"Throughout our lives, we experience countless transformations—cycles of growth that can be beautiful or painful, powerful or subtle, grand or small. The life cycle of the monarch butterfly offers a metaphor for transformation. In its chrysalis stage, the caterpillar dissolves entirely, breaking down before emerging as something new. Each stage, from larva to butterfly, is part of an ongoing journey of becoming.

As an on-call elementary teacher, I have the privilege of witnessing students at various stages of their own transformations. Each child navigates unique challenges and discoveries, growing and evolving in their own time. This work continually inspires me to reflect: how can we best support someone in the process of their becoming?

The journey of becoming a teacher and the practice of teaching have transformed me many times over. I am deeply grateful to those who supported me through my own stages of growth and transformation. I strive to offer the same care and guidance to others as they navigate their own paths.

This piece celebrates not only the butterfly—the final stage of transformation—but also every stage we find ourselves in along the path of becoming."

-Rachel Smith