The Impossible Dream and the Calling of Leadership

Every time I hear “The Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha, I am reminded why leadership, especially in education, is both a privilege and a test of courage. The song begins with a call “to dream the impossible dream,” and in many ways that captures the daily work of anyone who leads a school system. We imagine a world where every child discovers their purpose, every educator feels valued, and every community believes in its schools. These dreams are rarely easy and often feel impossible, but they are worth pursuing with everything we have.

The lyrics “to right the unrightable wrong” speak to the heart of educational leadership. We confront inequities, navigate constraints, and face challenges that test our resolve. Leading with empathy and accountability means making difficult decisions for the sake of what is right, not what is easy. It means standing in the tension between compassion and courage and choosing to move forward anyway.

“To bear with unbearable sorrow” captures the perseverance that leadership requires. There are moments when progress feels slow, criticism comes easily, and the weight of responsibility grows heavy. Yet we continue. We keep showing up because our purpose is greater than our comfort. Leadership is not about perfection. It is about persistence, about believing that the pursuit itself can inspire hope in others.

As an author and speaker, I often share that leadership is not simply a role but a calling. The line “to love pure and chaste from afar” reminds me that our motivation must come from purpose, not personal gain. We lead, write, and speak to serve others, to help them see what is possible when they embrace growth, resilience, and meaning in their work.

The song closes with, “And the world will be better for this.” That line defines why I do what I do. When students find their path, when educators rediscover their purpose, and when communities unite around shared vision, the world truly becomes better. That is the essence of this impossible dream—one that calls us not to reach perfection, but to keep striving with faith, integrity, and heart.

To follow that star, no matter how hopeless or how far, is the truest form of leadership.

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