As 2021 commences, it seems only appropriate to join in the fray and do what all others tend to do, though many do not last long in this venture, and set some resolutions.

The word “resolution” comes from the Latin word resolvere, which means to loosen, to undo, or to settle. Seems ironic that a word that invokes connotations such as determination, focus, absolute, and a Rocky-esque feeling of potential accomplishment and adrenaline has an origin around words that are so calm. Every New Year, I feel a rush of “heck, yeah!” and “let’s do this” in my veins. I get pumped for what is to come. There is no loosening up, or undoing, or settling. I am ready…

And, for 2021, I am ready for a new theme. I have been sitting and thinking on so many things during our COVID-19 experience. Always a proud owner of a strangely benign bucket list…I mean, mine definitely does not possess one ounce of fear-conquering or extreme-battling endeavors, I have decided that 2021 is the year that I have to begin to check off some of those boxes. It’s a work in progress, really, hence the theme: returning to learning.

For this to really make sense, I should probably share some of the things that have been on my bucket list for years (and presented in no particular order):

• Learn how to play the violin.
• Write and publish a novel.
• Pick up the oboe and piano again.
• Travel to all 50 states.
• Obtain a doctoral degree.
• Become a foster parent.
• Start a consulting business.

All of these require a commitment to learning. I often joke in my presentations I have given that if I could have figured out a way to make a career out of being a lifetime student, I would have. I loved school; I love learning. An avid reader, I have never struggled to pick up something and learn it through reading. I have a tougher time learning through doing. That self-determination becomes a bit subdued when I find I want to do something that I may not be good at immediately. And, the perfect example is the thing that I will be working on first…playing the violin. I have never, ever played the violin before. And, yet, here I will be, in my fourth decade of life, picking up a brand new instrument and dreadfully swiping (dragging?) the bow back and forth as I attempt to learn how to play notes, forcibly pushing my body to learn a new posture in holding the violin correctly, and painstakingly plowing through simple songs that were thought to be part of “once upon a time” in my life.

When I think about this, though, I become excited. It fills me with a sense of wonder as I question whether I will be able to master songs I listen to on my runs where a violin is in the background. Can I? How long will it take?

This brings to me wonders in my professional world, too. We have asked so much of our students and our staff (teachers, support staff, and administrators) this year. When we began this year, were they filled with excitement? Self-determination? Resolution? Assuredness and confidence that they could do whatever was tasked of them for this new-ish world of education that COVID-19 has forced upon us with little notice? What will result in 2021 from all of this?

I worry a lot about all of this…about the toll this is taking on our educators, some of whom have expressed a desire to retire, early if possible; some of whom have taken leaves of absence, of COVID-19-related necessity or simply from being overwhelmed with the requirements being passed down one after another; and some who have had empty classrooms all year long to teach on a computer full-time. It’s hard to watch, really. It’s hard to lead staff who are emotionally struggling, and you don’t have any idea how to support people through a pandemic. Heck, if people saw my own house trying to figure this out, they would realize I have zero answers. But, as a leader, we are supposed to have answers, or help facilitate those answers being found. To this, we are half a school year in, and we are pressured to get to a point where answers are viable. I don’t know when we will get there.

But, I am resolved…it’s a time for resolutions, right?