To dare is to do (not just dream)

"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult" - Seneca

Allusions to the difficulties of the construct of ‘school’, or even 'modern life' are well earned and not without warrant, they are extremely hard in any context to successfully navigate. That is under normal circumstances, yet for the last three years, the Covid-years, learners across the planet have endured a world with far greater complexity and challenge, beset by quarantining, restrictive lockdowns, lack of access to crucial resources, and technology. For many in schools, oscillating between home-based, hybrid and on-campus learning. The courage, perseverance, resilience, determination, pragmatism, adaptability, agility, fortitude, endurance, kindness, empathy and sheer willpower exhibited was humbling and more inspiring than anything else I have witnessed or been privy to in my 23 years as an educator.

I came across this quote in a podcast several years ago, it resonated strongly with me, and I have waited for the right moment to use it.

“The future is not what old people think but what young people do”

Nicholas Negroponte

Dreaming matters and is critical in being aspirational, to have a goal and to drive a path forward, to know what you are aiming for. Dreams, however, remain dreams without the desire, passion and motivation to achieve and realise them. Dreams need to be taken into the realm of reality through ‘doing’. The learners of the Covid-era, dreamt of its end, but they did the impossible and 'learnt'.

The future will be shaped by the special and unique learners of today whose vision, drive and talent is to ‘dream’ big but ‘do’ bigger!