A Brief Bio

To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you
stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there. Kofi Annan

My name is Jennifer Bardell and I am a 37 year old wife, mother and teacher who
enjoys living, loving, and laughing. I live in a world of endless possibilities and I am
very passionate and excited about life. I have an immense amount of enthusiasm
and I have been told that this lends me the ability to inspire and motivate others. I
trust my intuition and I have strong values that I am compelled to live in line with. I
feel that true success depends only on finding and creating joy and balance in my
life. I have an outgoing and positive attitude and I try to encourage others to see
the world in the same positive light as I do.
Ever since I was young, I enjoyed working with children. As a teenager, I worked as
a camp counsellor, a swimming instructor, and a ski instructor. I have always known
that I would eventually become a teacher, but I also knew that there was plenty that
I needed to accomplish for myself before settling into any career for the rest of my
life. I felt that in order for me to teach others, I first needed to teach myself, so
before becoming a teacher, a mother or a wife, I travelled, lived, and worked
independently and extensively throughout the world.
After doing my undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Psychology, I set off on a
solo trip through South America for 6 months. This trip ended up teaching me much
more about myself and the world around me than anything else ever had to that
point. That experience was also the catalyst for the next 8 years of my life that
were spent working and traveling throughout the globe. I sought out adventure and
beauty around the world and fell in love with many different places and cultures.
Throughout my years abroad, I taught English in Costa Rica, Taiwan, and Korea. I
also worked as an executive assistant in England for one year where I confirmed
that I wasnt intended to work in an office with adults for the rest of my life. After
much discovery and a definite direction, I returned home to complete my degree in
education. After completing my training, my husband and I accepted a two year
teaching contract at the SACS accredited international school Colegio Bolivar in Cali,
Colombia. The most valuable skills that I feel have taken away from living and
traveling in over 40 countries over 10 years, is flexibility and compassion. I feel that
these skills have given me confidence and happiness and have expanded my
horizons.
When I was younger I sought out adventure in the most literal form and I found
myself parasailing in the Philippines, paragliding in Nepal, bungee jumping in Korea
and even mountain biking down the most dangerous road in the world in Bolivia.
Although my propensity for adventure is still alive and well, at almost 40, I seek it in
different ways than I did in my twenties. I am still always up for a new challenge
and I very much enjoy learning and trying new things, but I am now embracing the
adventure of being a parent to two wonderful little boys, which is my real adventure
of a lifetime.

Being a mother has truly broadened the scope of my human experience and has
given me valuable insights that I bring with me to the classroom. My husband and I
are dedicated to raising compassionate, motivated, and responsible children who
strive to reach their human potential. We are extremely engaged parents and we
revel in the time that we spend together as a family.
In my spare time, I enjoy knitting, sewing, reading and cooking. Health and fitness is
also an extremely important part of my life. I believe in setting a positive example
for my students and my children with the choices that I make. I am an advocate for
teaching children about their social and environmental responsibilities. I am also an
engaged member of my community and I enjoy working on community projects and
fundraising for local and international charities.
I am fiercely proud of and grateful for the life that I have lived thus far and I am
excited to see what else in store for me as I continue to follow my lifes path.
There is no value in life except what you choose to place upon it and no happiness
in any place except what you bring to it yourself.
Henry David Thoreau