Both doubt and thrill overwhelmed me as I hit the keystroke that would send my application to the Teacher's College TESOL program.  I was pretty sure I knew what I was doing.  As a lifelong learner dedicated to building bridges for others while feeding my insatiably curious nature, I viewed this next step as fitting into my journey perfectly. 

I have always built bridges for others.  I had already experienced three ways of building bridges for others that required planning, preparation, and training; achieving certification to practice medicine,  acquiring an MBA to effectively build an executive search firm in the biomedical space and serve as an Adjunct Professor of Business, and passing the certification exam to achieve human resource professional status.  Building bridges for others in each of these ways has been rewarding, challenging, and most of all impactful. 

And then there's language.  Language and communication, which have been core themes of each aspect of my career, feed my insatiably curious nature.  I'm a musician, reading, interpreting, and sharing the language of music which speaks through the wind instruments I play.  I'm a doggedly determined intermediate Hebrew speaker with a not yet AND I'll get it attitude.  TESOL is clearly the next step.

 So, I knew I would give it my all as I hit the keystroke that would send my application to the TESOL program.  And so far, so good.  I made the connection personal.  I attended an open house, met the program director and current learners, asked questions, tested the waters by volunteering to run a few conversation classes, observed a TESOL class, and recommended the program to friends who expressed interest in what I was doing.  I did my homework and it paid off.

I'm thriving in the program.  Doubt is gone.  Thrill remains.