CONCLUSION

When I think back to my journey in Education, it is remarkable to see how much I have grown and changed. When I consider what I thought I knew as an 18-year-old university student entering the education program in 2005 to what 13 years of teaching experience, working with a variety of grade levels in different schools, and now the completion of the Master of Education program would bring, the growth has been remarkable. Sure, from the very beginning, I knew of some familiar sights that I would find on my journey: forests, trees, lakes, clear paths, etc. However, it was the muddy trails, fallen trees, and steep cliffs that challenged and pushed me to evolve. Even at the start of this program, I was not aware of what I would learn or even what direction the program would take me. In the fall of 2020, my focus was on inclusion, diversity, and navigating the reality of teaching during a global pandemic. By the time I entered the second year, I was looking at everything I encountered through the lens of school leadership and how I could take what I learned, regardless of the topic, and use it to support myself and the work of other educators around me. Collating this portfolio and reflecting on the impact the graduate program has had on my professional growth has been an insightful and rewarding endeavor.

So where does that leave me now? I’m still on this journey. Already, I can see another bend in the path up ahead. Who knows what I will find around the corner? All I know is that the learning will not end here. I still have a full career ahead of me and am looking forward to years of collaboration, growth, and pushing my students to succeed.