I want to get right into my theme of BALANCE. To do so before we begin I will say the POL declaration.

“Thank you for coming to my presentation of learning. I am the expert on my own learning. I am also responsible and accountable for my own learning. You can expect me to give an honest evaluation of my progress. We will discuss my strengths and opportunities for growth. Thank you in advance for listening and for offering feedback that I can use to improve as a learner.”

In my vision mission and values (VMV) I have 3 sections, Self-Regulation, Engagement, and Agency. All of which ties into my theme of balance. To fully understand how to show my growth as a learner I must learn that managing each one will take time. I’ve learned that growth is not a continuous positive process and it comes with many ups and downs, this means it doesn’t come to you overnight and it can be messy.

Let’s start with a story where it sums up my experience with balance.

Have you ever felt like your life wasn’t a moving straight path but more of a chaotic juggling act?

Let’s be honest, we all have. An example I felt like this was when I had an assignment due the next day but also a Chemistry test, I opened my iPad and started doing my assignment I believed I could do it and I told myself

‘I’ve got this! I will be productive, finish this assignment and still have time to study.’

My reality?

Not so much…

I sat down and just checked my phone, just for a second. But that second turned into minutes, then into too much wasted time. Suddenly, the stress kicked in, and I started jamming my work together, still trying to make it to be perfect. By the time I finished, I saw that it was getting late and I had barely started studying for Chemistry.

This night wasn’t just a bad study session but it was a perfect example of what balance (or lack of it) looks like. It reminded me that we aren’t programmed to handle everything perfectly. We aren’t born to know how to balance. It’s something we have to learn.

I’ve known for a while that balancing school, extracurriculars, social life, and personal time is tough. It’s something I will be working on my entire life.

Obstacles will always be thrown at you wherever you go but I think it’s how you can overcome it what sets you apart. Sometimes, balance feels impossible, like being stuck in something deep, constantly feeling pulled under.

I’ve always admired people who rise above those struggles with such strength. I want to become one of those people, to be able to rise above it.

I want to be able to rise above the chaos and commit to finding this balance, even when it’s overwhelming and scary.

Even though balance is still an area of growth for me, I have realized that I’ve grown in other parts of myself. One of the biggest shifts I’ve made this year is learning that the process matters more than the result.

At the beginning of the year, I was focused on finishing my assignments, hitting deadlines, and just getting it done. I thought that this was what success looked like and I wasn’t thinking about the process.

Now, when I reflect on this I’ve learned that growth is not about checking off boxes and that it’s more about how I was learning along the way.

This shift in mindset has helped me along my journey. It has taught me that failure, mistakes and challenges are not something you want to avoid or should be scared of, they’re signs that I’m pushing myself.

Before, I would stress out if something didn’t go perfectly or how I planned it. Now, I look at these setbacks as a part of the process, a part of this rugged journey. This doesn’t mean that I don’t still struggle with it, because I still do, it has made me aware that growth is not a straight path but it’s actually full of ups and downs.

But what does this have to do with balance?

Well, I have realized that balance isn’t about managing my time, it’s about managing perspective.

It’s about understanding that some days I will be productive and on top of everything where as other days I will struggle. And that’s okay. Learning to accept this is a part of balance, a part of this path I want to build for myself.

I know as of this moment it’s something out of reach to master for myself, and honestly, I don’t think I ever will. But what I have learned is that balance isn’t about being perfect, it’s about learning to adjust, learning to keep going even when things don’t go as planned. But most importantly, learning to have faith in the process rather than chasing the result.