The Update...

This posting has been dubbed PG-13 by me, and you all know how good of a judge I am on what's appropriate!!!!


It's been awhile since I wrote an update; this might be a bit jaggedly typed solely because I'll probably get bored with writing it and quit for a day. Just bein' honest here. I can recall when all this started, it was such a long time ago. These updates started as an e-mail to my good friend Matt, usually detailing how I can’t believe the girl to guy ratio at school, and then a brief description of what I’m taking. Now here I am on the cusp of finishing the credential program and yet I still feel like I want to stay in the sheltered "safety" of school. Maybe being on the other side of the classroom will offer up some degree of "safety" or "security," but I won't hold my breath (at least not with the present state of schools here in California)! But I digress.......

So I bid Sonoma State a fond farewell a few weeks ago. I finished up my Masters, officially (like, turn-in-the-paperwork, officially) last December when I passed my last comprehensive exam (first was on US Social History, the second on the Modern Russian history…which is ironic in itself but that’s another posting), but since they don't offer a December Ceremony, I waited until May to walk. I protested walking in the May Commencement mainly because I've sat through too many of them in the past. But, as my parents reminded me, none were mine. I agreed to do it, and I'll admit there was a sense of accomplishment that followed with the procession in. After a brisk 3-hour ceremony it was done and I was ready to move on. But even with that want, I was still a bit melancholy, knowing that I wouldn't be taking another class from some of my favorite professors again. I'll look back fondly at the education I received from there, as do I look back fondly on the experiences I received that arguably shaped me into the person I am today. A special shout out to Andi, Ollie, Mom and Dad for braving the beautiful weather Sonoma County offered up to us. Also a special shout out to my friends who kept me company by texting and commenting consistently online, as for most of the presentation I was on my phone. I sat in a black robe with a velvet hood, surrounded by other black gowns in 80+ degree weather with no wind, listening to someone banter on about war profiteering and giving all you can to the ACLU. Or the inflated “President’s Message” that states our education is on-going, and how you should continue studying…(well of course we should. It pays your salary if we do!!!!) Or the self-inflated nonsense that spewed from the student body President about the hours she spent working “hard” in the local coffee shop, and going to class, and not the logged hours of keg stands and waking up in some strange house with no pan.....never mind. Anyway graduation was fun. I sat with my good friend, Jay, and made snarky comments at everyone else’s expense, until the 50-year old getting her masters in “I-don’t-care-what” gave us a look. So that was Sonoma State....

So now onto a very positive note. For anyone who has heard my tirade on the credential program, you may skip this if you'd like. I am half-way through the single-subject credential program at NDNU now and I have enjoyed all but just one aspect of it, truly. That aspect is not being in the university lectures. I was given an excellent opportunity to work as a student teacher at Central Middle School in San Carlos for Kay Barg (I'm being specific for a reason) and it was an outstanding on-the-job experience. In stark contrast, I found the lectures in the evenings mostly a waste of time. That's not to suggest that I didn't learn anything from them. It is to suggest that the program needs to be reprioritized. The problem that I found in general was the difference between theory and practice. Lecture classes dealt with the ideals. But the student teaching put you in the trenches and working/thinking on your feet on how to deal with every student in your class. Invariably you will have a mélange of students with different abilities and therefore you must adjust your expectations accordingly. My suggestion, scrap the program and rebuild it in an apprentice-master format (just like construction). Learn from different teachers, over 3 semesters. And pull the O.J.T. from that experience. Honestly, I'd rather see my tuition money going to the source from where I learned and not the school that I am enrolled in.
I had a blast with my two classes at Central. 8th grade US History. Kay was an excellent teacher, though a bit of a micromanager, and her rhetoric is a tad antiquated. She felt the need to discuss Russia in the Cold War era "Red Menace" style, which is fine. I whimsically enjoyed reading the Western Interpretations of Russian policy/history prior to the fall of Communism. But there's a wealth of knowledge that has been opened up since that, which counters much of what's written. Obviously, Kay is NOT a Communist; perhaps she had a family member that was interrogated during the McCarthy hearings? We simply don't know.
My two classes were wonderful though. They were decidedly advanced; I was astounded with their abilities, especially in their writing. They were a blast to work with, to talk about history, to motivate, and to joke around with. There were enough students that understood my dry wit and snarky comments to make it ok to poke fun at them from time to time. I was off for a week and when I came back for their graduation, all of my students came rushing up to me to give hugs and handshakes. It felt good. I was able to tell them a few more lessons that I wasn’t able to convey in class, about….life, and High School. It would be great to see a few of them when I get my next placement but I would rather not work with freshmen. Simply put, I don’t think the experience will be that different when comparing 8th and freshmen. I’d make an arbitrary comment on maturity levels and development of arguments…but you all know me…
My favorite was by far, the graduation. I was off for awhile, and when I arrived to graduation I was instantly greeted by my students. They gave hugs and exchanged stories of their fun times doing 8th grade activities. I was proud of them, sincerely. I was able to give them their last lesson in the moments before promotion. I told them to work hard, it makes everything easy. I told the girls that they would have guys wrapped around their little fingers for the next few years and to take advantage of it. I told the guys that they would be wrapped around the girl’s little fingers for awhile, but it’s ok, because they want you too! Lastly a student named Evan, who plays water polo, I told, “you will be surrounded by tail.” His eyes lit up. I told him to find me in a couple of years to tell me, “You’re right.” But it’s cool. I wish them all the best. They were excellent students and a great experience. I gave fist bumps in the receiving line and most of my girl students gave me hugs. I will sincerely miss teaching them, but I also look forward to teaching the next group of students. I hope they’re as eager to learn as I am to teach them.
Lastly, I can’t end this without saying something about running. As you all know, I’ve been running more and more for the last few years. I finally found something that gives me direction and focus like nothing else I have ever done. Last October through December, I ran 4 Half-Marathons in 8 weeks. It was a blast. I averaged around 45 miles a week, running 5 days a week, and working out 4 days of each week. My training has continued. I had a horrendous race last weekend (6/12) in San Francisco. It was 80 at the start of the race and ended up being around 90 by midday. My race report would consist of a good time through the 5k, ok through 10k, and everything after that was a disaster. I’m past it, we all have bad races. I promise though, that it will NEVER happen again. Upcoming races include a handful in other states, for my goal of finishing a race in every state still holds. October through February looks to be quite busy. Family in Detroit, I hope to rock with you in October. Oregon in September (Steph, I’ll finally be able to “see your place”). San Antonio in November, and possibly Vegas again in December. And a few more in January. I’ll be back for the Half Marathon in San Francisco for Superbowl Sunday 2011. Hopefully I will be done with a 1/5 of the states (that’s 10, people…) by the end of winter.
So that’s it. Please continue to think of me, I promise you all I am thinking of you. Wish me luck as I continue and find myself moving forward. I’m staying positive and widening my opportunities as much as possible. I promise I will continue to post here, so feel free to check back from time to time. Love you all, and “Give ‘em Hell!”