Stepping out of our comfort zone

While visiting Turangi recently a kaiako recommended a nice 30 minute river walk to finish off my day. I was not far into my 30 minute walk when I came across a swing bridge. For those that know me you’ll know that I have a real fear of bridges and especially swing bridges. Tentatively I stepped onto the bridge wanting to get a photo of the river below. Photo taken from a safe vantage point, I stopped and contemplated venturing across to the other side. This contemplation lasted quite some time as I talked to myself about, yes it might be scary but doing it would mean that I could move out of my comfort zone, something I am always keen to do.

Of course I crossed the bridge, I wouldn’t be writing this post if the next sentence was, I decided not to and carried on the safe pathway home.

Across the other side I found a map, at a quick glance I could see, I thought, that the pathway would lead me back around to my starting place. It did mention ‘look out point’, something I didn’t pay much attention to.

The walk started close to the river and then meandered away through the surrounding bush bordering on the farm land.. Not knowing the area or having really looked at the map to see where I was going my mind started me on a pathway of doubt. It felt like I was far from any thing and there were no people around. The repeating voice in my head wondered if I should turn back as I know the pathway behind me, it is familiar therefore safe. This voice can be quite loud at times, but there is also another quieter more persistent voice that also had a message on repeat - “if you turn back now you will not know how far you could have gone, you will not know the joys that lie ahead. You may always be wondering at what the possibilities were. Your story could end with - what if….”

Needless to say that even though I was at times uncertain and feeling quite vulnerable I kept going. To my delight the meandering path had been a steady incline to a great advantage point where I was rewarded with an amazing view over Turangi, Lake Taupō and the Tongariro River.

The walk had mirrored my own professional learning this week. Stepping tentatively into the unknown professionally can feel like crossing the bridge, the first step is huge, then travelling an unknown path we can feel like turning back to the safe and familiar, it is normal, I think. But if we do this we do not step into our full potential and realise new possibilities.

I want to talk openly about the struggle of getting it right. As a tauiwi, my heart intent is to try, to move myself across the swing bridge and grow as a kaiako responsible for upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This week I felt that I had misunderstood and misinterpreted aspects of Māori culture. It is a long story that actually my head made way bigger than what it was, however, it did make me stop and reflect and seek guidance from Māori who had the knowledge of Mātauranga Māori, kind and generous kaiako who know my intent is to get it right, kaiako who could hear my hearts passion and desire to learn. As tauiwi we will at times get it wrong the important thing to remember is that if we turn back to the old and familiar pathways we will not reach our potential and this is not right. We have to move into the unfamiliar in order to create real long lasting impactful change for the mokopuna of Aotearoa. For some you may be just putting your feet onto the bridge, just learning about the bicultural aspect of our curriculum, for others you might be stepping into unfamiliar ideas as you delve deeper into Mātauranga Māori, you’ve continued to move down the pathway of learning. The ideas might include looking at pūrākau, maramataka or growing your te reo pronunciation and knowledge what ever the journey there will possibly be times when you will feel like you want to retreat but remember you will not step into your full potential if you do.

As kaiako in Aotearoa we have an obligation to ensure Māori succeed as Māori, this requires change. It requires us to be brave and to step out side of our comfort zone. The NELP is a good reminder for us all to reflect on what this might look like in the everyday life of the centre. Priority 5 says, “Meaningful incorporate te reo Māori and tikanga Māori into the everyday life of the place of learning.” The final action under this NELP suggests that we practice without judgement, this is about creating a safe space for everyone to learn. Learning shifts us out of our comfort zone, we have to remember to be kind on ourselves and others during this learning time.

Part of my ongoing journey has been to think about the messages held inside pūrākau, I am still practicing and will hopefully continue to grow this new knowledge authentically into my teaching practice. Here are two learning stories that I have written recently for my moko Ollie. The first learning story introduces Ollie to his ECE kaiako Curious, determined, observant me and all I bring. The second story picks up on the whānau aspirations for Ollie to connect with taiao/nature - Connecting with what is important

My mokopuna and sons will succeed as Māori, sometimes despite of the education they have had or the attitudes of kaiako in the past who have been their teachers. We want a future where it is not ‘despite’ of the education but in partnership with education that the mokopuna of our mokopuna will thrive as Māori. This requires change on many levels. Mahatma Gandhi said, “be the change you want to see in the world’. Don’t wait for the world to change, put one foot on the bridge and be part of the change, it might feel scary, change always does.

“Kua tawhiti kē to haerenga mai, kia kore e haere tonu. He nui rawa o mahi, kia kore e mahi tonu."
"You have come too far not to go further, you have done too much not to do more"
– Tā Hemi Henare ( Sir James Henare ) Ngati Hine elder and leader

Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui - be strong, be brave, be steadfast.