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Today, as I was driving back from the NextGen Teachers Bootcamp, organized by DEAN Initiative, The World’s Largest Lesson, and Compass Education for Systems Thinking, I felt a deep sense of fulfillment. The Bootcamp gathered a group of passionate teachers from Lagos State. I was truly impressed by the delivery of systems thinking tools by one of the facilitators from the DEAN Initiative.

I arrived just as the concept of systems thinking was being introduced to the participants. After being introduced to the group, I briefly shared my background and answered a few questions from curious teachers, explaining my connection to Lagos despite living in Germany. This seemed to resonate with many of them.

During my introduction, I was acknowledged as a contributor to the development of the NextGen Teachers Bootcamp Toolkit. I confirmed my role as a Compass Education for Systems Thinking facilitator, explaining that I had been part of the team that developed ways to integrate systems thinking tools into the classroom. This sparked excitement among the participants, and many expressed a desire to work with me directly.

I spent time moving from group to group, listening carefully to their ideas about how to use the Compass Tool for Sustainability. After hearing their thoughts, I offered suggestions on how to align their ideas with the four Compass Points: Nature, Economy, Society, and Well-being. The teachers were highly engaged, having thoughtful, deep discussions that were rooted in their personal experiences as educators and as members of the local community.

Some of the stories I heard were both touching and disheartening, but the groups effectively channelled these shared challenges into meaningful discussions within the Compass activity framework. I was deeply moved by the passion and insight the teachers brought to the table, and it reinforced the purpose I felt in this work.

This experience was everything I had hoped for when I joined Compass Education. It felt purposeful, fulfilling, and aligned with the mission I have set for myself. I often remind myself of my mantra: I have a purpose on this planet, and may I have the skills, strength, confidence, and life energy to fulfill it. Today, I feel all those elements come together, and I owe much of that to the guidance and support from Compass Education, and especially Gitanjali.

As I reflect, I feel immense gratitude for this opportunity and look forward to tomorrow’s session, where we will focus on linking systems thinking to actionable steps. I am optimistic about the positive outcomes and the continued impact of this work.