Parents' careers

First confession: I love projects. Almost as much as I love practicing habits. 

 

On one sunny Saturday in August, we had a school day. I thought that this could be an opportunity for some pleasure and business. Thus, we played first ‘pesäpallo’, parents vs. students. Tight game but my 4B students were invincible. 

 

Then we moved in. I had asked some parents to tell about their careers. When and how it became clear to them, what they are going to study and what might be their profession and how their strengths will combine with their profession: how can they use them in everyday working life. 

 

My high expectations were not only met but exceeded. 

 

The parents were fantastic. They had just right mind and attitude to be role models for my students. 

 

One easily thinks that all one has to do is study and there is a clear path to a professional career. Sometimes it does but usually life is not a straight line. And it’s all right. 

 

These examples that parents told us were as various as life in itself. And it also came visible that nowadays it’s not that obvious that one has only one life like it was a case for two generations back: one hometown, one job, one marriage. Many people have many lives.

 

Like one parent crystallized our project:

 

“It was exiting to speak such open-minded and enthusiastic learners. I scanned my career and thought about the skills and I needed and what strengths have helped me over the years, connecting them to school and learning. It was inspiring to reflect my own career and skills, which is something not done very often.”

Teija Konttori, mother of 4B student

 

These are the moments when one really feels that education can be liberation, to find an own path and not to settle before it feels right. 

In short, do what you are.

-Mikko Taskinen, teacher of 4B