I didn’t want to go in. I didn’t want to start over, but here I was. A new school. A new beginning. A new everything. This was how I started my high school years in Washington. We had moved to a new city which meant that there would be a new school. Of course, I knew no one there. I didn’t want to be there. I was determined to face the daily misery by keeping my head down, doing my work and just getting through it. Every day I would walk home for lunch and see what Marlena and John were up to on Days of our Lives. And I never knew when Stephano might reappear to shake up everything. I was content with my journey until one day I wasn’t. I couldn’t help myself. If I was intrigued by something, I would ask a question in class. If I knew an answer, I would speak up from time to time. After a while, I became more talkative. I started to make friends. I didn’t want to pretend to invisible anymore. It just wasn’t me. Little did I know at the time, but I was blooming where I was planted. I made the decision to be who I authentically was. So, this meant journalism class, yearbook class, and I know it’s shocking, but pretty much anything to do with writing was my forte. I joined clubs. I even started a club focused on ensuring that all students had a place at our school. Through all of these activities, I found the best friends. I became comfortable and truly myself. So comfortable that when the big, round clock broke at work, I rescued it before it hit the dumpster, tied a chain on it and wore it to school in honor of Public Enemy. That day I rapped. That day I was myself. That day I found my voice. Now as an adult I wonder if we are doing a good job of ensuring that kids have opportunities to find their place, to bloom. Every path isn’t for everyone, but everyone deserves the tools and the freedom to discover their way. Providing a variety of experiences for kids gives them options. When they excel in what they are passionate about, we are all better for it. I want to take time to highlight the bright light that shines in someone. I don’t want to dwell on what they can’t do or what I can’t do. It’s definitely something for me to be more aware of.

Wherever you find yourself in life, it is for a purpose. Lean into it. Flourish and grow there, even when you think you can’t. I remember starting a new role in a new district once. It was an opportunity that I was really looking forward to. During the first week, someone yelled at me. I was stunned. I had been through a lot in education, but no one had yelled at me. I chose the high road and remained calm. I focused on the big picture. I knew I was supposed to be there. We saw great success for kids there during that time. Those are memories that I will never forget. Had I given up and left that first year, I would have missed the joy on the faces of kids who achieved more than they ever imagined. I would have missed the overwhelming emotions that teachers shared as they received distinctions from the state. Everyone blossomed. That’s why things worked out in our favor. This weekend I watched one of the finest actors of our time in Equalizer 3. Best movie of the year. There was a line that caused me to put my popcorn down and sit upright. After an eventful night, Denzel’s character wakes up in an unfamiliar place. He asks his caretaker, “Where am I?” The man replied, “Where you are supposed to be.