I don't do resolutions.
I'm going to live 2010 the same way I did 2009.
Loving wholeheartedly and without guilt. I let go, made up, and made out. And never regretted a second.
Surround yourself with loved ones and politely ignore the rest.
Dream big and bite off more than you can chew.
2009 was the year of the 45 hour work week and 13 credit hours.
There are things "missing" in my life. But I'm not empty. I'm not sad. I'm me. And I'm happy.
This was the year of blacking out. Waking up in strange places. Partying with weird people. Making friends with older people. Married people. Younger people. It was the year of spending too much. And not spending enough. Of forgetting and forgiving and connecting and reconnecting.
I'm happy, but I'm not content. There's just so much.
I love my friends. I love my family. I love life.
You should too.
I don't settle. I won't settle.
2009 was good. Great. Fantastic even.
So. Bring it on 2010.
Love,
Me
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Note to Self
I want to be a teacher.
I want to be an English teacher.
People are always surprised when I tell them this. I'm not really sure why.
"Why do you want to be an English teacher?"
When asked this I usually go with the pithy "because I like it," or "because I'm good at it," as to not bore anyone (especially me). But the "real" reason is something a little more nebulous. It's not like I haven't answered this question at length before either. I've been asked to write mission statements and letters of intent in order to get in the candidacy program here at school, but those are usually only half me and half what I think they want to hear (well DUH).
To me English is about communication. It's about voice. And my job is to empower and to inspire by helping young minds- young writers, find that voice. To be able to grant someone admission into that discussion where intellectuals and pretentious pricks like to stroke their egos and congratulate each other for being OH SO SMART is, I'm not embarrassed to say, a driving force in my teaching ambitions. I want to spark thought and challenge people's expectations. And somehow, in my twisted mind I think that teaching is the best way to do that. Because if I challenge my students hopefully at least one percent of those students go out and start sticking it to the man, which in turn causes others beyond my reach to do the same.
So in the end I guess my want to be a teacher is pretty selfish. But I don't want people to think like me. I just want them to think. Which I guess is sort of wanting them to think like me after all but whatever. Can't win 'em all.
Part of this is that I want to effect people in this pyramid scheme/pay it forward idea where I help a few who in turn help a lot of others and then I implicitly take credit for any of their accomplishments. Yeah I don't really get it either.
Having been a tutor at the writing center for over a year now my passion for social justice teaching has only increased. The tacitly oppressive nature of the education system has been, for me, laid bare through the meeting of writers of all levels and all backgrounds. The ideas of what constitutes "good" writing have less and less meaning for me. At the very least I recognize that change is necessary. And I want to be part of that change.
I want to be an English teacher.
People are always surprised when I tell them this. I'm not really sure why.
"Why do you want to be an English teacher?"
When asked this I usually go with the pithy "because I like it," or "because I'm good at it," as to not bore anyone (especially me). But the "real" reason is something a little more nebulous. It's not like I haven't answered this question at length before either. I've been asked to write mission statements and letters of intent in order to get in the candidacy program here at school, but those are usually only half me and half what I think they want to hear (well DUH).
To me English is about communication. It's about voice. And my job is to empower and to inspire by helping young minds- young writers, find that voice. To be able to grant someone admission into that discussion where intellectuals and pretentious pricks like to stroke their egos and congratulate each other for being OH SO SMART is, I'm not embarrassed to say, a driving force in my teaching ambitions. I want to spark thought and challenge people's expectations. And somehow, in my twisted mind I think that teaching is the best way to do that. Because if I challenge my students hopefully at least one percent of those students go out and start sticking it to the man, which in turn causes others beyond my reach to do the same.
So in the end I guess my want to be a teacher is pretty selfish. But I don't want people to think like me. I just want them to think. Which I guess is sort of wanting them to think like me after all but whatever. Can't win 'em all.
Part of this is that I want to effect people in this pyramid scheme/pay it forward idea where I help a few who in turn help a lot of others and then I implicitly take credit for any of their accomplishments. Yeah I don't really get it either.
Having been a tutor at the writing center for over a year now my passion for social justice teaching has only increased. The tacitly oppressive nature of the education system has been, for me, laid bare through the meeting of writers of all levels and all backgrounds. The ideas of what constitutes "good" writing have less and less meaning for me. At the very least I recognize that change is necessary. And I want to be part of that change.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
