The realization dawned on me that I needed to leave. It’s not in a “oh my God get me out of here” way or a “I’m running as fast as I can towards something new” way. It’s just a “it’s time” way. It’s not desperate or overly negative or toxic. It just is. I think … Continue reading The leaving manifesto
Tag: teaching
Finding and holding onto the optimistic
Today's post is a re-"print" of a reflection I wrote over five years ago after teaching a specific summer course to international military members. For some reason, the spring months are usually where I reflect on my teaching career and especially this year, remember the good, the positive, the optimistic. This is different than "toxic … Continue reading Finding and holding onto the optimistic
Plan A is Plan A
In a one-on-one session with a student today, these literal words came out of my mouth: "Bear with me with biology; it's been 20 years since I've had this class." (For the record, I teach ESOL but a student came to me for language help with her bio class.) I became a teacher long before … Continue reading Plan A is Plan A
Snap out of it
The world is at a fever pitch right now. Everything is heightened, stressed, tenuous, uncertain. Almost anything could be the straw that broke the camel's back, as it were. Everyday I resist the urge to actively look for said straw. It's tempting to fall into a feeling of hopelessness and live just for today. I've … Continue reading Snap out of it
An unfortunate rite of passage with an okay ending.
Infertility has been an unfortunate rite of passage. It's something I didn't know I'd have to go through, unlike other rites of passage, and until I did, there's a lot I didn't know or realize about life in general. Funny how specific life circumstances can teach us so much about just... life. Fertility or the … Continue reading An unfortunate rite of passage with an okay ending.
Finding our voices
Every time I get the inspiration or urge to write, something stops me. It's almost like a paralysis, but it's completely intangible. I imagine it's a bit like being under anesthesia, able to feel but unable to speak. Actually, that's exactly what it is. Two years of hopefulness followed by hopelessness ad nauseum can really … Continue reading Finding our voices
MPM 2.0: mercy unmasked 