Silent Appreciation Moments

Every time I think back to my Galapagos experiences I think of all our SAMs (Silent Appreciation Moments). One of my first SAMs was walking up the aggressive staircase to the most beautiful open-air classroom and taking in the scenery, noises, and smells at Highland View.




Another moment was walking on the beach on Isabela with Dezii at sunset watching the light change and the birds hunt for dinner. I remember working with the tortoises collecting data and contributing to important fieldwork. Furthermore, I remember sharing memories on the beach with incredible, inspiring people who taught me so much about science, inquiry, conservation, teaching, and life.

I am so thankful I took the opportunity to appreciate these moments and reflect on the impact they had on me. So often I am bustling through life trying to finish something or to get somewhere and not appreciating the present moment. This trip helped me focus on staying in the moment and is something I have shared with numerous people since my return.

I have never been in a place quite like the Galapagos where everywhere I turned I was amazed by the natural beauty, wildlife, and ecology. As I look back through all my pictures I keep remembering more special moments.

I loved watching people conquer their fears of trying new foods and experiencing the lava tunnels. These moments were inspiring and rewarding to witness. I think of the mora clearing and how rewarding eradicating this invasive species was to me. I wanted to make as big of an impact as I could in the allotted time we had there. I think of the invaluable education and information I received from Juanse, Ivan, Grace, and Ann Guezou (to name a few). Seeing how involved locals are in the conservation of the islands and how dedicated they are to educating others was inspiring.

One of my biggest takeaways from this trip was the re-affirmation that I do want to teach, but in a new setting. I want to create experiences for students and people to experience learning the way we did while in the Galapagos. I want hands-on, inquiry-based instruction on Rung 8: Child-initiated, shared decisions with adults of Hart's Ladder of Participation (Hart, 1997). I want children to have a voice in education, in conservation, in life. I do not want students to play a passive role as Freire (1970) discusses in Pedagogy of the Oppressed. I want to provide an open environment to share thoughts, ideas, questions, and opinions--where we can connect and learn from each other. A mirror image of the environment we shared in the Galapagos.






I am beyond grateful for the experiences we had and I hope to stayed connected with the amazing people I met. And whenever I find myself focusing too much in the future or past I try to remember to take a SAM and enjoy the present moment.