This is a personal essay on the passions of mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I was a kid, I would spend hours and hours in my bedroom being creative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From drawing fashion sketches, using the tracing device I begged my sister to let me have; to, playing with, organizing, and making bracelets with beads, or embroidery floss; I was always doing something that I wanted to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I went to fashion camp at the Design Exchange when I was 14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the greatest experiences of my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In elementary school, I was taking pottery courses, sewing courses, and sewed the dress I wore for my grade 8 graduation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why is this all important for me to share?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where does revealing this personal side of my childhood get me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It gets me to this question, where did the passion go?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I stopped taking sewing lessons, pottery classes, even stopped playing soccer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I feel these parts of my life stopped because of school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a teacher, I can now say that there are significant issues with the education system, and I don\u2019t know if these issues will ever be solved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m currently teaching a course, where my student has a daily writing prompt. The prompt they chose on the first day, asked a simple question, but their answer floored me;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can creativity be taught in schools?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My student\u2019s argument was simple. No, it cannot be taught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We did the philosophical work to understand what each part of the question was and brainstormed a positive and a negative perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His argument was simple, yet insightful, and stated a level of honesty the school system avoids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can\u2019t teach creativity, because the teacher is just telling you how to be creative, and that\u2019s their way. They want you to regurgitate their creativity, which is not teaching you how to be creative, but how to copy their ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s interesting to me, as a teacher, to think that my student thinks I can\u2019t teach him how to be creative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Challenge accepted, introducing PHILOSOPHY.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yup. I\u2019m the teacher who uses philosophy to show the student that ideas are the essence of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If we have an idea, we are being creative, but being able to write about that idea coherently, and communicate that idea to others, is where philosophy has value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where does passion come in?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Passion is the thing that is missing from schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I know a lot of teachers who are endlessly passionate about teaching, but what about the strict rules and guidelines that are surrounding the learning that must happen in the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What would happen if we added a little more passion and allowed kids to be passionate about learning?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Would we create happier students?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is Passion Linked to Happiness?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Honestly, I believe it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My passion for philosophy guided me through my studies, towards my career in teaching, and toward my blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If I didn\u2019t care about writing, or philosophy as much, I wouldn\u2019t be writing this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My passion for philosophy is the overarching theme in my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My passion is my guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recently, I attended an open house for my graduate program, the first thing I asked prospective students was;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What are you passionate about?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The students I talked to seemed to have passions similar to mine, regarding critical disability studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It fills my heart with joy, as the school system overlooks students with special needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was one of those kids who went to the learning centre, not because I needed to, but because my mom asked that I get assistance with my agenda, and remembering when homework was due.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s passion that is missing from careers, a lot of the prospective students were concerned about what kind of career they would land after graduation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Absolutely! It\u2019s necessary to think about your career and how you\u2019ll end up making money, but passion should also guide your education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ve all heard it, the key to a happy life is doing what you love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If I\u2019m not passionate about what I\u2019m doing, then how can I love what I do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Add into the mix, the difficult job market, and it seems hopeless in following a passion for education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But is this true?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No, because there are other ways to add passion into your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Something I\u2019ve been thinking about for a long time, is something that fuels my passion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Writing a book, writing my blog, and becoming a legitimate writer<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My dad said to me once, at the cottage, when I was dealing with a situation;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can either be distressed by every situation in your life, or you can cherry pick what bothers you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I now know, that I can Cherry Pick more than what bothers me. It\u2019s possible to pick what I want for my future and create a life filled and fuelled by passion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thanks for reading!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blessings,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With love and light,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stay true stay weird.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
~~ Kristina<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This is a personal essay on the passions of mine. When I was a kid\u2026 When I was a kid, I would spend hours and hours in my bedroom being creative. From drawing fashion sketches, using the tracing device I begged my sister to let me have; to, playing with, organizing, and making bracelets with beads, or embroidery floss; I was always doing something that I wanted to do. I went to fashion camp at the Design Exchange when I was 14. One of the greatest experiences of my life. In elementary school, I was taking pottery courses, sewing courses, and sewed the dress I wore for my grade 8 graduation. Why is this all important for me to share? Where does revealing this personal side of my childhood get me? It gets me to this question, where did the passion go? I stopped taking sewing lessons, pottery classes, even stopped playing soccer. Why? I feel these parts of my life stopped because of school. As a teacher, I can now say that there are significant issues with the education system, and I don\u2019t know if these issues will ever be solved. I\u2019m currently teaching a course, where my student has a daily writing prompt. The prompt they chose on the first day, asked a simple question, but their answer floored me; Can creativity be taught in schools? My student\u2019s argument was simple. No, it cannot be taught. We did the philosophical work to understand what each part of the question was and brainstormed a positive and a negative perspective. His argument was simple, yet insightful, and stated a level of honesty the school system avoids. You can\u2019t teach creativity, because the teacher is just telling you how to be creative, and that\u2019s their way. They want you to regurgitate their creativity, which is not teaching you how to be creative, but how to copy their ideas. It\u2019s interesting to me, as a teacher, to think that my student thinks I can\u2019t teach him how to be creative. Challenge accepted, introducing PHILOSOPHY. Yup. I\u2019m the teacher who uses philosophy to show the student that ideas are the essence of the world. If we have an idea, we are being creative, but being able to write about that idea coherently, and communicate that idea to others, is where philosophy has value. Where does passion come in? Passion is the thing that is missing from schools. I know a lot of teachers who are endlessly passionate about teaching, but what about the strict rules and guidelines that are surrounding the learning that must happen in the classroom. What would happen if we added a little more passion and allowed kids to be passionate about learning? Would we create happier students? Is Passion Linked to Happiness? Honestly, I believe it is. My passion for philosophy guided me through my studies, towards my career in teaching, and toward my blog. If I didn\u2019t care about writing, or philosophy as much, I wouldn\u2019t be writing this. My passion for philosophy is the overarching theme in my life. Current Passion Projects My passion is my guide. Recently, I attended an open house for my graduate program, the first thing I asked prospective students was; What are you passionate about? The students I talked to seemed to have passions similar to mine, regarding critical disability studies. It fills my heart with joy, as the school system overlooks students with special needs. I was one of those kids who went to the learning centre, not because I needed to, but because my mom asked that I get assistance with my agenda, and remembering when homework was due. It\u2019s passion that is missing from careers, a lot of the prospective students were concerned about what kind of career they would land after graduation. Absolutely! It\u2019s necessary to think about your career and how you\u2019ll end up making money, but passion should also guide your education. We\u2019ve all heard it, the key to a happy life is doing what you love. love what you do and you won\u2019t work a day in your life If I\u2019m not passionate about what I\u2019m doing, then how can I love what I do? Add into the mix, the difficult job market, and it seems hopeless in following a passion for education. But is this true? No, because there are other ways to add passion into your life. Closing Thoughts Something I\u2019ve been thinking about for a long time, is something that fuels my passion. Writing a book, writing my blog, and becoming a legitimate writer My dad said to me once, at the cottage, when I was dealing with a situation; You can either be distressed by every situation in your life, or you can cherry pick what bothers you. I now know, that I can Cherry Pick more than what bothers me. It\u2019s possible to pick what I want for my future and create a life filled and fuelled by passion. Thanks for reading! Blessings, With love and light, Stay true stay weird. ~~ Kristina<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1142,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-field-notes"],"yoast_head":"\n