The Act of Becoming

AS SHE ASSUMES THE SUPERINTENDENCY DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, THE AUTHOR ASKS, ‘HOW DO WE BECOME WHO WE ARE MEANT TO BE?’

“There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice. And there’s grace in being willing to know and hear others. This, for me, is how we become.” — Michelle Obama

I have Michelle Obama’s memoir, Becoming, sitting in a prominent place in my new office in Long Beach, Calif. It’s there for many reasons. Obama, while she doesn’t know it, is a friend and mentor to me. The book sits near the door to my office because it reminds me to listen for her voice when things get rough.

You know the words — “When they go low, we go high” — and, of course, many other life lessons and wisdom that she offers in telling the story of her own becoming. The book also sits there to remind me of the significance of becoming, something that feels near and dear to my heart as I reflect upon my experiences from the past six months.