Where am I going? (Onwards and upwards. The mountaineer’s motto.) When it comes to my career this is a question I struggle with. I am blessed/cursed with a competitive and ambitious nature. Something I probably inherited genetically, my Dad just completed his 4th Ironman at the age of 65. I also recognize and respect the delicate balance between the important elements of my life: family, career and sport. Playing a meaningful role as a father and a husband, racing semi-professionally and enjoying an active lifestyle coupled with a career in teaching that I’m passionate about requires tremendous energy and commitment. I have always had a desire to complete my masters. I was raised by a teacher and a medical doctor. Both my younger siblings possess graduate degrees. At family functions I’m considered the simple one. Post-graduate education is something of a badge of honour in my family. Despite this influence I am quite practical and protective of my lifestyle. I am very aware that the completion of this program could lead me down the path towards an administrative position. While I often feel the ambitious nature of my personality drawing me towards this, I harbor a strong reluctance to the role on two levels. Primarily and quite simply I love my job. I love working with students. I love developing curriculum and lessons and I love coaching and sharing my passion for the outdoors with students. I fear that a career in administration would spell an end to weekly mountain bike club rides and outdoor club trips to the West Coast Trail. Secondly I believe that the role of a school administrator to be a very important one, and I think a superhuman dedication to professional practice must be committed in order to be successful at the position. This challenge taunts me like the Sirens to Ulysses and I fear the workload would consume me and shatter the delicate balance of my lifestyle onto the proverbial rocks.
In summary I suppose my expectations of this program are that it will ultimately open up new opportunities, either in the pursuit of administration or in the field of online learning or perhaps a combination of both. The more I learn about online education the more excited I become about being involved in the field, as it is an area of explosive growth and potential. Lately I feel that I am sitting in the eye of a beautiful storm, and I wonder where this amazing journey will lead me?
In summary I suppose my expectations of this program are that it will ultimately open up new opportunities, either in the pursuit of administration or in the field of online learning or perhaps a combination of both. The more I learn about online education the more excited I become about being involved in the field, as it is an area of explosive growth and potential. Lately I feel that I am sitting in the eye of a beautiful storm, and I wonder where this amazing journey will lead me?