An Uphill Climb 

by Kate Olson

Last Monday, Leelanau faculty gathered for a half day of professional development before students returned to campus from Fall Break. Unsurprisingly, the morning kicked off with an "energize" exercise with Mr. Hansen since he hates to miss any opportunity to warm up a brain for the day. 

Rob handed us a piece of paper with a simple drawing of a stick fish, emitting what appeared to be an odor. He asked us to name our "stinky fish." In other words, what worried us about the five weeks of classes remaining in the semester? He encouraged us to utter and then talk through our concerns before we navigated the fast-paced, critically important teaching and learning done during November and December.

For seasoned faculty, it was a relatively easy question. For new teachers, it was a question mark.

Faculty and staff willing to share their "stink" mentioned: "The pace. The time change. Shorter days. Less time outdoors. Mental Health. College applications. The dark. Mid-year admission. #GivingTuesday. Stress. Diminishing novelty. Impending winter. The unknown."

These concerns reflected our adult worries about stamina and grit as much as our Leelanau students' fortitude through the coming weeks.

Anybody who has visited the Sleeping Bear Dunes knows it is easier to take those initial, exhilarating steps up a dune than to complete the uphill climb. September and October were full of adventure, novelty, new relationships, independence, and a new summit to conquer. As November approaches, we are mid-way up that dune, and the newness has worn off. There is a temptation to slow down, perhaps give up, or question our decision to begin the climb in the first place. 

Taking two steps forward and slipping a few inches back in the sand is exhausting business. But that is why we are at Leelanau. In the weeks ahead, we will encourage our students and colleagues to embrace the routine, be frank about our worries, ask for help, and believe in the climb. In darkness or in light, we have each others' backs and will double down to nurture a sense of curiosity, belonging, and resilience. With a little help from our friends, we will generate our own light and momentum for that long walk to the big lake!