While I do not know what the future holds for me I know that this is where I want to be. I have successfully finished my first year of teaching without too many sleepless nights or emotional breakdowns. While I didn't avoid the constant sickness that comes from the exhaustion of a first year teacher I was spared many of the darker sides of teaching. I have a wonderfully supportive principle who was always understanding and supportive (even when I made mistakes). I have a wonderful mentor who cares about his students so passionately that I can't help but want to be a better teacher. I also think that it is awesome that he takes me to the driving range on occasion. The staff at our school truly believes that we can make a difference in these students lives. While I must admit to complaining occasionally I am happy that my complaints have to do with personality quirks and minor differences. I have no doubts that every single one of our teachers are completely committed to the students. I work in a school that cares and follows through on their desire to make our school a safe place for students to learn and thrive.
I hadn't even finished my last two weeks of school before I was planning for the next! I am so excited to be teaching the same classes next year plus two more sections of P.E. Not only do I have all of my curriculum, I can focus on making my teaching and my lessons better instead of starting from scratch. I will also get to coach our school's first sport (Track and Field).
Also.... a shameless plug for a project that I am working on. I am hopeful that I can get enough outside funding to purchase heart rate monitors and pedometers so that I can do a semester long unit on personal fitness with my P.E. classes. I know that this technology will be outside of the reach of my budget but I think it would be a great addition to our program. I used heart rate monitors while I was teaching P.E. to the Moderate to Severe class at Somerset and they were awesome! I would love to be able to use these tools again. You can donate to help me out by clicking here and using the promo code INSPIRE to have your donation matched up to $100. If you don't want to, that's fine too. You don't need to feel obligated.
Knowing me I won't post again until the fall. So, have a wonderful summer!
June 8, 2014
April 6, 2014
Renewal
When I was in high school spring break generally meant that I could spend extra time working on debate without my mom hassling me about getting my math and science done as well. In college it was a time to catch up on school and chores while fitting in some time to hang out with friends who had traveled back to Modesto for break. This year spring break has had an entirely new meaning.
After teaching for eight months this has been the first week where I went more than one day without looking at school. Thanks to being sick I went several days. Laura and I spent the first part of the week catching up on the cleaning that has fallen by the wayside but we also planted a garden, pruned some trees, watched the rain, spent time with my mother, had friends over for games, baked, did taxes, talked with friends and family on the phone, and hiked through a flooded redwood forest.
My "to do" list has been reduced to a much smaller (and mostly not stressful) list but more importantly I had some time this week to be thankful for everything that I have. I get so busy trying to do my best at two jobs that I love (teaching Middle School P.E. and coaching gymnastics) that I often forget about all of the other wonderful things around me. This year has been good. I can confidently say that this last year has been one of the best. I miss my family terribly. I am missing out on my solace's "firsts" (though videos help a bit). But I am whole here. I have meaning and purpose in life. I have a role to play at both of my jobs, in my church, in my community, and at home. This must be what life is about.
After teaching for eight months this has been the first week where I went more than one day without looking at school. Thanks to being sick I went several days. Laura and I spent the first part of the week catching up on the cleaning that has fallen by the wayside but we also planted a garden, pruned some trees, watched the rain, spent time with my mother, had friends over for games, baked, did taxes, talked with friends and family on the phone, and hiked through a flooded redwood forest.
My "to do" list has been reduced to a much smaller (and mostly not stressful) list but more importantly I had some time this week to be thankful for everything that I have. I get so busy trying to do my best at two jobs that I love (teaching Middle School P.E. and coaching gymnastics) that I often forget about all of the other wonderful things around me. This year has been good. I can confidently say that this last year has been one of the best. I miss my family terribly. I am missing out on my solace's "firsts" (though videos help a bit). But I am whole here. I have meaning and purpose in life. I have a role to play at both of my jobs, in my church, in my community, and at home. This must be what life is about.
June 18, 2013
April 22, 2013
Life is Easy
Every spring, usually around May, I make the same post (at least I have since 2008). You can go back and check for yourself. School is almost done, worked outside, cleaned the house, new goals, I'm doing better. It is an interesting phenomenon but encouraging as well. An annual reflection on restoration.
This year things are a bit different. I have finished school for one. I think that this fact alone can be credited with a large part of my sense of ease. I am no longer disgruntled over the college education system and can pursue education for it's own sake. I have learned a lot about the ocean recently and a little bit about space as well. I have spent a lot of time working outside as usual but in a new environment with new plants and trees. I technically don't have to do anything as we are renting the house, but I love pruning and fixing sprinklers. Bonus points with the landlady can't hurt either. "Cleaning" the house has meant unpacking boxes and re-examining what is important and whether it is time to get ride of things. While there is a long way to go I feel like I can be purposeful in my efforts toward simplicity.
Ukiah offers promise for many goals that were just not practical in Modesto. Drive less--don't drive at all, ride and walk more, buy from local producers, don't eat out, cook from scratch, make less than 20 gallons of waste per week--maybe get down to the 10 gallon can, no plastics, use rain water for irrigation as much as possible, take up archery, sail enough to make the annual boat launch pass worth it, and don't watch television (netflix yes, but we don't have the antenna hooked up).
And yes, I am doing better. I make it a point not to go back and read journals from high school. I don't know if all high school kids are unwell but I was. I don't like who I was, though I know it was not that much different from who I am now. Each year since I graduated I have felt that I have become more of myself. Part of this has been purposeful and part, I am sure, is the nature of getting older. There are still habits that need to be changed, words that could be more compassionate, and time that could be better spent. However, I am less angry, less selfish, less dependent on what others think of me, less anxious, less tied to technology, more thoughtful, and more forgiving. I get anxious less often, If I could claim all of these each year from now on, I would be proud of the direction that I am heading.
I commented to Laura yesterday something along the lines of: "life is easy now." I really don't know how else to describe it. It's just easy. Neither of us spend a lot of money and adult salaries for people who don't have kids are depressingly high (in my opinion). I made more money subbing the last three months than I made all of last year. We pay reasonable rent to a kind elderly couple for our little house across from the park. Laura teaches at and I substitute teach at a school with fantastic co-workers and students. We have become involved in a wonderful church that has challenged the way that I think about Christianity and encouraged me in a refreshing new way. I feel that I can give generously to this church out of my excess in a way that will make a small difference. Every other weekend or so I go down to the local comic book store and play an incredibly intricate Star Trek war scenario game and absolutely enjoy it. I teach gymnastics to students who I feel are learning and progressing in a relatively new competitive program. One year later, my shoulder is healed enough to start working bars again. I even tried a few flight skills this past week. And when I am not doing any of that or puttering around the house I can help Laura grade or do any number of other things that I enjoy.
Though this post has been longer than I anticipated it is all to say that I am well: emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I am also content and life is easy.
This year things are a bit different. I have finished school for one. I think that this fact alone can be credited with a large part of my sense of ease. I am no longer disgruntled over the college education system and can pursue education for it's own sake. I have learned a lot about the ocean recently and a little bit about space as well. I have spent a lot of time working outside as usual but in a new environment with new plants and trees. I technically don't have to do anything as we are renting the house, but I love pruning and fixing sprinklers. Bonus points with the landlady can't hurt either. "Cleaning" the house has meant unpacking boxes and re-examining what is important and whether it is time to get ride of things. While there is a long way to go I feel like I can be purposeful in my efforts toward simplicity.
Ukiah offers promise for many goals that were just not practical in Modesto. Drive less--don't drive at all, ride and walk more, buy from local producers, don't eat out, cook from scratch, make less than 20 gallons of waste per week--maybe get down to the 10 gallon can, no plastics, use rain water for irrigation as much as possible, take up archery, sail enough to make the annual boat launch pass worth it, and don't watch television (netflix yes, but we don't have the antenna hooked up).
And yes, I am doing better. I make it a point not to go back and read journals from high school. I don't know if all high school kids are unwell but I was. I don't like who I was, though I know it was not that much different from who I am now. Each year since I graduated I have felt that I have become more of myself. Part of this has been purposeful and part, I am sure, is the nature of getting older. There are still habits that need to be changed, words that could be more compassionate, and time that could be better spent. However, I am less angry, less selfish, less dependent on what others think of me, less anxious, less tied to technology, more thoughtful, and more forgiving. I get anxious less often, If I could claim all of these each year from now on, I would be proud of the direction that I am heading.
I commented to Laura yesterday something along the lines of: "life is easy now." I really don't know how else to describe it. It's just easy. Neither of us spend a lot of money and adult salaries for people who don't have kids are depressingly high (in my opinion). I made more money subbing the last three months than I made all of last year. We pay reasonable rent to a kind elderly couple for our little house across from the park. Laura teaches at and I substitute teach at a school with fantastic co-workers and students. We have become involved in a wonderful church that has challenged the way that I think about Christianity and encouraged me in a refreshing new way. I feel that I can give generously to this church out of my excess in a way that will make a small difference. Every other weekend or so I go down to the local comic book store and play an incredibly intricate Star Trek war scenario game and absolutely enjoy it. I teach gymnastics to students who I feel are learning and progressing in a relatively new competitive program. One year later, my shoulder is healed enough to start working bars again. I even tried a few flight skills this past week. And when I am not doing any of that or puttering around the house I can help Laura grade or do any number of other things that I enjoy.
Though this post has been longer than I anticipated it is all to say that I am well: emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I am also content and life is easy.
January 8, 2013
New beginnings
I live in a place with friendly neighbors, a park across the street, mountains all around, clean air, squirrels, redwoods, and my best friend. I can almost walk through the house without weaving between or stepping over boxes. I don't miss much yet except my sister and brother-in-law. I'm sure more will come later but for now I am so very content.
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