The Outline of a Mission: Participating in the Second Closed School Education Camp

I participated in my second Closed School Education Camp 🏫⛺
If I had to describe it in one word, it would be 'a time when the outline of my sense of mission began to take shape.'
My mission, limited to the field of education, is to 'bring together people who have a passion for education,' which is
how I express it in my own words.

My first participation in the Closed School Education Camp in November 2023

Based on my participation last year, it had a huge impact on my life.
Before participating last time, I had a 'vague sense of issues,' and
I didn't have the conviction that 'this is something I can share with others'
or that 'this is something worth pushing forward.'

I am not a teacher, I don't have a teaching license,
and I am not involved in educational services.
However, through my work in employment support, I have seen many 'people about to enter the workforce,'
and seeds of questions about education began to form within me,
and they were starting to sprout.

But was it okay to plant these sprouts in the flowerbed of education?
I had that kind of vague anxiety, so
my participation last time was because I wanted to ask,
'What do you actually think of my questions??'
to teachers, people in the education industry, and students aspiring to be in education. That is the reason for participating that I have organized in my mind now.

The result was that, with participants from backgrounds more diverse than I had imagined,
I was able to gain more empathy than I had expected.
That 'backing' in my heart accelerated my subsequent actions.

My second participation in the Closed School Education Camp in June 2024

My purpose for this second participation in the Closed School Education Camp was
1. To deepen my questions further
2. To create an opportunity for confidence for those who, like me last time, are filled with anxiety.
That was it.

The result was 'a time when the outline of my sense of mission began to take shape.'
(Honestly, the fact that the results leaned toward 1 is a personal point of reflection.
For the sake of 2, if there is anyone who wants a 1-on-1 or similar, I would love to take them on.)

My own mission

Originally, my sense of mission had no 'outline'.
Among those I supported in employment, children from families where parents enjoyed their work
were 100% positive about entering society,
and once I recognized that 'the very existence of adults close to them' is education,
and that 'the way adults live' is education,

I set my mission as two things:
From a producer's perspective: 'Creating points of contact between children and people who enjoy life'
From a player's perspective: 'Making my own life something that children can see as enjoying being a working adult.'

I intentionally do not set specific 'whats',
and I intend to welcome and challenge anything
where I, as a catalyst, can cause a chemical reaction!
The prime example is being a radio personality.
I had never once thought I wanted to do that.
I have been doing a 30-minute program once a week since March,
but even now, I don't really feel like I am a 'radio personality'.
I am trying it as a means to 'create points of contact between children and adults who enjoy life.'

So, while I have a North Star of 'creating points of contact between children and adults who enjoy life',
I have absolutely no attachment to the routes I take or the vehicles I use. That is my commitment.
For someone like me, who has no specific talent and lives by doing everything from scratch until I can do it, this feels the most right, and because I have a North Star, even when rough seas come or there is no light at my feet, I can continue to move forward without hesitation.

Bringing together people who have a passion for education

However, at this closed school, I saw something like an 'outline'
of those involved in the field of 'education'.
This is a big change.
It is 'bringing together people who have a passion for education.'

For example,
suppose there is an elementary school teacher who is very passionate.
They say, 'We must change the school for the sake of the students!'
But that wish does not come true.
This is because that elementary school is tied down by rules
that connect to middle school, high school, and university entrance exams.

The places that teacher needs to approach to change the elementary school
are not limited to just the elementary school.
However, it is truly impossible for one person to take actions that influence the entire system while working as a teacher, a profession where those who are passionate are already overwhelmed.
(I apologize if this sounds like I'm making assumptions. I don't mean to say they lack ability,
but I hope you take it to mean that they choose to face each individual person to the very end.)

But I also think it is correct for teachers to use their time to the maximum at their respective schools for the sake of the future leaders learning in each school within the current system.
If so, the person who takes that teacher's passion and causes change
needs to be someone who is looking at it comprehensively, from the outside.

However, there, I noticed a difference in passion compared to those on the outside,
and that there are individual teachers and students at each and every school.
A revolution cannot be achieved by those who lack imagination.

The function that I believe is necessary there is
to 'bring together people who have a passion for education.'

What I have felt from working to contribute to education until now is:
'The amount of people with passion does not match the amount of actual change.'
'With so many wonderful people, why doesn't anything change?'
Therefore, by going beyond the number of people I interact with in my daily work,
and 'bringing together people who have a passion for education,'
I hope that the amount of each person's passion can be sublimated into actual change.

The thought that my role might lie there
is the outline that became visible through my participation in this Closed-School Education Camp.

My own knowledge is shallow, and I am not particularly smart,
so as a crude answer from me at this point in time,
I would actually like those with more knowledge to teach me.

In closing

Last year, Masayoshi Son of SoftBank spoke about how he burst into tears
out of frustration with himself, saying, 'I have achieved nothing in my life yet.'
My back straightened instantly.
Based on my own growth curve from birth until today,
if I continue as usual, I will never reach Mr. Son.
And yet, Mr. Son feels such frustration with his own growth that he bursts into tears.

I realized that I had been feeling a little satisfied with the progress I made since last year,
and I feel embarrassed.
I have reminded myself once again that I am a challenger with nothing,
that I need to take action more than anyone else,
and I want to spend the rest of my life on my aspirations.