Teaching with Purpose

Today after school, I turned on my phone and to my surprise there were 6 messages. Maybe it's normal for you, but that's alot for me. I figured maybe Lindsay REALLY missed me today. But it wasn't so. (She did leave a msg or two though which was sweet of her)

The other 4 were from my students with some bad news. One of my students who I had for both Chemistry and was one of my advisory kids died in a car accident early in the morning. I remember reading the txt. "Oh my god ***** died" I didn't think much of it, maybe it was a prank or something. But then I scrolled through the next several messages, each from different students with the same message. My student was actually dead.

I called some students back and asked about what happened. I always wondered how I would react if this situation arose. Would I lose it? Would I just start crying? I stayed calm, asking for details, wake, memorial and funeral information. He died at approximately 1AM in a car crash.

I remember the last conversation I had with him. It was on the last day of advisory and we were joking about this upcoming year. He failed chemistry due to absences. Extremely bright kid, but made stupid stupid choices. He joked about how he was going to get back into my chemistry class no matter what. I asked him why because he failed my class. He laughed and said these simple words "Because I like your class". I replied sarcastically something along the lines, "please not again." but inside I was happy. I was glad I got to spend more time with him this upcoming year.

I teach to change lives. To alter the life course of my students. But what happens when a student doesn't have the chance to live the full life? What happens if it is suddenly taken away? I was always thinking so big, so long term, assuming that life is quantified and predictable. But now I realize that I don't just teach to change the lives of students for their entire future, but it should work at such a daily level.

I wonder if I did all I could last year to brighten up my student's days. Whether I worked hard enough to let them know that I cared about them each and everyday. My mind is racing all over the place right now. I'm kind of going insane with all these different thoughts going through my head. All I know is that this school year I will not take time for granted. I will make sure that my students know each day that I care. I will take the time to alter their lives on a daily basis. Who knows, maybe my smile will be the only one they see all day. Maybe I'll be the only adult to show interest in their lives. Maybe I'll be the only adult to say one nice thing about them.

I can't count on tomorrow, but I can be certain of today.

Caring Today --- Preparing for Tomorrow

End of Summer

Now that I am back in Texas, my summer is over. Now its concentrating on returning to school again, meetings on top of meetings, and professional development sessions. Woohooo..... =(

I had a great summer filled with relaxation (bumming). Just what I needed after a long school year. My favorite parts of the summer were:

1. Avoiding the rain and humidity of Houston tropical storm weather.

2. Seeing old class friends like Estin, Robert, Adam, Daniel, Sou, Grace... I know Estin's not in my class, but he's younger than half of us. lol.

3. Reading HP6 and HP7 legit. No sparknotes. HAH. and I finished the 7th book at precisely 3:42PM Saturday (Eastern Time) lol. btw Robert reads at a 5th grade level... lol jk. He's just "thorough"

4. Attended Amy and YW's wedding. LOVED the color scheme...

5. Playing DS with Lindsay. I think we are the best couple at brain age/big brain academy. My gf is smarter than me. It's kind of scary how fast she is at addition, subtraction, and multiplication. I think someone spent too much of their childhood at kumon.

6. Getting owned at pong and quarters. I thought 10-cup was weird when I came to Texas, now I think that 6-cup is weird. Team Jersey =)

7. Spending lots and lots of time with linz. She's pretty cool and pretty too.

Hastings Prom 07'

EDIT. Lindsay added pictures.

Last night was Hastings Prom '07 "Today's Dreams is Tomorrow's Moments" or something like that. It was beautiful. My students were so nicely dressed. So many more white tuxs than black tuxs. Ghettofied, but really nice seeing them dressed up. I only saw one blingin grillz all night. Impressive. Ooo and only ONE arrest, but no gun shots thankfully.

I went with the most beautiful date named Ms. Ong. =D (even though I only gave her like 30 minutes to shower, dress, put on makeup and do hair) whoops.... I think we have a couple pics.. she has em.

*dissappointed* - I had chaperone duty at the end of night and in a folder there was a picture of this kid who was no allowed to come near the prom. i asked why, and it turns out this dumbass threatened the school in the same manner as the tech shootings. so stupid. and yea, he was asian too.

teaching with love and logic

i love my students and 93% of them love me back.

what about the other 7%? they just are unaware of the greatness that stands in front of them. haha.

honestly, sometimes it makes me chuckle that they will think back to high school and remember a goofball like me as their chemistry teacher. poor kids.

what will they think? what will they say?

what did you think of your chemistry teacher?