My wild story (so far)

One of the tricky things about “self directed” as a concept is that success is totally defined by the individual and there are no predictable pathways towards it. There are no grades, test scores or universally applicable metrics to point to and say “see?” And that makes it hard to argue for in the court of “logic and reason”. When I was embarking on my un-schooling journey I read account after account of other people’s journeys. I was looking for inspiration, permission, but mostly the comfort of seeing that I might be able to take this wild leap into my own path and be ok.

So, in the spirit of solidarity, here is part of my story.

Beading in the kitchen, age 12.

Wild roots

I was raised with total creative freedom. My parents are the sort of artists who beaver away behind closed doors. They don’t perform or exhibit, but being creative was woven into the fabric of everyday life. I had a drawing table in the kitchen of our co-op townhouse so that I could do what I loved and still be in the middle of everything. There was music and singing and crafts with friends. “Thing-finding” walks, weekly trips to the library with grocery bags to carry all the books home, and waaayyyyy too many pets.

If Pablo Picasso was right in saying “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” well then, I hit the jackpot. Because I was encouraged at home, I built enough skill to be called “talented” by teachers and the like and was allowed to remain an artist.

My zest for learning began to conflict with formal education pretty quickly, but for a long time I had a rich enough life outside of school and enough friends and interests (shout out to choir, drama, and art class) to keep going.

My big bid for freedom

The breaking point came in highschool. I felt like so much of my day was spent jumping through hoops, proving my compliance, and waiting for my peers to stop talking so I could learn something. I know a lot has changed since then, and there are many alternative kinds of school, but my salvation came in the form of “the Teenage Liberation Handbook” by Grace LLewellyn.

With my parent’s blessing, I dove into self-directed learning (aka Unschooling) It was sweet relief to read to my heart’s content, play music or rock climb in the middle of the day.

Playing the first ever Campbell Bay Music festival, age 19

I channelled my performance bug into music and dance. I made friends with the local homeschoolers. I learned how to paint. I went for long walks and bike rides and learned the names and properties of plants and trees. I was free.

My life took on an organic shape. I had part-time jobs in film, outdoor retail, wellness, customer service, and marketing. I went on long road trips. I taught Celtic fiddle and spent a few years taking care of children who became like family to me. I exhibited and sold my artwork, and did some live painting. I designed and self-published a colouring book.

Career path

In 2013 I was introduced to the concept of Graphic recording with the words “you should do this! It’s perfect for you”. I met Corrina Keeling and Sam Bradd. By now I was used to learning while doing and got right down to business. The visual practitioner community is unusually supportive, and I was so lucky to receive all of the help I could possibly want.

Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of scribing for folks ranging from small community groups to massive, international organizations. I’m so deeply grateful. Eavesdropping on hundreds of conversations from experts ranging from molecular biologists to indigenous elders was a unschooler’s dream version of university.

Graphic Recording in front of 1000+, 2019

The next leap

But the big city and work-travel life wasn’t ultimately for me. I moved out of the city with my partner and went to coaching school to learn how to support others in being their truest selves. My partner and I are building a house on a mountain side, and I now offer in person services locally and virtual services all around the world.

So here I am, walking my talk about being and offering everything we are to the world. Every experience, and skill that I have to offer is like pearl and I’m the thread holding it together, making it something that can be valuable to someone. Part of that offering is using coaching and visual consulting to help other people find their pearls and string them together so they can offer them to the world.

I’m hoping that we can all rediscover the freedom of the natural order: humans as a vital part of a whole. Each of us existing as one vibrating cell in the body of nature. Self-determination and service in balance.

I humbly bow to the indigenous and first peoples all over the world who have remembered this despite brutal oppression. Colonial culture created the word “wildness” to make it seem like we were separate from it. Civilized. Safe. I want to reclaim it. We can all remember what it means to belong.

What does “wildness” mean to you?

Some self-directed learning and Unschooling resources: Untigering | The Alliance for Self Directed Learning | Not Back to School Camp | Life Learning Magazine | Indigenous Education: The National Centre for Collaboration

XO Annalee

PS: Click these links to find out more about me and my work .