“Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.” -Oscar Wilde

As many of you know, I started a new position this year. The learning curve has been super steep. Most nights, I fall asleep sitting up with work still on my lap. It won’t always be this way but, at the moment, it’s wonderfully exhausting.

I am replacing a legend. In fact, I lucked out because this caring person put her retirmement off for a month so that she could leave the school, district and position she loves in a good place. There has been much to learn from her selfless example.

With any change in personnel, there are inevitably questions. How will we do this moving forward? Who will be in charge of that? What will the expectation be now?

There are many great traditions and practices in place. I plan to honor those and build on them. There are also some new traditions that I would like to begin.

I can hear the clock ticking. Each day I feverishly ask questions knowing that my resource will soon be unavailable. One day the questions will be mine alone to answer.

It hasn’t happened yet but I envision a moment in time when someone says, “Well, “Judy” used to do this or “Judy” used to do things this way.” The feedback will be helpful. I will listen and take notes while at the same time realizing that I have to be me.

What worked for one person may not work for another. I will need to find my patience, balance and flow. I am excited about the challenges ahead. I look forward to the opportunities to grow as a leader.

But most of all, I look forward to being me. I look forward to my continued education and development. I look forward to my chances to build trust and partnerships. I look forward to leaving my own footprint alongside the many great footprints that have been left before me.

#blog365

Day 15