Some random thoughts as of late:
...Haven't been able to finish a blog in about a month, even though I have started 9-10 new ones
...Been fostering some serious doubts about my coaching and teaching abilities lately -- students and athletes don't seem to listen to instructions these days
...A broken nose is a real pain, especially when I have a cold and a toddler who loves to flail around when I hold him
...Speaking of Brody, he must be in training to be a soccer hooligan -- he's getting down the head-butts and screeches pretty well
...Spending nearly 3 hours driving every day takes a toll on my niceness
...I can never watch enough Kung-Fu Panda, Shrek, or Toy Story!
...Waking up at 5:00am on my day off is a-o-k with me, just as long as Brody is alternating between his ultra-snuggly and hyper-goofball modes
...I can't wait for some snow! I wouldn't even complain if it happens during the break and I don't get a snow day for it
...Christmas decorations really can make the season feel like Christmas -- I just love pines covered with lights, holly wreaths on the front door, red bows and golden strands of garland!
...Some time away from my wife and son really puts things in perspective and helps me remember how much I love them
...All this hype about Josh Selby / KU and Jacob Pullen / KSU basketball gets kind of annoying, and I don't think it's just because I'm a wrestling guy
...Some people's political posts on Facebook are glaringly ignorant and really annoying... even some of the "conservative" ones (I'm not just hating on the libs)
...I really need to get to the theaters to watch Tron Legacy, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
...I've got a John Irving book that I really need to read... just haven't had the time or means
...Listen to books on CD has been awesome in making my daily commute fly by quickly
...I could use a weekend fishing trip soon
...Better yet, I could use a week of sitting around with Brody and Emily, just lazing about and enjoying each other's company
...Emily has been a blessing, especially this past semester. I don't know how I'd ever get through things without her
Well, that's it for now! Maybe I'll get another entry finished soon!
Showing posts with label teaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teaching. Show all posts
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Driving Wisdom
Last week, Brody learned a new dance at day care the "car dance." From what I can tell through observing an 18 month old trying to do any specific kind of dance, the moves consist mainly of him holding his hands out in front as if he were gripping a steering wheel and then turning the wheel back and forth. It is pretty cute when he busts out the car dance at random moments rarely on request, however. In fact, he'll pretend to drive almost everything; any inanimate object that can fit in his hands becomes a steering wheel. Although his mom and I are hoping more for a career in an applied science, this kid may have a future in one form or another of driving.
Unfortunately, watching Brody do his car dance forces me think about the distant future when he'll actually be driving a car. I can't imagine the changes that a span of 14 years will bring, but I do know that I'm both looking forward to and dreading the chance to teach him how to drive. It'll be a great father son moment, but then again, how qualified would I be to give him lessons on how to be a good driver?
I still vividly remember the primary source of most of my driving wisdom: my own father. Whereas there were distinct times that his driving scared the daylights out of me (two in particular stand out in my mind: cruising swiftly down steep hills around Lake Shawnee and getting lost in downtown Philadelphia; both instances resulting from geography and terrain, not necessarily his skills), he is perhaps the best driver I know. He had lots of good advice; wisdom that goes far beyond what I'd learned in Driver Ed in high school. Keep yourself from having tunnel vision and have your head on a swivel. Don't drive in the grooves of the road; keep your wheels where there's the best traction. Use your turn signals, even when you don't think there's anyone around.
I had a decent Driver Ed teacher in school, but he couldn't match the effectiveness of my dad's lessons. So now I wonder: what would make me a qualified teacher for Brody whenever his car dance evolves to the advanced stage of actually driving an automobile?
Well, I do drive a lot. Almost 3 hours a day to and from school. I drive when my family goes somewhere. I drive my friends when we go out. I drive when it's a school vehicle other than a bus.
I haven't had the extensive training or experience that my dad has had, so I'm not an expert on what a good driver is. But I have had the opportunity to think about what makes a poor driver. Here are some random thoughts about driving that have entered my head while driving the last week and a half. Don't worry, I did not write them down while I was driving, nor did I type them in my phone as text messages. These are some of the points that I will be sure not to make with Brody:
* Oversleeping and / or running late entitles you to forego any traffic laws that prevent you from arriving at your destination
* Seeing that someone is about to enter the roundabout ahead of you means that you should speed up and tailgate that person to punish them for daring to get in your way
* It's smarter to speed when passing through small towns, where there are always speed traps, than it is to speed on the highway out in the country, where there are significantly fewer speed traps.\
* Even if you cannot multi task very well, it is all right for you to talk on your cell phone while driving. It is clearly evident which of the two tasks is more important to you and which will get less concentration from you, but these phone calls surely must be very important
* Although flicking a cigarette out the window is littering, if you're driving a hybrid and/or have a "go green" bumper sticker, it definitely makes up for your pollution (both the cigarette butt and the exhaled smoke)
* Contrary to the popular belief that the only people who have a right to park wherever they want are firemen, police officers, ambulance drivers, and whoever is dropping a woman in labor off at the hospital, it is also permissible for you to park half in the handicap stall and half in the loading area whenever you're in a hurry, simply because you're special
* If the car in front of you arrives at a stop sign and is waiting for a gap in traffic so that they can turn left, and you pull up right behind them and want to turn right, it's perfectly fine for you to pull forward next to the car, block their view of oncoming traffic, and make your turn (especially if the car is a little coupe and you're driving a big pickup truck)
* Turn signals must be for the weak, submissive, and or anal-retentive. If you don't feel like you need to use them, then don't worry about it
* If you're driving a company car and/or you're on the clock, drive as slowly as you want to drive. Your time is much more valuable than ours
* The inside lane on the highway isn't just for passing, just as the outside lane isn't just for slower traffic. Drive in whichever lane you want; anyone who wants to pass you can pick the other lane
* Stop signs tend to be more recommendation than requirement, especially if someone is coming down the road and you don't want to take a risk that you might get stuck behind them
* High beams really aren't that bright for the cars in oncoming traffic. If cars flash their lights to let you know that your highs are still on, ignore their signal
* The middle finger is an appropriate reaction gesture to anyone who angers you while they are sharing the road with you. Obscene language is acceptable, too, even when children are present
* When you see a police officer or sheriff's deputy, you should slam on your brakes, even if you're already going under the speed limit. You may be violating one of the obscure traffic laws that only the keenest eye of the law can see
* Slippery roads, thick fog, or precipitation of any kind means that you should a) drive as carelessly as you normally do or b) drive as though it's your first time facing adverse conditions (a steady speed of well under what is truly safe)
I'm not a perfect driver, and while my wife does point this out (sometimes she makes a good point...), she also trusts me to drive whenever we're going somewhere together. My track record isn't that bad, with no serious traffic violations or accidents under my belt, so maybe I do have what it takes to give Brody some good tips on driving. With my two left feet and no sense of rhythm, it would definitely be better for the boy for me to save the dancing tips and focus more of the driving aspects. I think I could handle helping him with the car dance, but I also think I'll limit myself to an area where I've got some talent.
Unfortunately, watching Brody do his car dance forces me think about the distant future when he'll actually be driving a car. I can't imagine the changes that a span of 14 years will bring, but I do know that I'm both looking forward to and dreading the chance to teach him how to drive. It'll be a great father son moment, but then again, how qualified would I be to give him lessons on how to be a good driver?
I still vividly remember the primary source of most of my driving wisdom: my own father. Whereas there were distinct times that his driving scared the daylights out of me (two in particular stand out in my mind: cruising swiftly down steep hills around Lake Shawnee and getting lost in downtown Philadelphia; both instances resulting from geography and terrain, not necessarily his skills), he is perhaps the best driver I know. He had lots of good advice; wisdom that goes far beyond what I'd learned in Driver Ed in high school. Keep yourself from having tunnel vision and have your head on a swivel. Don't drive in the grooves of the road; keep your wheels where there's the best traction. Use your turn signals, even when you don't think there's anyone around.
I had a decent Driver Ed teacher in school, but he couldn't match the effectiveness of my dad's lessons. So now I wonder: what would make me a qualified teacher for Brody whenever his car dance evolves to the advanced stage of actually driving an automobile?
Well, I do drive a lot. Almost 3 hours a day to and from school. I drive when my family goes somewhere. I drive my friends when we go out. I drive when it's a school vehicle other than a bus.
I haven't had the extensive training or experience that my dad has had, so I'm not an expert on what a good driver is. But I have had the opportunity to think about what makes a poor driver. Here are some random thoughts about driving that have entered my head while driving the last week and a half. Don't worry, I did not write them down while I was driving, nor did I type them in my phone as text messages. These are some of the points that I will be sure not to make with Brody:
* Oversleeping and / or running late entitles you to forego any traffic laws that prevent you from arriving at your destination
* Seeing that someone is about to enter the roundabout ahead of you means that you should speed up and tailgate that person to punish them for daring to get in your way
* It's smarter to speed when passing through small towns, where there are always speed traps, than it is to speed on the highway out in the country, where there are significantly fewer speed traps.\
* Even if you cannot multi task very well, it is all right for you to talk on your cell phone while driving. It is clearly evident which of the two tasks is more important to you and which will get less concentration from you, but these phone calls surely must be very important
* Although flicking a cigarette out the window is littering, if you're driving a hybrid and/or have a "go green" bumper sticker, it definitely makes up for your pollution (both the cigarette butt and the exhaled smoke)
* Contrary to the popular belief that the only people who have a right to park wherever they want are firemen, police officers, ambulance drivers, and whoever is dropping a woman in labor off at the hospital, it is also permissible for you to park half in the handicap stall and half in the loading area whenever you're in a hurry, simply because you're special
* If the car in front of you arrives at a stop sign and is waiting for a gap in traffic so that they can turn left, and you pull up right behind them and want to turn right, it's perfectly fine for you to pull forward next to the car, block their view of oncoming traffic, and make your turn (especially if the car is a little coupe and you're driving a big pickup truck)
* Turn signals must be for the weak, submissive, and or anal-retentive. If you don't feel like you need to use them, then don't worry about it
* If you're driving a company car and/or you're on the clock, drive as slowly as you want to drive. Your time is much more valuable than ours
* The inside lane on the highway isn't just for passing, just as the outside lane isn't just for slower traffic. Drive in whichever lane you want; anyone who wants to pass you can pick the other lane
* Stop signs tend to be more recommendation than requirement, especially if someone is coming down the road and you don't want to take a risk that you might get stuck behind them
* High beams really aren't that bright for the cars in oncoming traffic. If cars flash their lights to let you know that your highs are still on, ignore their signal
* The middle finger is an appropriate reaction gesture to anyone who angers you while they are sharing the road with you. Obscene language is acceptable, too, even when children are present
* When you see a police officer or sheriff's deputy, you should slam on your brakes, even if you're already going under the speed limit. You may be violating one of the obscure traffic laws that only the keenest eye of the law can see
* Slippery roads, thick fog, or precipitation of any kind means that you should a) drive as carelessly as you normally do or b) drive as though it's your first time facing adverse conditions (a steady speed of well under what is truly safe)
I'm not a perfect driver, and while my wife does point this out (sometimes she makes a good point...), she also trusts me to drive whenever we're going somewhere together. My track record isn't that bad, with no serious traffic violations or accidents under my belt, so maybe I do have what it takes to give Brody some good tips on driving. With my two left feet and no sense of rhythm, it would definitely be better for the boy for me to save the dancing tips and focus more of the driving aspects. I think I could handle helping him with the car dance, but I also think I'll limit myself to an area where I've got some talent.
Monday, August 16, 2010
A Letter to my Students
Dear Students,
Plain and simple, teaching is something that I love to do. Paychecks or any sort of personal glory are not the things to which I look forward every day when I come to school. I enjoy working with high school-aged kids, I think school can be fun as well as educational, and I believe that you all have enormous potential. My philosophy is one of hard work, but with a balance of enjoyment in life. I always try to keep this outlook in mind: Work hard so that we can play hard. We have got to be able to work in a productive atmosphere, and if the work ethic falls short of expectations, then we will not be able to justify the “fun” I look forward to having with you.
Here are some candid bits of advice. Please take the time to read through these and the year should be a great one!
1) The type of person who will be successful in my class is the student who takes responsibility for his role in his own education. Be prepared to work hard because this is a rapidly-paced course with accelerated content. Have pride in what you produce in my class. Hold yourself accountable for any work you miss due to absences, and be sure to document assignments and due dates. Many of my students are also taking other honors or AP courses. If this is you, be extra careful in balancing your work in my class with your other classes, as well as your involvement with sports, music, and other activities. Remember that your primary role is as a student.
2) I don’t want to be your paper, pencil, or pen lender. Bring your own materials or borrow what you need from a fellow student. If you ask me, don’t be surprised if I give you a smart-aleck response. Bring whatever book we’re reading to class with you, and no, you cannot keep your textbooks in my room--be responsible!
3) Have pride in your work and make it your best. Don’t let perfectionism hold you back. There’s no such thing as a perfect essay, so be open to the fact that you can (and should) improve each time you write something for me. Perfectionism leads to a plateau effect, while true education involves a steady incline.
4) It’s time to hold yourself accountable for your work. I try to update the gradebook as often as I can, but I’m not here to pamper your bottom and remind you each time you fall behind. Find your own system for keeping on top of things.
5) If you’re taking this class to be with your friend, then you’ve made a poor decision. Too much socializing and gossiping not only annoys me, but it also brings down the quality of the class time. You’re responsible for what you take from my class, so if you spend the semester chatting and don’t like your final grade or feel like you haven’t grown academically, who should you blame?
6) Just because we get along, doesn’t mean that I’m going to give you any special breaks. Conversely, just because we butt heads, doesn’t mean that you’ll never get a break from me. I will be fair with all my students.
7) Flattery gets you nowhere with me. Save the brown-nosing for someone else.
8) My honors English class is as important as all of your other honors or AP classes. Even though there’s no AP test, this is still an accelerated course that needs your full attention.
9) “Life” happens to us all at the worst times. Things that are beyond our control pop up and make it seem like nothing can go right for us. However, you only get to use that excuse so many times before I get sick of hearing it.
10) You’re a student above all else--even your involvement in activities. Even school sports. Even those expensive club teams or dance lessons or music lessons that you might be participating in.
11) Effort alone will not necessarily get you a higher grade. Sometimes that’s the way of the world. It isn’t fair, is it? I hear it all the time: “But I worked all night!” or “I studied for days!” or “So-and-so didn’t even read all of the novel and he/she still did better than me on the test!” Did you put your best effort forth? Did you gain anything? Can you take the time to reflect and honestly answer these questions when you find yourself falling short of your goals? Think about it, and then think about how you can tailor your future endeavors so that you avoid similar disappointments.
12) In my opinion, grades are a representation of your performance through the semester, not an accumulation of points. The various grade weightings represent the averages of your performances on the various types of assignments. All assignments are worth 100 points then. A 4-question quiz has the same value as a 20-question quiz--they’re both worth 75% and reflect a C performance (an average performance).
13) I don’t believe in “Extra Credit.” All too often, students receive extra credit for doing next-to-nothing and this practice leads to grade inflation. I do not offer special opportunities to individual students so that they can raise their grades, so please don’t ask. I do offer “Bonus Points”--everyone has an opportunity to earn these points, students have to work to earn them, and they are valuable enough that they may make the difference when the overall grade is “almost there”.
14) Be ready to work in my class. The only spoon-feeding I do is with my toddler son. Don’t let perfectionism interfere with your growth.
15) Please understand that until you realize that you’re on a journey of self-discovery, your educational experience will be as pointless as you think it is. Figure out how to feed yourself and when food is scarce, you’ll be more likely to survive than the others. Likewise, figure out how to challenge yourself when the course seems “pointless” or “easy” and you’ll end the semester feeling like a mental giant.
Aside from the daily lessons you’ll have with me this semester, these tidbits are the best advice I can give you. Many of them I learned the hard way, but in the end, they helped make me who I am today. Heed my advice and remember that we’re on the same team.
Plain and simple, teaching is something that I love to do. Paychecks or any sort of personal glory are not the things to which I look forward every day when I come to school. I enjoy working with high school-aged kids, I think school can be fun as well as educational, and I believe that you all have enormous potential. My philosophy is one of hard work, but with a balance of enjoyment in life. I always try to keep this outlook in mind: Work hard so that we can play hard. We have got to be able to work in a productive atmosphere, and if the work ethic falls short of expectations, then we will not be able to justify the “fun” I look forward to having with you.
Here are some candid bits of advice. Please take the time to read through these and the year should be a great one!
1) The type of person who will be successful in my class is the student who takes responsibility for his role in his own education. Be prepared to work hard because this is a rapidly-paced course with accelerated content. Have pride in what you produce in my class. Hold yourself accountable for any work you miss due to absences, and be sure to document assignments and due dates. Many of my students are also taking other honors or AP courses. If this is you, be extra careful in balancing your work in my class with your other classes, as well as your involvement with sports, music, and other activities. Remember that your primary role is as a student.
2) I don’t want to be your paper, pencil, or pen lender. Bring your own materials or borrow what you need from a fellow student. If you ask me, don’t be surprised if I give you a smart-aleck response. Bring whatever book we’re reading to class with you, and no, you cannot keep your textbooks in my room--be responsible!
3) Have pride in your work and make it your best. Don’t let perfectionism hold you back. There’s no such thing as a perfect essay, so be open to the fact that you can (and should) improve each time you write something for me. Perfectionism leads to a plateau effect, while true education involves a steady incline.
4) It’s time to hold yourself accountable for your work. I try to update the gradebook as often as I can, but I’m not here to pamper your bottom and remind you each time you fall behind. Find your own system for keeping on top of things.
5) If you’re taking this class to be with your friend, then you’ve made a poor decision. Too much socializing and gossiping not only annoys me, but it also brings down the quality of the class time. You’re responsible for what you take from my class, so if you spend the semester chatting and don’t like your final grade or feel like you haven’t grown academically, who should you blame?
6) Just because we get along, doesn’t mean that I’m going to give you any special breaks. Conversely, just because we butt heads, doesn’t mean that you’ll never get a break from me. I will be fair with all my students.
7) Flattery gets you nowhere with me. Save the brown-nosing for someone else.
8) My honors English class is as important as all of your other honors or AP classes. Even though there’s no AP test, this is still an accelerated course that needs your full attention.
9) “Life” happens to us all at the worst times. Things that are beyond our control pop up and make it seem like nothing can go right for us. However, you only get to use that excuse so many times before I get sick of hearing it.
10) You’re a student above all else--even your involvement in activities. Even school sports. Even those expensive club teams or dance lessons or music lessons that you might be participating in.
11) Effort alone will not necessarily get you a higher grade. Sometimes that’s the way of the world. It isn’t fair, is it? I hear it all the time: “But I worked all night!” or “I studied for days!” or “So-and-so didn’t even read all of the novel and he/she still did better than me on the test!” Did you put your best effort forth? Did you gain anything? Can you take the time to reflect and honestly answer these questions when you find yourself falling short of your goals? Think about it, and then think about how you can tailor your future endeavors so that you avoid similar disappointments.
12) In my opinion, grades are a representation of your performance through the semester, not an accumulation of points. The various grade weightings represent the averages of your performances on the various types of assignments. All assignments are worth 100 points then. A 4-question quiz has the same value as a 20-question quiz--they’re both worth 75% and reflect a C performance (an average performance).
13) I don’t believe in “Extra Credit.” All too often, students receive extra credit for doing next-to-nothing and this practice leads to grade inflation. I do not offer special opportunities to individual students so that they can raise their grades, so please don’t ask. I do offer “Bonus Points”--everyone has an opportunity to earn these points, students have to work to earn them, and they are valuable enough that they may make the difference when the overall grade is “almost there”.
14) Be ready to work in my class. The only spoon-feeding I do is with my toddler son. Don’t let perfectionism interfere with your growth.
15) Please understand that until you realize that you’re on a journey of self-discovery, your educational experience will be as pointless as you think it is. Figure out how to feed yourself and when food is scarce, you’ll be more likely to survive than the others. Likewise, figure out how to challenge yourself when the course seems “pointless” or “easy” and you’ll end the semester feeling like a mental giant.
Aside from the daily lessons you’ll have with me this semester, these tidbits are the best advice I can give you. Many of them I learned the hard way, but in the end, they helped make me who I am today. Heed my advice and remember that we’re on the same team.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
How Did I Get Where I Am Now?
It's around midnight on a Friday -- my, how life has changed. Instead of being up to no good or out socializing, I'm sitting at the dining room table, munching on nachos and wondering when my son might wake up next. Sleep isn't coming easily tonight. I'm trying to muster up the strength to convince myself that this upcoming school year will be a good one, but I'm hitting too many roadblocks. Trying to look beyond all of the negatives that have already begun looming is proving to be quite difficult. Looking at where I'm at right now really makes me wonder how I got here in the first place.
Each and every one of us is where we are right now because God has plans for us all. Sure, we all have hit many forks in the road along the way, making some smart decisions that take us to nice places or making poor decisions that put us on lousy detours, but God has always guided us. He always gives us signs; the highway of life isn't as poorly marked as we sometimes claim it to be. Often, we simply overlook the obvious mile markers and warning signs along the way. We become too obtuse or too distracted to see the signs as we approach them, but they are frustratingly visible as we look back on the road we've just traveled.
I ask you this question: Wherever you are right now, how did you get there? What are some of the pivotal events in your life that have steered you toward this very moment? What are these top 5 events?
I look at my current job as an English teacher and wrestling coach, and my "Top 5" list is easy to make. Here is a recap of the journey I've been on:
1) Watching "Clash of the Titans" for the first time interested me in Greek mythology, which is one of my favorite parts of teaching. The movie was cheesy as can be, but it triggered something in me. It gave rise to a life-long enjoyment of mythology. As an eight-year-old boy, I was more interested in the sword fights, the flying horse, the ghastly Gorgon, and the heroism of Perseus than I was about anything else from the story. This was the first time I remember being interested in something remotely academic. I wanted more of the story, more of the mythology. I discovered Edith Hamilton's "Mythology" and read it cover to cover in 3rd grade. My teacher, who up to that point must have written me off as an ornery pain in the butt, admitted to me that she was impressed with how I voluntarily read about a subject that she never studied until she was in college. From that book, I learned all about the Olympians and their symbolic importances, heroes such as Odysseus (I pronounced his name "Oh-dee-soos") and Heracles (I'd always thought his name was Hercules...), and stories of transformation, love, or punishment. From the Greek stories I discovered Roman and later Norse mythology, and to this day I remember vividly countless times when I found myself speaking expertly on matters relating to the ancient Greeks.
2) Senior AP English was not really an event, but more of a culmination of events. My 2nd semester class had only 6 of us in it, and I vividly remember when Mrs. Davis told me that I had a knack for poetry. I had been sitting in my desk, either nodding off or pretending that I had actually read the assignment (and praying she wouldn't call on me), and I earnestly answered a question about a poem. It was the direct eye contact from the teacher, the sincere tone of her voice, and the pleased smile as she said it. My mother had always forced me into taking these honors classes, and I floundered my way through the English ones -- either barely making a B or almost getting an A -- but it was my final semester of high school English that I earned my first-ever A in an honors English class. I had feared that Honors English would be the death of my GPA, but that dedication and forced-patience really came through, and I don't think I ever would have found it had it not been for the confidence given me by that one teacher.
3) Sophomore year helping coach at the 9th/10th Topeka High wrestling meet. Coach Harris wouldn't let me wrestle; he said something about it not being appropriate for me to wrestle down a level. Although I wouldn't be allowed to compete, I wanted to support the team and help out. They had the meet spread out between two gymnasiums and there were only two coaches there. When we had multiple kids wrestling and both coaches were already occupied with other matches, I felt obliged to coach from the corner. It felt natural to me. Eventually, one of the coaches made it to the mat and took over, but it was at this meet that I jokingly told Coach (Kit) Harris that I was after his job. Four years later, I was his assistant coach at Baldwin. I eventually did take over his job three times, to be exact (we both taught video productions, we're both English teachers, and he was once the head coach at WR).
4)Calc II study group my freshman year in college. Five or six of us met once a week in the library to go over problems assigned by the teacher (I won't say he was boring, but at the time I couldn't care less during his lectures). The frustrating thing about college math classes is that you don't have to turn in your daily assignments. When I realized this, I began to skip out on the assigned problems. One thing led to another and I found myself no longer at the head of the math class, as I had been in high school, and now at the bottom. During our study groups, I was actually doing the problems and understanding them; I began walking the others through the homework. Something felt right about the teaching part of it when I was able to explain the material to my confounded classmates. It was either Jeff or David that told me I had a knack for teaching.
5) Being a real wrestling coach for the first time. My freshman year in college, I helped out at Washburn Rural Middle School. The downside of this gig was that it meant I had to drive 45 minutes each way, every day for two months, but the upside was that it opened a new set of doors for me. I had a great deal of fun, and it really helped me figure out what to do next at a time where I wasn't all that sure as to where I was going or when I would get there. At the time, I was set to major in pre-engineering and go off after getting my BS to build bridges and construct dams and reservoirs. All I knew was that I wanted to make some money, I was good at math and physics, and my guidance counselor in high school had suggested engineering as a good career for me. From the time I started coaching, it wasn't long before I changed my major to mathematics with the intent to teach math. The next year I changed again from math to English and entered the school of education. Being a novice coach definitely convinced me that I could be a good coach, but it also taught me a thing or two about maturity. Working with 7th and 8th grade kids wasn't something I wanted to do the rest of my life, however.
And here I am, about to enter my 8th year as a teacher and my 6th year as a head coach. I know I haven't yet reached my destination, but remembering how I got here helps me forget the negatives that are already threatening to make this upcoming year a lousy one. It helps remind me of the excitement I feel thinking of being in front of a class or on the wrestling mat.
Each and every one of us is where we are right now because God has plans for us all. Sure, we all have hit many forks in the road along the way, making some smart decisions that take us to nice places or making poor decisions that put us on lousy detours, but God has always guided us. He always gives us signs; the highway of life isn't as poorly marked as we sometimes claim it to be. Often, we simply overlook the obvious mile markers and warning signs along the way. We become too obtuse or too distracted to see the signs as we approach them, but they are frustratingly visible as we look back on the road we've just traveled.
I ask you this question: Wherever you are right now, how did you get there? What are some of the pivotal events in your life that have steered you toward this very moment? What are these top 5 events?
I look at my current job as an English teacher and wrestling coach, and my "Top 5" list is easy to make. Here is a recap of the journey I've been on:
1) Watching "Clash of the Titans" for the first time interested me in Greek mythology, which is one of my favorite parts of teaching. The movie was cheesy as can be, but it triggered something in me. It gave rise to a life-long enjoyment of mythology. As an eight-year-old boy, I was more interested in the sword fights, the flying horse, the ghastly Gorgon, and the heroism of Perseus than I was about anything else from the story. This was the first time I remember being interested in something remotely academic. I wanted more of the story, more of the mythology. I discovered Edith Hamilton's "Mythology" and read it cover to cover in 3rd grade. My teacher, who up to that point must have written me off as an ornery pain in the butt, admitted to me that she was impressed with how I voluntarily read about a subject that she never studied until she was in college. From that book, I learned all about the Olympians and their symbolic importances, heroes such as Odysseus (I pronounced his name "Oh-dee-soos") and Heracles (I'd always thought his name was Hercules...), and stories of transformation, love, or punishment. From the Greek stories I discovered Roman and later Norse mythology, and to this day I remember vividly countless times when I found myself speaking expertly on matters relating to the ancient Greeks.
2) Senior AP English was not really an event, but more of a culmination of events. My 2nd semester class had only 6 of us in it, and I vividly remember when Mrs. Davis told me that I had a knack for poetry. I had been sitting in my desk, either nodding off or pretending that I had actually read the assignment (and praying she wouldn't call on me), and I earnestly answered a question about a poem. It was the direct eye contact from the teacher, the sincere tone of her voice, and the pleased smile as she said it. My mother had always forced me into taking these honors classes, and I floundered my way through the English ones -- either barely making a B or almost getting an A -- but it was my final semester of high school English that I earned my first-ever A in an honors English class. I had feared that Honors English would be the death of my GPA, but that dedication and forced-patience really came through, and I don't think I ever would have found it had it not been for the confidence given me by that one teacher.
3) Sophomore year helping coach at the 9th/10th Topeka High wrestling meet. Coach Harris wouldn't let me wrestle; he said something about it not being appropriate for me to wrestle down a level. Although I wouldn't be allowed to compete, I wanted to support the team and help out. They had the meet spread out between two gymnasiums and there were only two coaches there. When we had multiple kids wrestling and both coaches were already occupied with other matches, I felt obliged to coach from the corner. It felt natural to me. Eventually, one of the coaches made it to the mat and took over, but it was at this meet that I jokingly told Coach (Kit) Harris that I was after his job. Four years later, I was his assistant coach at Baldwin. I eventually did take over his job three times, to be exact (we both taught video productions, we're both English teachers, and he was once the head coach at WR).
4)Calc II study group my freshman year in college. Five or six of us met once a week in the library to go over problems assigned by the teacher (I won't say he was boring, but at the time I couldn't care less during his lectures). The frustrating thing about college math classes is that you don't have to turn in your daily assignments. When I realized this, I began to skip out on the assigned problems. One thing led to another and I found myself no longer at the head of the math class, as I had been in high school, and now at the bottom. During our study groups, I was actually doing the problems and understanding them; I began walking the others through the homework. Something felt right about the teaching part of it when I was able to explain the material to my confounded classmates. It was either Jeff or David that told me I had a knack for teaching.
5) Being a real wrestling coach for the first time. My freshman year in college, I helped out at Washburn Rural Middle School. The downside of this gig was that it meant I had to drive 45 minutes each way, every day for two months, but the upside was that it opened a new set of doors for me. I had a great deal of fun, and it really helped me figure out what to do next at a time where I wasn't all that sure as to where I was going or when I would get there. At the time, I was set to major in pre-engineering and go off after getting my BS to build bridges and construct dams and reservoirs. All I knew was that I wanted to make some money, I was good at math and physics, and my guidance counselor in high school had suggested engineering as a good career for me. From the time I started coaching, it wasn't long before I changed my major to mathematics with the intent to teach math. The next year I changed again from math to English and entered the school of education. Being a novice coach definitely convinced me that I could be a good coach, but it also taught me a thing or two about maturity. Working with 7th and 8th grade kids wasn't something I wanted to do the rest of my life, however.
And here I am, about to enter my 8th year as a teacher and my 6th year as a head coach. I know I haven't yet reached my destination, but remembering how I got here helps me forget the negatives that are already threatening to make this upcoming year a lousy one. It helps remind me of the excitement I feel thinking of being in front of a class or on the wrestling mat.
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