Week 4 Peer Comment #1 Kathy Valunas

Kathy Writes,

"I didn’t get very far into the reading this week before I found the focus for my blog… lighting a spark. According to Ben Zander, “…our universe is alive with sparks. We have at our fingertips an infinite capacity to light a spark of possibility” (p125). This fits perfectly in with the tech conference I sent a proposal to and seems to be the ‘sign’ I needed that says- this is the place you need to be to help light that spark of possibility in others! Zander went on to list some steps and two of those remind me of what my mantra needs to be: “Offer that which lights you up… [and] have no doubt that others are eager to catch the spark” (p126). This pretty much sums up my passion for what I do and all that I have learned throughout my journey both as a student and a teacher. I have always been full of passion and the desire to pass that onto others has been burned deep inside because of how others have inspired or ‘enrolled’ me in this educational trip. They have been my roadmap and their sparks have ignited mine. By offering to others what I discovered along my personal journey and through my research, I can only hope that my light will spark someone else to carry on their own passion and pass the sparks onto others.

Zander, R. & Zander, B. (2000). The art of possibility. Harvard Business School Press: Boston, MA.

Postscript: I just wanted to say I loved this book! It had so many wonderful stories and themes I could relate to. It was a very enjoyable and entertaining read."

My Comment,

Kathy, every time I get the chance to interact with you, I can just tell that you do in fact have the "spark." You are such a kind, caring, and passionate person about your work and about helping others. Those are such great qualities especially to have when it comes to teaching. I think that getting your "sign" as to how you will share your AR project is a wonderful thing! I keep going back and forth on mine, but in the end, I know that the publishing route is the one for me right now. Blessings to you and may you never stop lighting sparks along the path of life.

(Image from http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/87780)