
Andy Smallman
School Director
Puget Sound Community School
Puget Sound Community School
School Director
I direct a school that helps young people discover who they are.
Each day I get to interact with young people while being my true self, but I had to create a school in order to get to do it. My school day begins sitting in a circle of 50+ people and waiting for a student to get things rolling. Once this "check-in" meeting is completed, I will alternate from facilitating classes on topics that I love to students who have voluntarily chosen to be there, to reaching out to people in the greater community to support the school.
Here's the first step for high school students
First, identify something in the future that you want to do or be. Let's call this a "goal." What your goal is isn't important. That you are excited about it NOW is vital. Then, each day, take one step in the direction of your goal. Having done that, re-evaluate the goal and, if needed, revise it based on what you learned. Repeat. Accept opportunities when they appear.
"You have a baby and a mortgage. You shouldn't give up your paying job to start a school that has no business succeeding."