Day 9: Importance of Education

Today is August 31st, which for many signals the end of the summer vacation, and the beginning of a new school year. This year for me is particularly different since I am starting at a new school teaching 11st grade US History, Advisory and an elective course which I'm trying to make into a spoken word class. Its a bittersweet moment- the gaining of new opportunities but the loss of the familiarity and relationships that came with my old job. I'm going to miss my students; the chance to guide them to graduation and beyond, to see them grow and mature, to guide them through the day to day... I miss my babies. I don't regret my decision to leave, but it doesn't make it an easy one by any means.

This new opportunity affords me the chance to further educate myself, develop, and grow within this profession, as well as work with a group of students who don't have the same opportunities as my last group of students. I know I'll develop new relationships, and have new "babies", and God-willing have the opportunity to impact new lives. Teaching is not just a job for me, it is the chance to breathe life into each body that sits in my classroom, life through education.

----------------------------------------------------

Education is imperative. It is a non-negotiable. It is the prerequisite to the rest of one's life. Education or the lack thereof can open windows or slam doors shut. Growing up, education, specifically college was a non-option. It wasn't something that I was beaten over the head with. Rather, it was a matter-of-fact reality of life. Watching shows like The Cosby Show and A Different World made college seem exciting and desirable. Knowing my mother and grandmother's sacrifices to be college educated showed me the importance of education. Admittedly, it makes it difficult to truly grasp why college, let alone high school, becomes an "option" in this day and age. A bachelor's degree has become the new high school diploma. There are jobs out there today that won't even look at you if you don't have a master's degree.

A large part of the reason as to why I teach and form the relationships I create with my students is because I know how important education is. I teach not just for my students to learn a set of facts, but to also learn about life and themselves. I form personal relationships with them in the hopes of making my "product" relevant to their lives. Education broadens not just your opportunities, but your perspective in life. It challenges you. It stretches you. It makes you a more well-rounded person if you let it. So in my conversations with my students, I work to show them how the point A of education can get them to point B, the rest of their lives. I understand that traditional college may not be for everyone, but you have to at minimum graduate high school and pursue some sort of career training outside of high school. 

Its because of the importance of a college degree that college should be a lot cheaper here in the states. (another conversation for another time...)

As I prepare to embark on another school year, I am reflective on the importance of education, and what methodologies I can use to bring this knowledge and realization to my classroom. Wish me luck.

Day 8: What Did I Eat Today?

I ate...

Breakfast- Cinnamon english muffin & a small bowl of grapes
Lunch- margarita pizza slice & garlic knots
Snack- bowl of frosted Rice Krispies; whipped cream
Dinner- Popeyes chicken
Dessert- 2 chocolate chip cookies

Day 7: Five Pet Peeves

Five things that make me cringe...

• Arrogance
• Stubbornness 
• Poor grammar & spelling
• "Alot" instead of "a lot" is the top of that list.
• Sticky/dirty fingers (I wash/wipe my hands a lot)
• Personal space invaders

And for an honorable mention:
Liars
Loud popping sounds
Creased books & papers
Bad drivers
Pedestrians & Bike riders (not all, just the annoying ones)

Day 6: Feelings on Mainstream Music

Can we actually refer to the mass marketed, cookie-cutter, over-sexualized, auto-tune/club beats stuff they overplay on the radio music today?

When I think of music, I think of the music I was exposed to growing up- The Temptations, The Beatles, The Isley Brothers, Lauryn Hill, SWV, Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men... artists who believed in actually singing, with real lyrics, harmonies, and production value. These and many other artists have songs, shoot albums, that are classic and ultimately timeless. And yes, during these times, there were those artists that were much more commercialized, and/or more risque. I mean, who really wants their young child singing, "I wanna sex you up" or pretty much anything by Lil' Kim or Foxy Brown. But, even in those instances, there was actual talent present, even if the songs themselves were not appropriate for wider audiences.

Today's artists entertainers have reduced us to such classic lyrics such as "I just wanna f*** every girl in the world," "wheelchair stuntin'- Spongebob making crabby patties," or "sticks and stones may break my bones but chains and whips excite me." Mainstream music today is "aight" for parties and one hit wonders. And admittedly, there are those songs out there that as much as I want to hate on it do catch my ear. (I had to hate myself for lovin' Waka Flocka's No Hands but that sucka was catchy). But to find real music by real artists who are about the craft, for the most part you have to look underground, which is sad.

Sadly, I feel the same applies to gospel music today as well. Gospel is what I grew up on and secular was something that came later. I don't even really follow gospel today because of it. In a recent conversation with a friend, he commented on how back in the day it was gospel music that influenced our secular music. It was artists who came out of the church who took that same sound and brought it to the masses. Today it's the opposite, with gospel biting off of the secular to still seem "hip" or "modern."

Bottom line, whatever happened to originality and actual musical talent in mainstream music?

Time For Big Girl Pants

pro·cras·ti·nate

[proh-kras-tuh-neyt, pruh-]  verb, -nat·ed, -nat·ing.

1. to defer action; delay:

re·spon·si·ble

[ri-spon-suh-buhl]

1. answerable or accountable, as for something within one's power, control, or management

I'm very good at procrastinating. It has become second nature to put off things until the very last possible minute, many times for no good reason other than a general "I just don't feel like it" attitude. I do all of that just to realize every time that it would've been easier and less stressful in the end if I would've taken care of things the way I was supposed to in the timing I was supposed to in the first place. But, I don't.

Why...?

Simply put, I don't want to deal with the implications of responsibility. I think its only a natural feeling when you've been positioned as "the responsible one" from an early age. As I venture further into adulthood, I find myself increasingly choosing the easier way out, or choosing not to deal with things until absolutely necessary. I'll make excuses to rationalize why I should avoid doing various things, why such things would be pointless, knowing deep down that it isn't the right thing to do. Such things allow me to avoid levels of confrontation, unpleasant feelings/emotions, vulnerability, accountability, and other things of the like. But the fact is, such a lifestyle in the end is much more harmful than good. 

I got up this morning to quickly face this reality- the reality that its time to put on my big girl pants and do what I have to do, not because its easy, or that I even desire to do it, but rather because it's the right thing to do. God's grace has been sufficient during this time, but I also know that I am being pushed out of my comfort zone to move more into the things that I'm being called to do at this point in my life.

What does this mean for me?

Lots of bad habit breaking. Much more prayer and reflection. Having those tough conversations that I've been avoiding. Learning to say no. Making sacrifices that will make me less comfortable. Making tough choices. Venturing into unknown territory. Pushing through fear. Exercising FAITH!

With God's help, its time to cast aside old habits and bad ways so that I may do the right thing.

Day 4: Bullet Your Day

Let's see what happened today:

• Woke up ::lol::
• Bathroom stuffs
• Watched hair care videos on Youtube
• Talked to roommate... for a while
• Googled random stuffs related to convo
• Started cleaning living room
• Made breakfast (bacon and a mushroom and spinach omelette)
• Continued cleaning living room while listening to worship songs
• Random acts of foolery on facebook
• Roommate returns, chat some more
• Trip to Bed Bath and Beyond and Target with roomie
• Talked to Alicia
• Picked up stewed beef roti & curry chicken dinner at restaurant
• Ate dinner while watching South Park and then I Love Lucy on laptop
• Took roomie to laundry mat
• Typing this watching the Simpsons
• Ate ice cream

What a day, what a day.

Day 3: A Book I Love

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: Betty Smith

I want to say it was my freshman year of high school when I was introduced to this book. Oh the mandatory summer reading list... A list of umteen books that we had to choose from to read, and then be tested on in the fall. So when looking at the list, this title immediately caught my attention. What can I say, I'm a Brooklyn girl and a  history lover. This coming of age turn of the century immigrant experience story in Williamsburg quickly became one of my favorite books. Its the only book I've ever read twice. (Shoot, I may just read it again lol).

I fell in love with this book 1) because of the historical nature of it. To get a glimpse of streets and neighborhoods that I am familiar with today at the turn of the century excited my inner history dork lol. But more importantly, as a someone coming of age at the time, I fould myself able to relate to many aspects of the lead character Francie. What can I say, it was an overall great book for me.

Now that I'm older, one of my many running jokes is that I say that I believe in reading. Its become a sad reality of grad school burnout and constantly reading papers, textbooks, and documents for work. But once I walk into a bookstore, I remember my love of reading and remind myself of how I need to bring back that side of me. I love the ability to escape into a new reality through books, or that moment you read something that completely changes your reality, your worldview. One of my goals this summer is to at least read one book in the hopes that it will rekindle my love of reading. Just like I hope that these writing exercises will rekindle my love of writing. Seems like I'll be making another Barnes and Noble trip very soon. :)