Page 4 - The Edge - Summer 2019

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

By Jill Barragan

Trip to the Grand Canyon Provided a

Valuable Lesson in Vulnerability
Jill Barragan

I recently took at trip to the Grand
Canyon with my daughter, Reagan,
and her 4 grade class. It was a 22-
th
hour turnaround trip where we left
the school Thursday night at 10:30
p.m., and we didn’t return until 8:30
p.m. Friday.
There was no hotel, no hot shower
in the morning, no Diet Coke on the
bus. Sleeping was to take place on the
bus and creature comforts of showers
and caffeine were of no importance.
As I prepared for the trip, I shared
with anyone who would listen and
commiserate with me about my dread
at having volunteered for such a trip. I
hated the idea. I may have even tried
to get a couple folks to take my place.
I was so reluctant to go on this trip
that at work on Thursday I told our
Director of Human Resources and
Superintendent that my throat was
getting sore and I was getting a kink in my neck – as if they could for me to stop being afraid about this trip and all of the things
get me out of this! All the while, Reagan was so excited for the I couldn’t control. It was time for me to be vulnerable so that I
trip that every day the week prior she would go on and on about could experience the same joy and belonging and love on this
the trip and how excited she was. I think I managed to convince trip that my daughter wanted to – and would – experience. So,
her that I was equally as excited. I was not. I let go of control, and opened up to the vulnerability of being a
The trip arrived and I could mostly only think about how passenger rather than a driver; being a receiver of experiences
awful this trip was going to be without Diet Coke, while sleeping rather than the author of it. Sure enough, I had an incredible
on a bus, and a pile of work back at the office that wasn’t getting time bonding with my daughter and her incredibly hilarious
any smaller. friends.
As soon as the bus took off and the kids began to wind down, I share this because I think we all have opportunities to be
I pulled my blanket over my head and got on my phone (we vulnerable. This could be at work or in a personal relationship.
were supposed to set an example for the students by putting This could be apologizing; applying for a promotion; changing
away our technology). I had heard about a TED Talk by a your career course; going back to school; speaking to a legislator
woman named Brene Brown. I had been wanting to listen to it about a topic that is important to your district; or any number
for weeks and hadn’t had a chance, so what better time? of things.
Headphones in, I spent the next 20 minutes listening to It’s 100 percent possible that in having the courage to be
Brene speak about vulnerability. Strange topic, I know. And vulnerable we can fail and not achieve our goal. But it’s 100
while I had many takeaways from her talk, what resonated most percent certain that we won’t achieve that goal if we don’t give
with me is that “vulnerability is having the courage to show up up the control to be vulnerable enough to try.
when you can’t control the outcome. Vulnerability is the core of So let’s be brave in our lives, show up, and take chances. It’s
shame and fear and our struggle for worthiness, but it’s also the very possible that you will get to experience the joy, belonging
birthplace of joy, of creativity, of belonging, of love.” and love that also comes with vulnerability, just as I got to
Those who know me know that letting go of control is not experience with my daughter in the Grand Canyon. Today, I
one of my strengths. But on that bus, I recognized it was time hope you’ll choose courage over comfort.

4 THE EDGE | SUMMER 2019