March 19, 2007

• Topic: Update

  I want to write a book reflecting on this year, and it hasn’t even been half as intense a year as I expected.  Except that mentally, it’s been an intense year of change.  My whole view of myself has radically been altered, my awareness heightened.  I can pinpoint anxiety and depression, happiness and creativity, meanness and sensitivity in myelf throughout the day.

  My job requires me to repeatedly demand kids to spit out gum, to spend my time photocopying blank clocks for kids to practice writing time on, breaking up fights, calming down crying 10-yr. olds, stressing over what I am unable to teach, smiling over a game of checkers w/ that same kid over lunch, reading Matlida, showing a random Nextflix documentary about street kids in Romania, playing therapist to other teachers in crisis, stealing ideas from the internet and veteran teachers (hoor-ay for a profession that requires copying), waking up wanting to puke and never going to school again, followed by having a relatively rewarding day, teaching dance, running after runaway students, using reverse psychology (“I don’t want you to do my work, just sit there and do nothing all period”), and constant reflection. 

  It’s a damn complext profession, and I’m grateful for 3 days of professional development this week, including a trip to Portland, Maine for the Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound national conference..  Then, one more week of work, till 10 days off for vacation.  I’m off to Portland, Oregon with my new girlfriend, who is amazing in every way, and inspires me daily.

  And I’ve started doing yoga, and am loving it.  Slow, and meditative, and stretching out my body.  So good.  Baseball is around the corner, I can smell the grass at Shea!

  • 11:49 pm
  • 3 Comments