I landed in Sri Lanka in 2022 with a suitcase full of dreams and a heart racing with hope. The moment my feet touched Colombo soil; I told myself, this deserves a book.

Not because I was starting a new job.
Not because I had crossed continents.
But because, in that single moment, I had fulfilled all the dreams of my younger self:

1. Become a teacher.
2. Become a world champion.
3. Live and work overseas.

I had written about these dreams in my first book The Dreamer. At the time, I imagined the story ended here, with me joining The Overseas School of Colombo (OSC). But life had another chapter waiting. As I am now beginning to write my next book, I realize that this chapter, the OSC chapter is where the real transformation began.

My journey to OSC started with a simple message: an invitation for an interview.

It was morning in Mozambique when I logged on to meet Dr. Michelle Kleiss, the Head of School, and Claire McQuillan, the Secondary Principal. I had no idea what to expect. But when the first question was about jump rope, my heart smiled. That’s my passion, and they wanted to talk about it. The conversation flowed naturally after that. They asked about my teaching journey, my philosophies, and child protection, but in a way that made me feel seen.

A day later, I received an email from Steve Turner, the Head of the PE Department. He wanted to meet. It was the easiest interview I’ve ever had. We talked MYP PHE, gymnastics, dance and yes, jump rope again. When he smiled and said, “We’ll be in touch,” I had a feeling: this is it.

A few days later, I received the offer.
It was unreal.
A dream, now real.
My family would come with me. My mother didn’t understand it at first, but I told her: that this opportunity would help all of us.

Those six months of waiting before joining OSC were the longest of my life. I would tell everyone, “Look at my new school! It has this… it does that…” and I hadn’t even arrived yet.

Still, through all the highs, one question came quietly within me:

Why me?

Why was I chosen?
Out of hundreds of applicants around the world, why me?

I carried this question for years until the day I finally asked.
I went to those who brought me here.
And I asked.

Dr. Michelle Kleiss looked me in the eye and said:
“You were diligent. You were reflective. Your answers were authentic. Your gymnastics and dance experience matched what the school needed at the time.”

Steve Turner told me:
“We saw your vision. Your website showed evidence of your dedication. You knew the MYP deeply. We didn’t want someone to just follow, we wanted someone who could take us forward. You were that person.”

We were gathered at Waters Edge for the end-of-year party. I was surrounded by colleagues who had become family, counting down the final days of my time at OSC. That’s when Antoney Luvinzu stood up to speak.

His words caught me off guard, not because they were unexpected, but because they felt like someone had finally put into language the experience I had lived silently.

“I came across Elves on a screen when we were planning to come and I saw Elves and his beautiful family. When we arrived, Elves and I weren’t very close, but as we got to know each other, we developed a strong connection.

Every day, Elves reminds me why we do this, when things are good, and when they are not so good. That’s powerful, reminding someone of the why. Beyond the paycheck. That’s the kind of presence he brings.

The people I’ve always gravitated toward have been older than me. But Elves is younger, and yet I’ve learned so much from him.

He’s genuine. What you see is what you get. And that’s rare. He doesn’t try to appear nice. He doesn’t try to seem good. And that’s powerful.”

As I stood there, listening to a colleague speak about me, not in bullet points, but in truths, I felt it.

People often asked me, “Where do you find time to write books and run your website?” My answer was always the same: I work with the Dream Team. In the PHE Department, working was joyful. Supportive colleagues. Shared purpose. Freedom to grow.

During these three years, I published four books, two autobiographies (The Dreamer, Locked and Judged) and two eBooks on IB MYP PHE. I also started writing a fifth. No, I don’t know what the title will be yet, but the story is already being lived.

In just a few weeks, I will begin a new journey at the American Embassy School in New Delhi, a school whose mission is to provide a balanced education defined by a joyful pursuit of excellence in academics, athletics, arts, and service.

During my final interview for the role, I found myself returning to a question that has guided much of my path as an educator: How can I help shape the future in this new space?

I turned to Dr. Randal Harrington, Director of AES, and asked,
“How can I help you make the world a better place?”
He looked at me and simply said,
“Just be you.”

Earlier, Dr. Harrington had shared something that stayed with me:
“I chose education because I believe that how we educate our children is how we predict our future. Our investment in children is our investment in the future of our planet. We educate not just to prepare them for the future, but to create a future that serves us all.”

I had never thought so deeply about how our everyday actions as teachers carry the potential to create a brighter world. But in that moment, his words reminded me of something important, the most powerful thing we can offer is our authentic self.

So, as I step into this next chapter, this is the advice I carry with me, and the message I want to leave with you:
Just be you.
Because that is enough to change everything.

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