Constructing a vision...

Throughout the course of the day, the year, or even the career of an educator, we tend to focus on what is happening in the present. We consume ourselves with what is directly in front of us and the immediate ramifications of our actions. We make decisions on what is best for the current situation in which we find ourselves, and we limit ourselves to our most current and recent emotions...

When we focus solely on the present we are ignoring the lessons of the past, and we are severely limiting our successes in the future...

Furthermore, our past experiences are absolutely critical in helping to develop the path of our future. The lessons learned, the mistakes made, and the consequent self-reflections all are necessary pieces in constructing our future. Our past experiences ultimately affect the directions we take in life, and I honestly believe our past is a pretty good predictor of our future. Though the past is not absolute when determining one's future, I think more times than not they are directly related...

The past, the present, and the future all come together to form one's vision:

vi·sion  

n.

1.

a. The faculty of sight; eyesight: poor vision.

b. Something that is or has been seen.

2. Unusual competence in discernment or perception; intelligent foresight: a leader of vision.

3. The manner in which one sees or conceives of something.

4. A mental image produced by the imagination.

5. The mystical experience of seeing as if with the eyes the supernatural or a supernatural being.

6. A person or thing of extraordinary beauty.

tr.v. vi·sioned, vi·sion·ing, vi·sions

To see in or as if in a vision; envision.

Questions to ponder:

If you are a teacher, what is your vision for yourself and for your students?

If you are an administrator, what is your vision for yourself and for the building in which you work?

As an educator, how are you using the past, the present, and the future to construct your vision?

Advice moving forward:

If you find yourself unable to focus or you are lacking a sense of purpose, take time to evaluate your vision.

If your vision is weak or lacking, the direction of your team or school will definitely suffer; step back and reflect.

Don't be afraid to incite the help of others when establishing a vision; a shared vision can be quite powerful.

Your vision is not written in stone; your vision should be flexible and will need constant revision and modification.


Don't underestimate the power and influence a strong or weak vision can have on you and your organization. It might just be what takes you from good to great...