A Life of Discovery

Dear Susannah Johnson: You encouraged me to share my list of "moments of discovery" I compiled in advance of my commencement speech to the Hawaiʻi Technology Academy's Class of 2018. I thought it would be fun to share the list here, on LinkedIn. I doubt of anyone other than you will see this "article," but that's fine! My process, as I shared with you today at the Elk's Club, was to make a list of years, 1975 - 2018 and populate each year with an answer to this question: What's one cool, interesting or remarkable (to me) thing I discovered in the year _______ ? Not all years earned an entry. After compiling the list, I then worked backwards, several times, through the list looking for the four, or five best discoveries I might share with the HTA kids. I don't recall exactly when, or why this particular approach to this speech appeared (I think I was swimming laps), but no matter, it is what it is. I am not going to include every year because, well, that would take a very long time. But here are a few. In 1974, while in the 11th grade, I discovered filmmaking; I produced and directed a 17-minute film titled "The Unicorn in the Garden," starring my brothers, and my brother's horse. In 1975 I did a reef project out on Kaneohe Bay and discovered exactly how ecosystems work, how fragile they are, and how quickly they can break. In 1976 I discovered my inner quirkiness through my yearbook picture: me not wearing a shirt and holding a giant chicken I called "Horse." In 1977 I discovered how much I loved to run (ran a 5:19 mile once), and how much I loved to drink and play rugby. In 1979 I discovered true friendship at the California Culinary Academy: I discovered John, and Jay, my longest and dearest friends. (Jay passed away ten years ago.) In 1981 I discovered what death looks, feels and sounds like when my Mom passed away from cancer. In 1984 I discovered the real wonders of space when I saw Haley's Comment at 4AM in the dawn skies above the desert east of San Diego. I 1985 I discovered Phil Collins. Nuff said. In 1988, while the defensive coordinator for Punahou's intermediate football team, I discovered what it means to make decisions under pressure. In 1989 I discovered that I really wanted to finish my undergraduate degree. (Moved to Iowa, finished it, and discovered I could be a 4.0 student, even at age 34.) In 1991 I discovered two things: My love of college football (Go Hawkeyes!) and what it means to love, beyond all bounds, one's child (Emma, born in Iowa in 1991). In 1992 I discovered what it means to be a scholar, meaning what it means to have a deep love of learning. (I discovered this while reading Edmund Morgan's "American Slavery, American Freedom" at the Java Cafe in Iowa City.) In 1993 I discovered what it's like to be left for another woman. (Trippy, very trippy.) In 1994 I discovered just how much my Father could be an asshole and a dick. (Whew, that was a rough year.) In 1996 I discovered I could be a really good athlete if I worked at it. (I finished 110 out 1500 participants in that year's Tinman Triathlon.) In 2000 I discovered Sting. Nuff said. (It was a "Brand New Day.") In 2001 I discovered what it looks, sounds and feels like to face a hostile classroom. (Eventually won them over.) In 2002 I discovered the wonders of technology in the classroom, and something called NiceNet, which changed my life. From 2003 to 2010 I discovered what it's like to be inspired by one's students. (My so-called La Pietra days.) In 2008 I discovered I wanted to build a Facebook community. It was called iPad Education Dreams and it now has more than 1500 members. (I handed the reins to a former student.) From 2002 to 20014 I discovered how much I love project-based, inquiry-based teaching and learning. In 2014 I discovered what it feels like to be truly shit on by someone in power, and to totally lose one's confidence. During the years 2002 to the present, I discovered my best ideas happen when I am swimming laps or long distances in the ocean. In 2017 I discovered that I can be a part of the change I want to see in the world. From 2016 to 2018 I discovered I feel most inspired when I am working in the back kitchen as the prep chef. (I am not a front line, on the stage person.) In the end, I talked for about 20 minutes to the HTA 2018 graduating class about what it means to live a life of discovery, and what it means to pay attention in the present to discoveries that later yield important memories. I have come to love leading a life of discovery. It's...epic and very fulfilling.

(BTW, I just discovered the joy of drinking a glass of Jura while writing. Nice!)