Hero is defined as “one who shows great courage”. Flourish is an invitation to cross the threshold, embark on the hero’s journey, transforming beyond imagination. Each participant takes a risk, stepping into the unknown, pushing beyond comfort zone into a space where possibilities for transformation are limitless. The call to adventure begins with an invitation to create “space to talk about values in education…where ideas are shared, practices result, and community is formed”. This community meets the mentor empowering each individual to themselves take the role of mentor in their work as teacher/educator. Together they cross the threshold into a “supportive and interesting” community as they “take a step into the unknown…know(ing) you will learn and be supported in your efforts”. The known becomes unknown, courage and vulnerability prevail opening hearts and minds to the possibility of true “transformative power”. Flourish brings trials and failures as community members grow new skills through a process of death and rebirth leaving participants “so revived afterwards”. Flourish embodies entrepreneurship by embedding wellbeing and creativity at the heart of teaching and learning in Higher Education. Participants return to the world changed pushing them to “think outside the box”. Such ripples are transferred into the education system where “her [Deirdre’s] originality, passion and personal approach to teaching/lecturing is something I will take with me as I move on to be a teacher – which is indicative of her uniqueness”. Indeed, Flourish “brought the most modern and holistic approach to third level education I have ever seen”.

Einstein once said “we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them”. Leading for change means challenging ourselves to go against the grain, to push beyond the limits of our imagination and having the courage to be vulnerable, take a risk, embracing failure as a learning opportunity and staying true to our vision and ourselves. Critical to Flourish has been to be brave enough to create and hold a space where participants can slow down, be, and reconnect with who they are in a really meaningful and mindful manner. Unfortunately, slowing down is an act of resistance within the increasingly intensified, neo-liberal and challenging world within which we live. The opportunity to flourish and thrive can be hampered by the everyday demands of our lives. Education has not escaped this ruthless affliction of hurry and haste. Indeed, slowing down is an act of revolution – countercultural to the dominant dogma of striving, achieving and not doing or being enough in education. Bravery is an act of revolution. Embrace that limiting fear when you finally feel brave enough to jump into the unknown – that is where the light reveals itself guiding you on your hero’s journey, not only transforming your own practice, but also inspiring those around you to consider taking their own journey in creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. As Brené Brown states, “vulnerability is not winning or losing. It is having the courage to show up when you can’t control the outcome”.

My future plans stemming from Flourish involve 3 strands; teaching, research and outreach.

Teaching: I was awarded the inaugural UCD Innovation Fellowship in 2021 to further develop Flourish resulting in the design of a new and innovative module in Irish Initial Teacher Education (ITE), Creative Pedagogies and Wellbeing which will be delivered to students on a new ITE programme from September 2023. This flagship module will be delivered in year 1 of the programme to underpin the importance of creativity, entrepreneurship and wellbeing within and across the 4 year programme preparing teachers to educate students across the Irish education system. The module will adopt an interdisciplinary approach drawing from core themes relating to education, psychology, innovation & creativity, sociology/social justice, pedagogy, philosophy, leadership, EDI (equality, diversity, inclusion) & wellbeing.

Research: I have initiated a research project to explore the role of creativity and innovation in education; The CreatEd Study. Educators from across the continuum of primary and post-primary education across Ireland have been invited to participate in semi-structured interviews exploring creativity and education for transformation in education. Initial findings will be presented at the European Conference on Educational Research (ECER) in September 2022.

Outreach: I intend to continue to contribute to national and international conversations and discourse on the importance of creativity and innovation in education as a means for transforming the world around us.