attached below is my 300 word speech that I delivered to the Graduates. Some words were adapted here and there, but overall it’s what I said. Thank you all those who shared kind words to me throughout the evening. I hope it showed on Coast Cable 11 that I was 100% stoked for the kids as school trustee and former mathematics teacher. I am so proud of these guys. What was full-circle of last night’s experience was being greeted by former students. At the beginning of the ceremony, a couple of girls who graduated a handful of years ago said hello. We updated what’s happening in our lives… what’s new… what’s not new. It was super fun. At the end of the ceremony, another former student said hello. He even addressed my by former name, “Ms. Ho.” Yup. He graduated in the 90’s, over 10 years ago. It was great seeing him and I even remembered his name. To be honest, he was a memorable guy and I was so happy to reunite with him. We chatted, talked about what’s new, and reminisced about the good times at Chatelech.
You see, this is the BEST part about education. You change people’s lives. In return, they change yours. The thank you’s, shared stories, and reunions keep me excited about teaching, learning, and educational leadership. Thank you everyone for the experience last night. Very memorable. Looking forward to the next 2 years of my term.
CHATELECH GRADUATION 2012 ADDRESS:
Good evening. It’s an honour to speak to the Chatelech Graduates of 2012 on behalf of the Board of Education. There are many familiar faces and many memories. It is good seeing you all tonight, as school trustee, on this special day of celebration.
Welcome Graduates to another turning point in your life… What’s next? What does the future hold? What do you want to do for the rest of your life?
These questions are not easy to answer, nor should they be. Life is an adventure and tonight, you are at the face of change. Change can be handled in two ways… with fear or with an open mind. My advice: choose the latter.
In 1994, the year you were born, I started my teaching career here at Chatelech. Since then, I know of many Chatelech alumni who became artists, accountants, musicians, writers, fashion designers, doctors, entrepreneurs, full-time moms, veterinarians, contractors, nurses, world travelers, dancers, engineers, politicians, world-class athletes, and yes… school teachers.
The message… Be what ever you want to be. Go wherever you want to go. Find your passion. You are only limited by what you believe is possible. Get out of the GULAG, as someone would say. Be yourself. Trust your instincts. Follow your intuition.
(quote) “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” (unquote)
(Steve Jobs, Stanford Commencement Address, 2005)
All the best with your future endeavours Chatelech Graduates and congratulations. Remember, anything is possible. Set your mind to it and go for it.
Congratulations Chatelech Graduates of 2012 – You are all super great! (June 26, 2012)
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, June 27th, 2012 | Comments Off on On Behalf of the Board
