So, this year, I am back full time. It's a bit of a challenge, but in that amusing karmic way the universe operates, it's come at a good time (down turn in the logging industry = my husband gainfully unemployed). It's going quite well, all things considered, and I have taken over the IT department, teaching 6 blocks of IT and one of Math. Which brings me to today's story.....
I was upbraided (rather thoroughly) for the first time by the Prince for an email I sent to the tech department. Prince thought I undermined him and said I was Pissing Them Off with my "constant" ranting. Naturally, I disagree with all this, but that's irrelevant.
I noticed two things about my reaction to this incident. I knew I was "right", although I certainly could afford to look at my behaviour. I also realized that this Prince was just like all the others- his own agenda, his own power-grab, his own "size issues". I was mad, and vented a little to a couple of staff members
Then I got over it.
I don't define myself according to what others think of me anymore, especially Authority Figures. I care what my peers and friends think, but mostly I care what I think.
Will I change my "email rants" behaviour? Sure. Will I change myself? nahhhhhh (-:
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Dear Blog.....it's been awhile
I couldn't decide whether to leave the blog as it is, telling one story start to end and then walking away. But it occurred to me that these stories don't ever really end, do they? We are the result of the life we have lived up to this moment.
So, while I'm happy to leave THAT story behind, I think this is a good venue to add new stories.
Let's move on.....
Eventually, I went back to work. I took a job at a local Middle School-- in fact, it's the Middle School that the kids from H.El attend, so indeed these stories don't ever end. It was good to reconnect with those kids, and to be reminded that it was for them that I kept coming out swinging (until I fell to the floor).
A year of half time work, a new staff, a new process, a new outlook. And trying very hard to live the life I want to-- I remind myself daily to Give out what I want to get back. It works, too, most days.
At the end of the year, I agreed to take a full time job in the Fall. It's time. Not long after I made that decision, I had a moment-- one of those Life Moments that remind you of who you are.
Thanks for reading.
My very first job was about 15 years ago. I was excited, eager, just out of Uni (you know the type). Took over a class of grade 4's from a woman who had taught for 35 years, was planning to retire in June, but couldn't make it because this class was SO AWFUL (and they really were-- unreal)
So in I went from Spring Break through to the end of the year. Blah blah blah, they were horrid, but I loved every one of them.
Saw The One the other day buying a coffee at Tim Horton's. He'd be about 23, 24 now I guess.
"Lukas?"
Puzzled look
"Do you recognize me?"
"You look familiar......" then when I say Grade 4, he remembers.
Usually it's the other way around, they come up to you, and you haven't a clue who this 6'4" kid is.
This boy, though, didn't write, couldn't read when I took the class, was about 80 pounds of anger and not much else. By the end of that year, he would write me little stories-- about 4 sentences long. I still have one. His mom gave me a card in which she wrote "You are the only teacher Lukas has ever taken to".
But I worried about him every time I saw him "hanging around town" after that, or whenever I thought of him.
On this day, however, when he realized who I was, he reached out to shake my hand, and went on to tell me he is doing really well-- working for a guy doing drywall, and driving a car that I could tell he saved money up to buy-- ie, 10 years old, but well cared for and it's his, not the leasing company's. He had a few "prison" tattoos on his fingers, and clearly had had some tough times (perhaps not in prison, but you know what I mean)
I told him I was so glad to see he was doing well. He smiled and thanked me and said "Yeah I am"
I was sobbing (not just a few tears in the eyes like right now as I retell it), but full on sobbing by the time I got in my car. It was a message I desperately needed right at that moment-- a reminder of what I do and why.
*sigh*
So, while I'm happy to leave THAT story behind, I think this is a good venue to add new stories.
Let's move on.....
Eventually, I went back to work. I took a job at a local Middle School-- in fact, it's the Middle School that the kids from H.El attend, so indeed these stories don't ever end. It was good to reconnect with those kids, and to be reminded that it was for them that I kept coming out swinging (until I fell to the floor).
A year of half time work, a new staff, a new process, a new outlook. And trying very hard to live the life I want to-- I remind myself daily to Give out what I want to get back. It works, too, most days.
At the end of the year, I agreed to take a full time job in the Fall. It's time. Not long after I made that decision, I had a moment-- one of those Life Moments that remind you of who you are.
Thanks for reading.
My very first job was about 15 years ago. I was excited, eager, just out of Uni (you know the type). Took over a class of grade 4's from a woman who had taught for 35 years, was planning to retire in June, but couldn't make it because this class was SO AWFUL (and they really were-- unreal)
So in I went from Spring Break through to the end of the year. Blah blah blah, they were horrid, but I loved every one of them.
Saw The One the other day buying a coffee at Tim Horton's. He'd be about 23, 24 now I guess.
"Lukas?"
Puzzled look
"Do you recognize me?"
"You look familiar......" then when I say Grade 4, he remembers.
Usually it's the other way around, they come up to you, and you haven't a clue who this 6'4" kid is.
This boy, though, didn't write, couldn't read when I took the class, was about 80 pounds of anger and not much else. By the end of that year, he would write me little stories-- about 4 sentences long. I still have one. His mom gave me a card in which she wrote "You are the only teacher Lukas has ever taken to".
But I worried about him every time I saw him "hanging around town" after that, or whenever I thought of him.
On this day, however, when he realized who I was, he reached out to shake my hand, and went on to tell me he is doing really well-- working for a guy doing drywall, and driving a car that I could tell he saved money up to buy-- ie, 10 years old, but well cared for and it's his, not the leasing company's. He had a few "prison" tattoos on his fingers, and clearly had had some tough times (perhaps not in prison, but you know what I mean)
I told him I was so glad to see he was doing well. He smiled and thanked me and said "Yeah I am"
I was sobbing (not just a few tears in the eyes like right now as I retell it), but full on sobbing by the time I got in my car. It was a message I desperately needed right at that moment-- a reminder of what I do and why.
*sigh*
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