I've Learned...

My students are pretty insightful. They have an intensity that I wish I could regain as I grow older.

Currently we're preparing to write a personal essay modeled off National Public Radio's This I Believe segment, where both young and old write and voice essays about their life beliefs and insights. We haven't written much yet (except to freewrite thoughts), but today we did write and share statements in class about something each of us has learned in life. Here is a sampling:

I’ve learned that life should be valued more and not get thrown away by doing drugs or drinking alcohol.

I’ve learned that how much you put into something it gives back to you in some way.

I’ve learned that life is hard…

I’ve learned that day by day nothing changes but when you look back everything is different.

I’ve learned that you don’t miss anyone until they are gone.

I’ve learned that when you have a chance to do something that you should go for it.

I’ve learned not to take people for granted, because you never know when they will be gone.

I’ve learned that life will always be hard but you can always enjoy its small gifts.

I’ve learned that a little kindness goes a long way.

I’ve learned that at times your best friends could be your worst enemies.

I’ve learned that when life puts you down, you have to turn it around.

I’ve learned that the key to happiness starts within yourself.

I’ve learned that if you lie to others, not only are you fooling them, you are fooling yourself.

I’ve learned that a small comment can affect someone’s perspective about you.

I’ve learned that it takes a strong man to cry, but an even stronger one to hold it in.

I’ve learned that I won’t fail myself if I don’t give up, and nothing can defeat me.

I’ve learned that freedom of religion does have restrictions.

I’ve learned that we shouldn’t wait until tomorrow to accomplish something because tomorrow might never come.

I’ve learned that smiling makes others happier than you think.

I’ve learned that it’s never too late to do something you believe is right.

I’ve learned to always smile.

What have you learned in life? Feel free to share comments and stories here.

Ultimate Frisbee and Taxes

Have you ever caught a Frisbee with your mouth?

I can't say that I have done so successfully, and I don't think I will try, as my encounter with a Frisbee this morning has left me with a swollen lip.

Gross.

In other news, I don't necessarily procrastinate on things that other people rely on (lesson planning, lifegroup discussion, etc), but I will drag my own stuff out until the very last minute.

Stuff, say, like my taxes. I haven't filed my income tax return yet, and this might be the longest time I have waited to file, as April 15 is rapidly approaching. I'm irritated with myself, but I still don't do anything about it. I'll be sure to hop on it before too long...

April Fools Day

Sometimes I don't stop to think about what day it is.

Today wasn't really any different. As I was setting up for class this morning, I told the kids to come on in and to wait for the morning announcements. I had another moral dilemma on the overhead today since they enjoyed them yesterday (we got into a heated debate about lying), and I was having them journal about what they would do in this particular situation. I was walking around, watching them journal, so I knew that they had some interesting things to say.

Silence greeted me when I posed the first question to the class. I looked from face to face, searching for answers and waiting for responses. Nothing. I prodded a little bit more since I knew that some of the kids were shy, rephrased my initial question, tried to go at it from a different angle. Still, nothing.

Then I thought that maybe a blind poll would be more comfortable for them since the issue was a little touchy, so I I had them shut their eyes and do a thumbs up, thumbs down, or thumbs sideways to the question I asked. I told them the results, and asked them another question. Do you know how it feels to be greeted by silence, especially when you've been asking question upon question? My ears were ringing.

So I started calling individual kids out, across rows, up and down. My jaw was dropping in complete surprise. They all shrugged their shoulders or shook their heads. I wasn't really flustered, but I was getting really anxious about why they wouldn't answer (what was I doing wrong? how could I make this better?)

Finally, panicking on the inside, I went to my last resort-- the two most opinionated in the class-- J and M. When M shrugged his shoulders, I said to them, "Now, if M doesn't know what to do in this situation, then something's got to be wrong. This has got to be some sort of trick or something."

Then I realized it was April Fools Day, and as the last few words tumbled out of my mouth, M couldn't hold it in and started giggling, and the class burst out with him.

The class got a huge kick out of my forgetting that it was April Fools Day.

Spanish

Yo comi pastel de fresa y tome agua.

Gotta start somewhere, right? I made a commitment to learn Spanish when I started working in the classroom with Hispanic students. I've been at YES for nearly three years, and I am now just beginning to speak in complete sentences. Sadness, no?

So I start now. I am making a commitment to learn oral and written Spanish on my own (and to try to speak in complete sentences when I am talking to others).

Cold Front

After dinner, I stood out in the parking lot with my co-worker Jesi, her sister, and another friend, talking about the cold front to come tonight. As we were speaking, the gusts of warm wind suddenly changed to frigid blasts.

Holy guacamole.

Too bad I was in my cargo shorts and Tevas.

Valentine's Day

I'm sitting here in my office, watching the kids as they bring in carnations wrapped in clear florist plastic, silvery helium balloons, and ribbons-- lots of pink, red, and white ribbon. The topper-- the senior who totes a huge white polar bear as she walks into senior seminar.

And then there's the candy.

Oh, the candy.

I see students chomping on chocolate or walking around with suckers in their mouths. Valentine's Day isn't about the love. It's all about the sugar. Aside from Halloween, Valentine's Day isn't the best day for teachers who deal with sugar-ridden children.

It's gonna be a long day at school today...

Would You Like Some Queso with That?

Some people wake up with teddy bears in their arms.

Some people have to have their special blankets or pillows.

I apparently have to have a tortilla.

Yes. That's right, folks. A flour tortilla.

Who knows? When I woke up this morning to my alarm, I felt that I was grasping something flat, round-ish, and grainy. I don't usually hold any stuffed animals when I go to sleep, so I was a little surprised that I was clutching anything at all.

So imagine my surprise when I rolled over to see what I was holding: a half-eaten flour tortilla.

Huh? When? What? I certainly didn't remember getting up to still those hunger pangs in the middle of the night, and I really didn't remember opening up the fridge to gaze longingly at the stash of leftover tortillas from lifegroup. And who knows when I actually ate that thing? I didn't even get the satisfaction of tasting my midnight snack.

Clearly I was sleepwalking.

Oh, well. As my friend says, maybe the next time I sleepwalk I'll advance to adding chicken and cheese to my tortilla to make a taco.