I was recently asked to reflect on the people who have been inspirational in my working and learning life. My most immediate thought was of 2 librarians; one from my time as a high school student, the other as a colleague. So what do they have in common despite career choice? They were certainly both passionate advocates of learning but equally passionate about supporting me as a person. Both were mentors for me in different stages of my life and helped build my confidence and capacity. A sense of responsibility was also instilled, it was made clear that while they were there to support me, I had to do my share of the heavy lifting.
I have had the absolute privilege of working with other staff that have had a positive and lasting impact on me, some co-teachers, others in a position of leadership above me. There are certain attributes that were consistent across all of these amazing people. These were:
You might come across one or 2 of these attributes in a person from time to time but to find a person with all of them is rare. To have worked and learned with several I am truly blessed.