The Forest of Becoming

An Allegorical Journey Through Currere

Abstract

In this autobiographical essay, I explore curriculum through the lens of currere, weaving personal narrative and allegory to illuminate the emotional and relational dimensions of educational experience. Framed by the metaphor of a traveler navigating symbolic landscapes—a shadowed forest, a pixelated stream, and a horizon of possibility—I trace my journey from a silenced student to an empathetic online educator. Drawing on theorists such as Pinar, Aoki, hooks, Noddings, and Gilligan, I reimagine curriculum not as static content but as a living, recursive process shaped by memory, identity, and care. I argue for a “curriculum of care” and a “pedagogy of presence” that honors the emotional labor of teaching and the unseen struggles of students, particularly within digital learning environments. Through metaphor, reflection, and theory, I advocate for an education rooted in empathy, relational knowing, and the radical act of truly seeing each learner.