Transitions

The month of August often brings with it great anxiety. Children are anxious to savor the last days of summer vacation and simultaneously anxious about starting a new year of school. Parents and families start the transition back to routines that summer allows us to shed with glee and relief…where did the June and July go?

For me, August 2012 has been a time of great transition. My husband and I spent the first two weeks helping our daughters, Laura and Virginia, move into their apartments. Each of them have planned for this move for some time, gathering furniture and accessories to make their new spaces not just a place to live, but a home. They are both living with new roommates – anyone who has ever had a roommate can certainly appreciate the anxiety that can come with that! And Richard and I are empty-nesters, a new phase in our marriage.

August 2012 also signifies the end of the planning stage of Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy. Maintenance and operations specialists, furniture movers, and WYWLA faculty and staff devoted countless hours to creating a learning environment suited to our school’s  purpose to education young women to become 21^st century leaders and learners.  Throughout the last weeks of July I was anxious about whether it would all come together in time; thankfully,  none of my worst fears were realized and most of my hopes and dreams have come true.

The Olympic salute, “Let the games begin!” certainly applied on August 13, when our community spirit tunnel announced the arrival and entrance of our first classes of students. Even with all of the fanfare, I had to pinch myself to confirm that it was all very real! 

My transition from visionary and planner of an all girls leadership academy to leader of Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy has begun.  I am working with an outstanding faculty and staff who are creative and dedicated; watching them work with our students is inspirational, so I am spending much of my day visiting classrooms. This allows “my girls” to get to know me as well. My presence sends the message that I care about their learning and want them each to use their time wisely.

This week transitions continue for all of us as the Governor Morehead Campus students and families return. They, too, are beginning a great time of transition.  We will all learn new routines as we share the beautiful GMS campus and its facilities. I am confident that each school community will reflect on the decision to unite us and wonder what we may have been so anxious about in the first place.

The transitions of August will soon become the routines of the fall. My hope is that as this occurs in my daughters’ apartments, my household, and my new school campus we will make the shift from just an apartment, house, and a campus to a home where we can develop significant, enduring relationships as we live, learn, and lead together.