Sir Ken Robinson (one of my favorite educators) speaks about events that changed the direction in his life and inspired his work in education.



While I seldom write about it, I think my own brush with cancer was a turning point in my life. At twenty-two, I was undergoing major surgery and the strenuous treatments that accompany a cancer diagnosis. I had it easier than many, but my time with cancer was by no means fun. It shook my view of the world and the way I prioritize my life.

So many things that seemed important to me before cancer suddenly became irrelevant. I started noticing people around me more – their lives, how I affect them, how they affect me. I remember one of my managers at the bookstore for whom I worked criticizing me for spending more time talking with coworkers and customers rather than shelving. What I didn’t know how to express then was that, for the first time ever, those people were suddenly more important to me than the objects I was shelving. I never returned to retail after leaving a month later.

Cancer had a humbling affect on my life, and it inspired me to see such a large number of people come together to help one person. Some of my fellow patients awaiting daily treatments were constant discouragements, but others were an inspiration. They looked to each day as a new day full of opportunity for recovery. They helped me see what a blessing life is, what it means to be thankful for every new day – even if that day brings a barrage of needles, radiation, and hair loss.

While I would never wish my experiences on anyone, I do think I came out the other side a better person.

Tags: education, memoirs