Walking Our Own Paths, or Achieving Unconventional Success
Sometimes growth isn’t linear, and it often doesn’t follow the well-worn pathways of others.
In the world of education, there are some common ways to grow and develop over time. A very common path is for a Teacher to become a mentor and instructional coach. This is typically followed by some classes at grad school and a license for leadership. The Teacher becomes an administrator, usually Assistant Principal and then Principal. From there, the administrator may shift their work to district or city government offices to lead the system rather than a school community.
Students go through Elementary and Middle School grades to prepare them for High School. Graduation from most conventional high schools usually leads to college, though many are now attending Career and Technical Education schools again, moving into lucrative job spaces following graduation.
There are some people that do not take these conventional paths. We like the uncertainty and agency that comes from making new paths for ourselves. I’m doing that right now. Others take paths I wish I had taken when I was still in school. Some of my students have taken non-conventional paths to success.
What Path Am I Walking?
I’ve never been one to take conventional paths. School was a tough place for me when I was a student. I was picked on a lot when I was growing up. By the time I was in high school, I would skip 30 of a 45 day marking period. I almost dropped out because I hated being there so much. I talked myself into staying, making up missing credits, and I got to a point where I earned enough credits in night and Summer school sessions to graduate 6 months early. I couldn’t wait to leave it all behind.
I tried to go to my local community college, but it felt like 13th grade, so I quit going. Some people take a gap year - I took a gap decade. I worked, earned, didn’t save, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I tried to start a few small businesses: none successful, learned from each.
I decided it was time to go to college after watching most of my friends graduate. Theater was one of the few fond memories and loved spaces from my high school experience. I entered Community College as a Theater major. I was cast in plays, and I LOVED every bit of it, but something was missing.
I did some soul searching. I remembered my love of science as kid, how I used to love playing in the woods, seeking out the critters that made their home around my family’s farm. I began taking as many science classes as I could. I wanted to explore all the sciences to see which spoke to me. And I found it - Microbiology. I was going to study microscopic life like bacteria, fungi, and viruses. I LOVED every bit of it. I graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science.
Finding a job after graduating was tough. With some inspiration from my best friend’s uncle, I learned about a graduate school in New York City that wanted me to study to become a Science teacher. I jumped at the opportunity to change my path and my home! I earned a Master of Arts in Teaching.
I taught for about 10 years in middle school. I went back to school and earned my leadership license. I joined a District team to support an Elementary and a High School that were considered to be struggling schools by the city. I helped develop a vision for learning that centered student agency and modern learning practices. I took on an emergency Principalship. From there, I transitioned to a role in the public school system’s central offices. And I was inspired, especially in the last year, to return to the classroom and work directly with young people.
So I decided to move in a different professional direction for the upcoming school year.
The Path of François
During my years as a middle school Science teacher, I taught many young learners. There are always individual students that make powerful, lasting connections with me. For a few years, though, there was a whole group of young men that made my teacher-life better. My Advisory was a crew of young men who had seen the inside of the Principal’s office more than a few times. My Principal challenged me to make those same strong connections. I’m so glad I did.
They were not easy, but they did grow and mature. They were exceptionally funny. Their energy was contagious. They learned a bit of science, a little about community service, and about caring for the classroom zoo (snake, tarantula, insects, and a rat). They all moved on to high school. Happily, many of them remained in touch with me even after I moved to work in a new neighborhood.
One guy, Joe, called me and asked if he could hang out with me on the weekend to learn about building robots. We met once at a library where I gave him a basic Arduino kit with manual and some electrical components to learn to build and explore.
Joe called again a week later to share how cool it was to build his own mini air conditioner with some of the parts I gave him and a guiding video on YouTube. Then he asked if we could meet again and build an actual robot. Of course I said yes, and then he asked me to hold on for a second.
“Mr. Glover, it’s François. Can I come too?”
Hey, François! Good to hear your voice. Yes, definitely come with us!
“Hey, G-Love, this is Joshua, can I come?”
Hey, Joshua, 100% join us.
Joe got back on the line, “And Martin and Robert are here. They also want to come. Can we all go?”
I guess we are going to have an Advisory reunion and build robots. Let’s do it!
At this point the guys are all in high school, starting their senior year. They made plans and traveled across town to meet me on Saturdays at my district office conference room to build robots together. Joe, François, and Joshua joined me for a weekend trip to a Maker Faire event. While robots were the reason we got together, I think we really just wanted to hang out, talk about life, and spend time together.
Our last hangout was a cool one. Went in a totally unexpected direction. The guys were talking about wanting to get more kits and parts and building something more substantial, something of their own design. I asked them how we might pay for the parts and supplies we wanted to build with. That’s when the magic started to flow.
I don’t know which one started it, but they came up with the idea of designing their own shirts with clever sayings. We looked up t-shirt presses and silk screening materials. We looked at bulk t-shirt prices and started to play with a budget. A few of the guys came up with a brand, “601OV”, from our days of learning together. Someone started to sketch a logo design. Building robots stopped entirely, and a clothing line emerged.
Sadly, we never hung again as a whole group. I saw Joe and François before Prom. I got to see François, Joshua, and Robert at their graduation ceremony. As with most young people, they got older and moved into their lives. Some went to college, some went to work, one disappeared from my world completely. We had a connection on social media, now including IG (that’s the best I can do, readers, no TikTok for me).
In 2021, I saw a unique post on IG from François about a company called La Nuit De François. I could not believe my eyes. François had started a clothing brand, and he was selling his first line!
(Not an affiliate link above, just a proud teacher sharing love for his student’s entrepreneurial successes. Still though, support him if you are so inclined and it matches your style.)
I happily invest in each piece of clothing. I wear only one of the shirts. Call me a nerd, but I’m keeping the rest in plastic as they arrived in shipping. I feel like a collector.
Who would have thought that a conversation about fundraising with a clothing line to buy robot parts might lead to a real business? This is the kind of unconventional, and absolutely badass, growth that can happen when young people are allowed to explore ideas without coercion and forced learning. Joe chose to bring people together. François chose to be there. The crew chose to shift the topic from robotic designs to fashion designs. And here we are.
What’s Next on the Journey?
I’m going to be a high school Biology teacher next year! I will be working at a school for music and theater to boot! I am stepping back, out of leadership, to continue my professional growth, but this does not mean I am going backwards. My growth and development has never been linear or followed conventional paths. I’m not sure it ever will.
I’m excited to reconnect with young people in September. I’m hoping to bring my vision for agency, design thinking, and curiosity to life. I’m really hyped to see the kind of learning and design that emerges from the conditions that I hope to create for them.
If we can learn to step out of the way, to let their genius shine, I expect we can all watch more Françoises grow right in front us.
Time for me to send an email to François and schedule a meet up. Maybe lunch and a conversation. A moment to hear about what’s next on his journey. Just some time to see what emerges.