This year marks McMillan Education’s 70th anniversary of guiding students and families in their educational journeys. Our chosen theme for 2025, “The North Star,” symbolizes our dedication to leading others toward meaningful growth and self-discovery. As I participated in our annual ‘Run to Home Base,’ I reflected on the parallels between running and my work with students and families, and how closely they align.
There are two types of runners out there. Some move with slow, steady resolve, the tortoise: consistent, deliberate, and unyielding. For many years, I’ve been that runner, plodding forward mile after mile, guided by rhythm and persistence. My schedule was my compass: a certain number of miles, a goal time in mind, each run measured and recorded. My most challenging competition was myself, driven by an inner dialogue that sometimes was heavy with criticism when I didn’t meet my own expectations.
But recently, my approach has evolved. Rather than holding rigidly to routines and chasing numbers, I’ve begun to listen more closely to my body, the weather, the sky, and the quieter voice within. Now I run when I feel moved to do so, not for the sake of hitting a distance or a time, but guided by joy and intuition. The North Star remains, steady overhead, but my journey follows a gentler orbit: less about conquering a set path, more about enjoying the motion and the moments.
Each approach; steady movement, walk-run intervals, or intuitive running, serves the same purpose: to keep moving, to enjoy every step, regardless of tiredness or uncertainty. Like my work with students, there isn’t just one route to growth. Some thrive on consistency and structure; others flourish with space for spontaneity and reflection. What matters most is not how fast or in what manner you travel, but the persistent dedication to the journey and the guiding values that light your way.
Running now is about letting my North Star steer me, whether my strides are measured or meandering, scheduled or spontaneous. Letting go of rigid expectations has brought more peace and fulfillment, teaching me that sometimes, the hardest competition is not others, not even myself but the challenge of learning when to gently let go.
No matter the pace or pattern, it’s the principles you follow and the grace you grant yourself that ensure you always arrive where you’re meant to be.
