At 60 years old, I completed my first NYC Marathon to inspire my students in facing challenges

Embarking on the New York City Marathon at 60 years old was a daunting challenge for someone like me who had never been a runner or athlete.

Nevertheless, on Sunday, I joined 52,000 other runners at the starting line in Staten Island, ready to tackle the 26.2-mile course.

Completing this marathon presented one of the toughest physical and mental challenges I have ever faced.

Juggling my family responsibilities and my role as CEO of Success Academy made finding time to train for a marathon seem impossible.

While I proved that I could physically run, the sheer enormity of 26.2 miles seemed overwhelming.

My biggest fear was not finishing before the streets opened to traffic and being swept up by the buses!

Although I didn’t break any speed records, my goal was not speed but solidarity with the scholars, parents, and educators at Success Academy who are on their own challenging marathon – the marathon of education.

I aimed to inspire them to show that perseverance in the face of difficult tasks matters.

At Success Academy, we view education as a long-distance endurance event, with 13 years of continuous learning and a focus on college preparedness for our scholars.

This ambition, which we call our “education moonshot,” requires dedication, resilience, and determination from our entire community.

Running a marathon is hard, just as achieving our goal of sending 100% of scholars to four-year colleges with financial aid requires grit and resilience.

We must all work together to make this goal a reality.

Education is not always a linear journey; there will be setbacks and challenges along the way.

But it’s important to keep moving forward, one step at a time.

On marathon day, my mantra was simple: keep putting one foot in front of the other, have confidence, and believe there is light at the end of the tunnel.

This advice applies to anyone facing challenges, whether a runner, scholar, or teacher — it’s a metaphor for life.

Regardless of the challenges we face, finding joy in difficult tasks begins with self-belief and effort.

Just as there are no shortcuts in a child’s education, I challenged myself to a demanding race.

Around mile 22, I felt like giving up – my legs were numb, and my body exhausted.

But when I looked up, I realized I was near our first Success Academy school in Harlem, a reminder of how far we’ve come since opening in 2006.

As we continue to expand and provide quality education to thousands of students, the hard work is ongoing.

Education requires endurance and persistence; it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Solving the educational crisis in this country demands collective effort, steadfastness, and commitment.

It’s essential that we prioritize educational excellence as a nation and work towards providing equal opportunities to all children.

Whether viewed through a social justice lens or as a matter of national pride, addressing educational inequity is crucial.

We must push our limits and strive for strong academic outcomes for all students.

I, as a native New Yorker and CEO of Success Academy Charter Schools, believe that hard work and determination are key to overcoming challenges, both in running a marathon and in life.