Monday, July 21, 2008

What I Took With Me

I was up in Forest Lake on Friday, partying with Charlie and just generally being drunk/ disorderly. But while there, I also got to reminiscing about teaching and my days in FLake. I think I took a lot from my experience there, and hold dear to me the following:

1. Friendships- without teaching I might never have met Joy, Erin, Heather, Shawna, Sara, Barb, Andy, Maria, Paul, Kelly, Terri, Val, and scads of other awesome teachers.

2. Memories - now that I'm removed from it, I can look back and see mostly good things, fondly recalling positive happenings (prom, graduation, kids getting into college, those kind of things).

3. Thicker skin - I'm still pretty nice, I think, but I learned to better handle people, their moods and quirks, and not take as much BS as I once did. It's helped a lot in working at my new job, but also in my own relationships. No one likes a pushover.

4. Confidence - I don't think I lacked this, really, prior to teaching, but nothing will stiffen up your spine more than facing down 40 angst-ridden teens on a daily basis.

5. Productivity - I think of those people who define a job by the product they produce...they asked when I taught, "Yeah, but what do you make at your job?" My answer: "I made a 200-lb guy put down his cell phone and get to work. I made kids who should earn A's feel bad about getting a B. I made kids who couldn't learn as well as others feel like a rock star for getting a C+. I made a kid work with someone totally different than them and then admit that it was a good experience. I made things happen, that's what I made."

So yeah, even though I left and left things behind, I think I took a heck of a lot more with me.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Just for Fun

I played hooky from work a few weeks back to attend at Twins game with Joy, Phil, and Erin. It was a hot day, would have been great for an outdoor stadium, but the 'Dome had to suffice. The Twins pounded on Detroit that day, beer was consumed, 'Dome dogs devoured, and a good time had by all.
Pictures from the event...
Joy & Erin:
"Buck Teeth" Phil: