Apple Leadership Academy

From November 13–15, I had the privilege of attending the Apple Leadership Academy and presenting one workshop and two breakout sessions with Dr. Damian Bebell (Boston College, USA) one of the kindest people I know. I’m so grateful for his guidance and support in helping me grow as a researcher and for the opportunity to share our work together.

During the sessions, we presented results from projects we’ve worked on over the past few years, helping educators explore the power of data and how it can drive meaningful decision-making.

Beyond the presentations, one of the most special moments of the event was reconnecting with my middle school English teacher (photo below). She was someone I deeply admired, and I’ll never forget telling my parents, “I think I’m having a hard time in English this year.” They reached out to her right away, and she reassured them—and me—that I was doing fine and that I was being much too hard on myself. That message of self-kindness has stayed with me ever since.

So, to meet her again 15 years later and share that I’m now researching education—the field that changed my life and connected us in the first place—was an unforgettable experience.

This event, and the many wonderful people I met or reconnected with, reminded me of an important lesson: kindness matters. You never know whose life you might impact.