With my recent move to Oakwood, Ohio, I am now right outside Dayton – the heart of aviation! I get the unique and esteemed position to lead in a school district with many active and retired Air Force personnel. I’ve also had the distinct pleasure of being “adopted” by the Military Kids Clubs at both of our elementary schools.
I know I’m new, but I don’t think I’ll get over hearing the sounds of an airplane overhead. Just yesterday, I ran outside, wildly scanning through the clouds, looking for the airplane that was making so much noise. I must have always been fascinated with flight, even before landing in Oakwood. In 2022, I made “RISE” my #OneWord based on a flight I had taken that sent me above the clouds to the bright and warm sky!
As I reflect on the past two years since. I have felt a steady climb. A climb in my attitude. A climb in my outlook on life. And, a climb on my hope for the future.
With the purposeful and incremental steps in my ascent, I feel ready to SOAR.
My #OneWord for 2024 is SOAR.
There’s something powerful and beautiful in watching a bird soar. I used to think there was a simple explanation of something gradually falling based on the initial velocity, like a paper airplane. But, a bird that soars is actually able to locate hot, rising pockets of air and use the currents to stay aloft. This thermal soaring process not only allows the bird to fly higher but also uses less energy.
Here’s the trick – birds can sense where to find those hot pockets and then use them to soar. So, my goal for 2024 is to harness the positive energy from people, circumstances, and the potential around me to soar. To make this come alive, I will commit to focusing on four priorities:
- Serve – I commit to leading through service. I will prioritize the well-being and growth of others to help them to soar.
- Optimism – I commit to leading with a positive attitude. I will look for ways to be solution-centered and inspire others through a hopeful outlook.
- Authentic – I commit to leading by being myself. I will attempt to communicate clearly and with consistency.
- Resilient – I commit to overcoming obstacles. I will look to identify challenges, learn from setbacks, and inspire others in the face of adversity.
My hope is that making my #OneWord an acronym of Serve, Optimism, Authentic, and Resilient will help it stick! In addition, I am also creating a playlist of songs with the same sense of positivity and energy that uses the word SOAR. So far, I have the following:
If you have a song you think would fit, drop it in the comments section!
Neil Gupta, Ed.D. 
Meredith Andrews – SOAR
Word Worship Music
Wow! I have never heard this song! This is fitting! Thanks for sharing this!