Lessons Learned

As I spend time over Winter Break back in my hometown, seeing familiar faces and having loved ones close by, I think back to when I was in Rome dreaming of making it to this very moment. I finally made it. There were times where I didn’t think I would, but I made it!

Joel Nafuma Refugee Center, just below St. Paul's Within the Walls in Rome.

During these busy four months, I also organized my first school field trip. Our choirs went to the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center to perform a concert, as well as deliver donations our school had been collecting. It was a wonderful event, but let me tell you, field trips are a lot more stressful as a teacher than as a student! Between collecting medical information, organizing busing, creating a performance schedule, and taking care of necessities such as bathroom breaks and lunch, there are a lot of pieces to the puzzle and it can be difficult to juggle it all. I was so afraid of missing one small detail that would derail the entire trip, or worse, put students’ safety or health at risk. Although some things did not go according to plan, the trip went well and was another moment for our choirs to grow and learn from.

In a new school, I have also started finding my role and how/where I can best contribute. I’m establishing relationships with teachers, maintenance staff, administration, students, and families. I look forward to continuing this search and to further find where I fit in at this new place.

In looking back at these past four months, there is much to celebrate. What first comes to mind is that I held my first choir concert. It was definitely a highlight of my time in Rome so far. To think of where my students were at the start of the year… some who had never sang before… and to have them singing in beautiful harmony was truly incredible. I was all smiles (and even a little teary-eyed) as I conducted my ensembles, overwhelmed by pride of my students' accomplishments. While the concert was a highlight, I know it is a reflection of the long journey that led to that moment. The journey was difficult, but there were moments (including the concert) where I saw students enjoying the music they were creating. This meant the most to me and I hope to continue fostering their passion and enthusiasm for music-making.

Myself and colleagues on a visit to Siena, home to the one of the most famous horse races called Palio di Siena. We each bought a flag to represent a contrada (team)!

These moments, as well as other experiences I’ve had, have helped me learn powerful lessons:

• Results of learning are sometimes invisible. You don’t realize how much you have learned, or how much your students have learned, until much later down the road.
• Time is one of the biggest key ingredients to learning and success. Sometimes, it just… takes… time.
• Failures are opportunities to learn from. They can often lead to a success later in time.
• Whatever you are struggling with, you’ll get through it. You always have, and you always will.

 
When I return to Italy, I know there awaits many more lessons to learn. I will learn these lessons through successes, failures, tears, excitement, awe, and unexpected ways.