Stripped bare, a mission statement is just that; a statement of an intended purpose and how one strives to achieve that purpose. One thing my practicum reinforced within me is the understanding that nothing is ever perfect. This understanding shouldn’t change how hard we try to make change or whether or not change is even necessary in the first place. What is important is the change itself and the sense of satisfaction said change initiates in both the outside world and ones inner world.
In other words, because a peace of writing as a spelling error, or contains grammatical impurities does that mean that one should cease to write? Should we hold off on expressing ourselves until we can guarantee flawlessness? I don’t think so.
The work is in the doing. Begin the peace. Finish it. Then, if it still matters to you—revise. That’s the spirit behind this current version of my mission statement: not the final word, but an evolving expression of purpose, shaped by practice and reflection.
My professional persona as a writing mentor is just one factor among many that drives student engagement and the accumulation of my ever growing collection of student engagement Artifacts.
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