Can You Invent a Job?
A Letter from Brittany Stone
Graduating college not knowing what was on the road ahead…
This is not what I had hoped for.
I always dreamed of a career in the arts. I grew up in choirs, dance classes and acting classes. I majored in music education and bridged my love for music with my passion for creating a more equitable world through education. My love for risk and adventure landed me a job as a music teacher at an American school overseas. In August of 2017 I moved to Morocco. I was so excited to be able to teach my students about the beauty and power of art - a lifelong dream coming true.
I worked tirelessly teaching K-12 for 2 years and planting the seeds for my dream program, but after a few months, my energetic 22-year-old self was quickly burning out and I no longer felt aligned with my career path. The enthusiasm I once had for teaching was fading. Everything I thought I wanted had fallen into place…so why wasn’t I feeling fulfilled? Why was my gut telling something was wrong? This is not what I had hoped for.
I distracted myself from those intrusive thoughts by focusing on the students, and trying to make a difference in their lives.
I distracted myself from those intrusive thoughts by focusing on the students, and trying to make a difference in their lives, but before long it became impossible to ignore that missing puzzle piece was any sort of nurturing from my administration. I repeatedly told my boss that I felt like I was failing my students, the workload was too massive (30 classes a week with 5 hours of planning time…), and my spirit for teaching was dwindling. His responses were always compassionate, but he never took any actions to help.
I was so frustrated with the roadblocks I encountered, and the lack of support prevented me from teaching my best - all at the expense of the education of the students.
This is the story is still so painfully familiar to teachers today, and seems to be coming more common. I knew I wanted to continue to fight for teachers and education, but I wasn't sure how. Personally, I was hoping to continue to live abroad, but knew education and arts education in the US needed support. It felt wrong to fight for arts education around the world while ignoring what was happening in my own country.
Shanti Bhavan Music Class outside!
Getting dressed in a Sari for my Shanti Bhavan Farewell Assembly.
Feeling the full effects of burnout, I carefully saved up to take a few months off to travel and complete my yoga teacher training in North India. While searching for what to do next, I came across Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project, a school using education to break the cycle of generational poverty in India. I was inspired by the mission, success, and wholistic care for the children. As I scrolled through the website I found their music education partner, Broadway for Arts Education. My jaw hit the floor. A non-profit organization based in the US that works to provide arts education to underserved communities around the world. There was a posting for a music teacher at Shanti Bhavan, and I was missing the classroom. I was worried that I might be jumping back into the same unhealthy environment, but my gut urged me to give teaching one more shot, at least for a few months.
Everyone was so honest, talented and fun. So refreshing.
Riding through Rishikesh India with a piano trying not to fall off or hit anyone.
In January of 2020, I went to Shanti Bhavan, and fell in love. I felt supported, nurtured, balanced, and relieved that I had followed my instincts to give teaching one more try. But there was something my gut could have never predicted: only 2 months in to my placement, I had to leave campus because of COVID.
I thought this global catastrophe was the end of my story with BAE, but it was only the first chapter of many. I stayed on as the Virtual Music Fellow throughout the pandemic and oversaw enormous growth of the music program at Shanti Bhavan. Soon I was also teaching music virtually to students in the Galapagos and taking over administrative tasks. I LOVED working with the BAE Team, and it turns out, they LOVED working with me too. I had found my missing puzzle piece, and they had found theirs. Everyone was so honest, talented and fun. So refreshing. I felt this was my path to fight for education and teachers, and still be on the frontlines working with young people who had made me fall in love with teaching in the first place.
Nature walk! Flowers in my hair and lots of hugs.
My glam team getting my ready for my Farewell Assembly.
First. Let’'s take a selfie.
My goal is to make our teachers feel supported so they can do what they love and create a healthy learning space for our students without martyring themselves in the process.
I now work full-time with BAE on the administrative team in addition to being a teaching artist. I get to visit my favorite place in the world, Shanti Bhavan. I get to share my love for music and education. I get to help support our teaching artists and work to find answers to the difficulties we are facing in education around the world. My goal is to make our teachers feel supported so they can do what they love and create a healthy learning space for our students without martyring themselves in the process. I now get to be the one to respond with compassion to teachers AND provide real, helpful solutions.
I hope we become a model for schools and education systems around the world. I hope this year is filled with more growth for our programs and partners. I hope this year I can make up new goals because I just crushed my last ones.
I hope your year is filled with love, lessons and success. We are so grateful for your commitment to the arts. Thank you for investing in the future of our students, and for your support in helping make our community a vibrant, creative place.
Moral of the story: trust gut, don’t settle for an incomplete puzzle, and if what you want doesn’t yet exist - build it yourself!
Singing our hearts out.
My favorite nature walk squad.
Blurry photos and big smiles>>>>
