We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Riley Gardner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Riley, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
For me, optimism comes from knowing that things could always be worse. I find myself focusing on the positives in situations and finding aspects to appreciate. Realizing that someone, somewhere, has it much worse than you is the recipe for optimism for me. If I can keep the negative thoughts from entering my brain by vocalizing gratitude.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Riley Gardner and I am the Head of School for World Class Academy MTB.
World Class Academy MTB is a fully accredited, traveling, mountain biking high school. World Class Academy was founded in 2001, and the mountain bike program is in its second year. WCA MTB is a college-preparatory high school that mixes students’ passion for biking with an academic model that combines formal education with cultural immersion in some of the most iconic biking destinations. Each semester of WCA MTB is made up of two quarters, and each quarter is held in a different place. The high school is based in the US but has international students attend every year.
The school was founded in 2001 as World Class Kayak Academy, but now has four separate academies – whitewater kayaking, kitesurfing, rock climbing, and mountain biking.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think the ability to embrace change and deal with things as they come has been an imperative skill in my life. The ability to empathize – with my students or my teaching staff- has been essential. Organization and planning skills do not come naturally to me, but the development of those skills has represented a huge turning point in my career. I would say the best advice for someone to develop or improve these skills is to trust the process- realize that new skills and attitudes take time to develop.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed (and I do a lot!) I try to focus on what is important and what is less important. Recognize that likely no one is going to die- whew, a big relief. Then, focus on tangible steps to accomplish your next tasks or goal. That is all there is to it. Breath. Deep breaths and controlling your breaths are always key to feeling better.
Contact Info:
- Website: worldclassacademy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldclassacademy_mtb/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldClassAcademy/videos
