
Parents: Why do you do, what you do?
Some people say, ‘I did it for no reason.’
There is never ‘no’ reason.
If you dig deep enough you will discover why you do, what you do.
There is always a reason.
When we look back over our experiences, we can truly make sense of what we do and why we do it.
As Steve Jobs said in his commencement speech at Stanford University,
“You cannot connect the dots looking forwards,
You can only connect them looking back.”
People often ask me why I do what I do. So, I thought it would be a good idea to write about why GradeBusters exists. Why I was compelled to spend all my spare time creating this enterprise and continue to pour my heart and soul into it.
When you enter a profession such as Education, it tells you a lot about your beliefs and values. Teachers don’t go into the profession because the main driving force in their life is money. Yes, money is important but that does not tend to be your number one reason or priority.
I wanted to be a teacher because I wanted to impact children’s lives. I love the company of children. They don’t tend to have all the baggage and hang ups that we as adults have. Yes, I have much baggage too, like you, but that’s what makes us all interesting and unique.
Children are great at being themselves. They want to learn and soak up information around them, they are naturally curious. I believe children are naturals at knowing whether a teacher is authentic and if their teacher genuinely wants to support them. I have a deep desire to share knowledge and help others, but none of these are the BIG why.
The WHY comes down to one word, ‘TRUST’. Ouch! It hurts me to hear myself say this. Even though I have worked in education for over 20 years, I have lost count of the number of head teachers I have worked under. I have taught nearly every age group and specialised in numerous areas of responsibility such as; Art, DT, English, Science, French, ARR (Assessment, Recording and reporting) as well as worked as an Advisor for Maths and Social Emotional Mental Health and Inclusion.
Yes, you could say I have been around the block, I have seen many ‘fads and trends’ come and go over the years in education, but it all changed when one thing happened in my life!
It all became extremely significant and important when I had my OWN children. Then, I began to see the world through a parent’s eyes and that is when it all changed for me.
I now saw the world through a different paradigm.
I did not trust the education system. Having spent so many years working in the industry, I knew the pros and cons and this really started to bother me.
The education system is an extremely successful organisation when it comes to managing large numbers of children. So, I began to question whether the size of the system, could truly meet individual needs.
At this point, you could say, that I have ‘control’ issues and you would be right. I am not going to deny this, but I do believe a parent does have great control and it is how we go about using it, that is key.
When it comes to individual needs, is where I believe, as a parent, I have ultimate control. I can ensure that my child’s individual needs are met. Why? Because I believe I know my child better than anyone else. I have witnessed their journey from the moment they took their very first breath. I have held and nurtured them through illness, upset and sadness, health, joy and happiness. I have been there every step of the way, witnessing my child’s talents, skills, intelligence, interests, temperament, personality, their beliefs and values. No large system has this knowledge. As a parent, I have this superpower and it is my responsibility to use it wisely and not flounder it.
This is my WHY.
Why I do, what I do.
This is why GradeBusters exists.
I want to have a way to educate my children, so I know they are getting exactly what I passionately believe in.
They are not missing out on anything that I believe is crucial.
As a parent, I cannot control the teacher’s style, beliefs, values, judgements, understanding and passion. Children are exposed to endless things that are by chance. Leaving things only to chance was not what I wanted and so the conception and birth of GradeBusters took place. This is a place I can share my beliefs, values and passions with who ever wishes to join me.
That is the beauty of parenting, you can use your superpower to guide and nurture your child.
If you want to gain insight into the GradeBusters approach, we will be releasing our newest course, The Parent Quest.
This is a place where you as a parent can witness and experience GradeBusters yourself, so you can decide if it matches with your ‘superpower’.
Why do you do what you do?
What drives you to make the life decisions you have made.
If you are a parent, what do you do with your superpower?
If you have the urge, leave a comment.
