“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Ah, the age-old question that begins as a fun activity to do with your kids. One of my daughters wanted to be a mermaid when she grew up…. At some point along the way, usually in high school, the question remains but changes ever so slightly…. “What are you going to do after you graduate?” Now this isn’t just a fun question any more. For some, it can be a paralyzing thought. I can tell you that being a principal wasn’t even in the realm of possibility when I graduated from high school.

I’ve had several “careers” along the way. Here’s the run down as far as I can recount:

  • Newspaper carrier
  • Custodian
  • Greenhouse labourer
  • Fruit tree nursery labourer
  • Turf care service provider
  • Tutor (when I fell in love with teaching)
  • Data processor (my friends called me a transponster)
  • Teacher
  • Body removal agent (coroner service)
  • Chairperson of the InspirED convention
  • Director of the PBL Residency
  • Vice Principal
  • Principal

But I’m much more than the sum of my careers.

I’m a husband, father, son, brother, uncle, a child of God. I’m a leader, I collaborate, I listen, I plan, I organize, I support, and the list goes on.

Gifts, Passions, and More…

This year marks a significant change to the Career Education program in British Columbia. At ACS we have the opportunity to help our students begin exploring their God-given gifts, their passions, their skills, and how all of these things connect to their life outside the walls of ACS. As a school that seeks to engage minds, nurture hearts, and shape God’s world, our career education must be much more than just “what are you going to do after you graduate.”

Allow me to share a little bit about what’s in store:

  1. New Courses: Career Life Education (grades 9-10) and Career Life Connections (grades 11-12). Students will spend time engaging in career education every year during their time at ACS Secondary.
  2. Mentorship: Students will work with teachers in small groups to provide time and space to engage in conversations about how God has blessed them and how they can utilize their gifts and passions outside of ACS.
  3. Focuses: Each grade level will have a guiding question for their year:
    Grade 9:  Who am I and what are my passions?
    Grade 10:  What career opportunities are out there?
    Grade 11:  What can I explore to help me continue my career-life journey?
    Grade 12:  How can I best prepare myself for what next year might look like?
  4. Communication: We’re committed to communicating with our secondary parents as this new program unfolds. Look for regular emails keeping you up-to-date with what’s been happening in Career Education.
  5. Staff: Our staff are all engaging in this as they know how important career education is in the lives of our students. A special note of gratitude to Mr. Brent Westerink, who is championing this new and exciting program.

It is our hope that as this new program develops, we will help our students better understand how, as unique image bearers of Christ, they can go out from ACS and shape God’s world.