Journeys

Dear Parents,

Although it was a beautiful fall day, I knew it was one of the last of the season and that meant it was time to get my boat ready for the winter. For me that means taking the mainsail off the boom, gathering the jib and other miscellaneous items from the cabin, taking the outboard motor off the motor-mount, and securing various lines. Going about this process was a bit nostalgic for me. Memories of sailing adventures from the past few years kept floating through my mind - the sound of the harbor, the motion of the boat, adjusting the lines so the wind would catch the sails just right. It all reminded me of why I devote so much of my time and my hard earned money to my boat. With sailing, it really isn't so much about the destination as it is about the journey itself. Kind of like the journey we take through life.

This summer my uncle passed away. Although we hadn't spent much time together during my adult years, he was an important part of my childhood. I remember when he returned from being stationed in Korea and brought back to me one of my first pocket knives. I fondly recall the time he taught me to draw in ways that went beyond my earlier stick figures. I also remember water skiing with him during many of our summer vacations on Lake Christina in southeastern B.C. In short, he was a blast to be around and his joy for living and positive attitude I'm certain helped build the person I've become today. The life journey that my uncle followed was along a path that always included others. He loved children and was great with them. He later devoted much of his life to helping others through his church. He was a good man and although his journey had its ups and downs, it was a good one.

We all have a journey we are making through life. As adults we have set our course, and although we may "tack" or even "come about" from time to time, the general direction our decisions lead us was likely set when we were young. A child's job is to discover and find their place in the world. Their journeys are just beginning and the experiences they have are what helps them set their own direction. As parents, we hope to help them get started by providing them with a foundation that they can draw from as they make decisions and chart their own path as young adults. Perhaps because they don't come with an "owners manual," we look for partners to help us provide the best start possible for our children. Growing up is no easy task and there is much for children to learn, socially and morally as well as artistically and academically. Having been an educator in this area for nearly 20 years, and having seen the importance of a solid and holistic education, I chose to join the Swan School family 5 years ago. I must say that I am glad to have done so because it has helped enrich my own journey by allowing me to be a part of creating an education that's as it should be - one that is responsive to the needs of the children and families it serves. In fact, to give children a nurtured educational experience, I believe that there is probably no better partner for parents than Swan School. It is an experience that will surely provide the tools for children to grow and to joyfully and meaningfully follow life's journey. After all, as Ursula K. LeGuin stated through a character in one of her books, "It's good to have an end to journey towards, but it's the journey that matters in the end."

Russ