Dedication

Casper and Arie - you gave us trust, support, encouragement and spiff. We told you we wanted to be leaders and you aptly responded “Okay. well. you already are” and with that we were ‘plunged’ into the experience of ARI. It felt like being on the edge of a diving board for the first time, knowing that there was water underneath, but still filled with trepidation out of uncertainty for its temperature. It’s not until the first shove that the mind can pilot the senses to feel assured and capable. You provided that shove, knowing that in the case of sink or swim we had everything we needed to float. Perhaps we should have stuck with a bike metaphor.. may have been more culturally appropriate… but regardless the sensation is the same: diving, biking, plunging into ARI. And that environment of push and confidence was the tone from which we began the journey that we could have never guessed would manifest as it has. From our nervous peddling and panting on our first bike ride to Porta Mosana to our wifi issues, rodent tales, and sleep-deprived greetings - you both took time out of your own very busy schedules to offer your energy and play idea ping-pong with us. Neither of us have ever taken part in a group with such momentum and creativity and leash. Looking back, we can see that our weekly meetings crafted the rope to our learning pit (long before we even knew what that meant)… providing us with both plenty of space to explore as well as ample resources and ideas. Of course hindsight is much easier to assess, but it appears as if every lesson we imparted unto the students we first had to undertake ourselves. You are probably reading this, thinking ‘aha, they’ve finally caught on’ as you have been practicing this yourselves for years. And with this point, we want to commend you for your adaptability and tenacity, that though it ought to, does not always accompany experience. Even as skilled hikers you continue to stride towards new zeniths. Getting to know you both it is hard to imagine you even needed our help. At its very core, ARI is students practicing their problem based learning by tackling the issue of a client. Yet, in our experience working with both of you, it’s hard to see a problem that you cannot summit. But your engagement in ARI is testament to your … drumroll please… growth mindset. And though we are mere young grasshoppers to your yoda-like teaching status, we’ve already learned that students are rarely the first to vocalize their appreciation for their teachers. So, let us represent their voices. Thank you for caring so deeply about your students and truly wanting to incite the curiosity that is so preciously essential to education. Thank you for turning a routine UCM class into a chapter in our lives. Thank you for being the most consistent smile in the omnipresent frown of Corona regulations. Though we do not know where our path will lead us, rest assured that our time with you has planted the seed for teaching animals - no matter the career, format, or continent. 

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With much gratitude and vriendelijk groetjes, 

Alanna & Tessa