I’m better at beginnings than endings.
Which is why I’ve been staring at this screen for days and thinking about it (actively ignoring it) for weeks.
Because there’s something about saying goodbye to an incredible 12 years working in school public relations — that leaves me speechless. (Never mind that my next job has the word “writer” in the title. And suddenly I have no words.)
Looking forward makes so much sense. It is opportunity. Adventure. Uncharted paths. No details, just broad, beautiful brush strokes.
But looking back is different. It’s a painting with broad and narrow strokes. Dots and lines. Shadows and light. It’s both subtle and loud, at once.
It’s too complex for words.
“But you’ve learned so much,” I tell myself. “You’ve connected with so many. This work has changed your life. Find the words. Write them down. Document.”
It’s true. School PR has changed my life. It’s given me purpose. It’s given me an identity. It’s given me an incredible community of friends who feel like family. It’s made me a better human.
As months became years, school PR became a profession I loved, deep in my soul. A personal calling. The chance to create positive systems and programs that help kids and families. The opportunity to leverage new tools and elevate authentic engagement. Caring for all students and grappling with the issues of cultural competence, from race and religion to the gender spectrum. Doing right when faced with sexual assault, violence, drugs, suicide, mental illness.
If public education is the nation’s guardian of an informed electorate — democracy — then school PR is the conscience that listens, sees, guides and seeks to solve. As practitioners we are at our best, behind closed doors. Wrestling with the most difficult, uncomfortable but impossible-to-ignore problems that society faces. Because those same problems live right here, in our schools and communities. And our students deserve our very best, every day.
My love for this profession runs deep. And it swallowed me whole.
It isn’t easy to admit that last part, mostly because many people probably saw someone who looked at the top of her game. It’s hard to share that my fierce love for this work eventually let me down. That my therapist told me I likely wouldn’t be entirely peaceful and well, so long as I was managing a social media community. That the years of life-and-death political advocacy burned me up. That I cared too much.
I’m guessing my school PR friends can relate to the feelings of overwhelm and burnout that brought me here. The feeling when you know you care, too much. Of surviving to bring the good fight, for one more day.
But this I know: Life isn’t about surviving. It’s about living.
To my school PR friends … I hope you will use boundaries and self care to be well, and keep serving. This profession needs people like you. The world needs people like you, doing this work.
And with that, my new beginning. It will be about seeing my husband and kids more. It will be about being just a mom at school. About snow days without burden. About July and August without the stress of trying to launch that space shuttle we call Back To School. And about school board meeting nights without, well, school board meetings.
Don’t get me wrong: I will always love school PR. And there isn’t a thing on that list, or even over the last 12 years in this work, that triggers regret or resentment. (Well, not counting two complete website migrations in under a year. Ha.)
But it is time to say yes to something new. It is time to listen to friends who have encouraged and nudged me forward.
It is time to rediscover my joy.
Yes!!!!!!!!! A million times yes!!!!!! So happy for you!!!!
It’s a lot of letting go. But I’m excited!
God I admire you, Kristin. Thank you for being real, authentic, and brave. Live well and be happy. All my best – Kristi
Oh, girl. I missed this until today, and you have me in tears. I admire YOU on so many levels and wouldn’t find myself following my dreams in the same way, were it not for your influence. xo
This was incredibly well written. I’ve been in school PR for five years and completely relate to all that which you have said. Thank you for your service to our profession. I wish you continued success in your new adventure.
Thank you for this comment. It’s still surreal to think of all that my journey has brought me. But the school PR community is hands down the best. Thank you for your service to our profession. Take care of yourself, and keep doing the good work!
Beautiful, powerful, TRUE, insightful, encouraging, honest words. Which is what we’ve all looked to you for in our #SchoolPR world. Wishing you all the best on this new journey. You will be missed, but I am happy for you and your family, and your new colleagues. And yes, I’m still holding out hope that maybe, just maybe, #SchoolPR folks might somehow be your colleagues, just in a new way!
Thank you, Sabrina. It’s an honor to call you a forever-colleague — and a friend!
I know your life will be more of what you need and less of what you need to do! I just retired after 21 years in school communications, many of those managing websites and social media. It DOES consume you and you don’t realize it at the time. I felt such relief when I removed myself as administrator from 15 social media accounts and knew I wouldn’t have to do anything special on a ice or snow day. Best wishes to you. Keep writing!
Thank you for this (and my sincere apologies for a late reply)! Removing the Facebook Pages from my phone did more for my mental health than any other single thing. Finding a new balance is not always easy, but it is right and good.
Kudos to you Kristin for making the hard decision to put yourself ( and life beyond work) first. After 35 years in school pr, retirement is slowly helping me shift to a more balanced lifestyle that is a huge relief in so many ways, because you are right, the work can be all consuming. I wish you much joy and happiness in wherever your path leads!
Thank you, Karen! I’m sorry it took me three months to even see your comment, but it means so much to me. Wishing you well in retirement — and joy and happiness wherever your path leads!
So excited for you! Such beautiful courage and insight. Congratulations!
Thank you, Jennifer — I’m grateful our paths crossed because of this important profession!