Later this week, David Alviar, a good friend of mine, will be finishing one of the most incredible feats of human strength and endurance imaginable – rowing across the Atlantic Ocean from off the coast of Africa to an island in the Caribbean. When the American Oarsmen (he and his two rowing mates) arrive in Antigua later this week, it will be after having been propelled by nothing other than their man power for over a month. By journey’s end, they will have traveled over 3,000 miles. It’s crazy to think that, for most of their voyage, regardless how fast or how long they rowed each day, it was never going to be enough for them to see shore. I can find so many lessons for educators from David’s journey.
Finding Lessons for Educators
There are so many comparisons that can be made between the work they’ve done out in the ocean and the work educators do in a school throughout the year. Sometimes, it can feel hopeless when you’re putting in all this effort and not making significant progress any given day. The start and end of the school year are exciting times to work at a school, but the middle of the journey is when it’s toughest. There’s a lot that can be learned about how to successfully make it through the toughest parts of the year.
Lessons for Educators
Here are a few lessons I’ve taken away from David and the American Oarsmen that could be applied to work in schools.
Have a Game Plan
The Oarsmen predetermined the route they would take across the Atlantic Ocean and set up metrics that helped them gauge their progress. Following similar principles in a school can help both administrators and teachers stay the course when times get tough.
Keep the End in Mind
The Oarsmen know that they are aiming for an island in the Caribbean, but they also know they are striving to complete a challenge that few before them ever have. Educators can be more successful by having a clear picture in their mind of the destination and reminding themselves of the power behind their cause.
Plan for Failure
When the Oarsmen lost their “waste bucket” overboard, they didn’t fret, because they had a spare. Failure is only devastating when nobody expected it. When you work in a school you need to be ready for the unpredictable.
Final Reflection
I can certainly say that a row across the ocean will never be in the cards for me, but I admire the time, effort, and mental fortitude that it’s taken for these three men to prepare and execute such an incredible journey. Schools can be a powerful place to learn when everybody is as aligned on a mission as the American Oarsmen have been on theirs.
Read more about David and the American Oarsmen at http://www.racetheatlantic.com/race/.
