Educators, mentors and guides along the way

‘Every time an elder dies a library is burnt’

Elizabeth k. Lindsey at Bioneers'

Recently I learnt the term ‘coyote mentor’ and would like to acknowledge my coyote mentors.

Coyote mentoring is where learning is facilitated by allowing the student to find out the answers for themselves. They are the ones one who when asked ‘what kind of bird is that’ reply with a twinkle in their eyes ‘well how does it move? What colours are its wings?’

I learn best from making messy mistakes and getting real hands-on experience.

In my work with young people in the last few years I have found myself asking questions inviting an individual’s own discoveries, sharing their excitement and showing them I value their learnings.

I think that my ability to facilitate tacit experiential learning is partly a reflection of the way my own mentors including teachers, family and friends patiently supported my learnings.

I am filled with gratitude and admiration for all the people who asked me questions, answered and helped me to answer my own questions, shared their stories, wrote letters to me, dropped books in my path, listened to me and heard me.

My mother and dearest friend told me recently that she liked me. Not only that she loved me as a mother, because I was her daughter, but that she likes who I am, who I am becoming and what I am doing in the world. In a similar way I have woken up to who she is and how lucky I have been to have had her not only as my mother but also as my personal life coach, supporter, listener, travelling companion, cook and cookery teacher, English teacher and essay marker, herbalist, masseuse, sick nurse, sewing teacher and storyteller my whole life.

My clown father is my favourite playmate and although most of my life we have been as far away from each other as we could be on this planet I have always felt his love and presence. We would sail in a storm eating a pan of noodles at the helm laughing and shouting in the rain.

Some of my learnings with my father have been delightfully fun like juggling, miming, sailing and growing avocados. Other learnings were quiet, morning mediations, mindfulness, visits to spiritual teachers, and how to ‘just be’ with everything.

Some learning’s came from challenges. I have felt as if he was prodding my invisible sore spots, showing me my inner frustrations and inadequacies. I am thankful that out of anger and tears came huge leaps in my understanding of my self and other people.

I went to Rudolf Steiner schools until the age of 14 and had a creative whole person education lead by a constellation of bright inspiring teachers, surrounded by a community of artistic, world conscious families.

At 14 I decided to leave the ‘Steiner Bubble’. I made my way into ‘St David’s College’ (link here) a private school in Wales with an outdoor education department and over 30 extra curricular activities.

I put on a school uniform for the first time, took up kayaking and climbing, went kite-buggying and started studying for my first exams. I thrived at St David’s, seizing every opportunity and valuing the magnitude of resources available to us.

The St David’s ethos created an underlying foundation of respect between students and staff.

During my four years there I had some incredible teachers and mentors. One showed me I could in fact do maths and my philosophy teacher knocked down all the walls of certainty I held, teaching me to question reason and think. The design department hosted my whirlwind of ideas and creations, providing me with materials, skills and encouragement.

Mr Tim, the Reverend, the School chaplain, showed me the way to Africa. I sat and studied on his settees for years.

Still now Mr Tim listens and believes in me. When I said I wanted to start an African business he said ‘yes of course Amelia’ and sent me back to Africa to do it. He sees my dreams and visions many of which I feel are similar to his own.

So many mentors friends and guides each modelled their own diverse art of sharing, all contributing to the forming of my own.

Output Packet 1a

The story of Amelia- Life and Career Review

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