My Tool Belt

With great pride, I can share with you that one of my most valued character traits is work ethic. As much as the myth of meritocracy has been discussed throughout my education and my understandings of it I would not trade my eagerness to help out and lend a hand any day. I have never worked a desk job nor do I intend to in the near future. I have lucked out in putting myself through University in a hands-on people oriented job which was a key fit to my social personality.  

For four summers I had the opportunity to work for an agricultural fence building company as the only woman on a crew of up to 7. This is an experience where I really grew. Beginning pretty “green” with tools and pale in colour, by the end of year 1 I could hold my own and had a pretty gnarly work boot tan to go with my new skills. More than anything I learned to work as a team. This was a strange realization for me as an athlete. I thought I had teamwork down pat. This all changed when I had to swallow my pride, work harder than ever before and know when to step up or step back. I am most proud to say that by my fourth summer I was running a crew for this same company alongside many of my coworkers from year’s prior as well as training new workers just like I once was. In reflection, I realize that my tool belt isn’t just for the field. My pouch now goes with me everywhere. Not only does my brother love the practicality of such that I can assist in his home renovations and my father in his cottage construction project, but to me it is a metaphorical reminder on a constant basis. It is a holder of my greatest achievements, traits, experiences and has the scars to prove it.

On the construction crew, every morning when arriving at the shop we would grab our pouches and get ready for the day. I learned very early this was better done after getting the daily paperwork, after all how can you prepare for something that is a surprise past the basics? We all had our own set of tools, the same basic instruments but each tailored to our own needs and preferences. Each of our pouches were organized a little bit differently mostly reflecting what we would be doing that day and what made the most sense for our ease and convenience. Most important was the realization that I could not fit everything I needed in my pouch. We had to work together to accomplish goals effectively. Last, my pouch tells a tale of summers in the field. It smells like horse from the times you get chased by a mare protecting her foal and she catches you. It has worn in specific belt loops from the 15lb flux we all go through during a summer of labour in the sun. It has bits from every job trapped deep in some pockets and finally a little bit of glitter on the edges so the boys knew it was mine.

To me this mirrors my life as an educator. Every day is a different day. As much as I can plan a lesson and/or a unit or the flow of a year, I must still equip myself with the right tools for anything to happen. I will have many similar tools to other educators, whether it be technology, knowledge, philosophy etc., however, each with my own tailoring.  Some tools, skills, methods etc., will always be hanging by your side within arm’s reach and some will be tucked in that back pocket that you forget about because it rarely gets used but is too important to not have just in case. I will always understand that my teaching tool pouch cannot be filled past what I can carry all day. I will never survive with all that weight. I instead must network, work with others. There is no need to reinvent the wheel instead borrow the right tool for it and be willing to lend mine. Right now my tool pouch is shiny and new, it tells my story as a student and is overflowing with a lot of fluff. Nothing concrete. Some lessons, a ton of ideas and some management strategies. A handful of teacher associates in my back pocket (not my most convenient pouch but always within reach). My pouch is not well decorated, instead rather depressing to look at. It is in need of interaction with students and experiences before it starts to wear. Last, nothing is fixed on my pouch. There are all sorts of accessories available and attachments for the ever changing technology and experiences waiting.

“Be prepared, work hard, and hope for a little luck. Recognize that the harder you work and the better prepared you are, the more luck you might have.”

Ed Bradley