My Teaching Premier

Last week I had a scary experience. I practiced being a teacher. It was scary because I wasn't as prepared as I should have been. I finished my lesson midnight the night before, and didn't really have time to practice, and go through the lesson. It started out well, and then I started to talk about themes in The Glass Menagerie. I was hoping that by talking about the controversial life of Tennessee Williams that would loosen the students up, but not in "Happy Valley," Utah (Jessica Biel says the movie is a "must see!"). After I bombed the second-half, I talked to the teacher and she told me that they aren't use to me, and don't know how to respond. The class is quite talkative with Mrs. Peterson (the real teacher). I tried to relax, but it's really hard when people just sit there and stare at you. I tend to be very honest when I am nervous (Mrs. P noticed and put it in my evaluation).

So I prepared better on Thursday, and added a weapon to my arsenal--candy! It still didn't work. I just hope that my class will respond better to me.

There is a quote by Julie B. Beck, that has more to do with being a mother, that helped me get out of my slump. It helped me get focused, and remember why I want to teach, "[I] gain[s] as much education as [my] circumstances will allow, improving [my] mind and spirit with the desire to teach what [I] learn[s] to the generations who follow [me]."* It's inherent! Teaching is in my blood. It's natural. It's what I am suppose to do.

Another reason why I want to be a teacher is because I get 3 months off a year! (This is where I would say, "Sucka!")

*I individualized the quote (kinda like what we do with the scriptures!) that's why there are brackets.

Graduation

Graduation is Friday April 25 at noon.

Is There a Drug For That? and My Dream as an English Major

OK! So this is what I have diagnosed myself with so far: ADHD (who hasn't had it at one time), speech fluency AKA cluttering (if you ever listen to me talk you will know that I am somewhat incoherent), and receptive language disorder; this weekend I had a case of insomnia (thank you Mountain Dew), but made up for it with my fight against narcolepsy in church; I may possibly have anemia, but that's still inconclusive; I tried to develop tourettes, but gave it up; I also have chionophobia, Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (the fear of long words, but really multisyllable words--it's the closest I could find--I wonder if that is considered irony), Homichlophobia (thank you Bakersfield--fear of fog-- hahaha), and a good ol' fashion case of hypochondriatitis (wow! and neologism). At least I don't have MPD, Multiple Personality Disorder, with all my self-diagnosed diseases that would be scary! Oh yeah I also have the common cold. Don't worry, I will still be diagnosing myself at least until April, when I graduate.

How long do you think it would take Dr. House to diagnose me?

(I finally did it! I always wanted to write one very long convoluted sentence, my dream as an English major. Nietzsche would be proud!)

How Breaking My Eardrum Renewed My "Sparkle"

When I was little my sister broke my eardrum. The details aren't worth mentioning (they might embarrass her), but she accidentally--really purposely--pushed a q-tip (that I put there) further into my ear than it needed to be. My mom was livid. My pediatrician was out of town, so a younger doctor prescribed ear drops, which by the way tastes nasty, and he didn't say there were birdies in my ear like my doctor would say (and not because they got out through the hole in my ear).

The point of this is because today I had an amazing experience in my Exceptional Students class that reminded me of why I want[ed] to be a teacher. It brought the "sparkle" back in my eyes.

We discussed students with hearing loss, and so we talked about ear anatomy, and it was really cool! (We also talked about blindness which reminded me of my blind grandma, and the hearing loss reminded me of my other grandma.) I love this class, and every time we learn about some new disorder or disability I diagnose myself as having that. (This time, though, I didn't diagnose myself with a visual or auditory disability, yeah me!)

I learned how the outer, middle, and inner ear works and its parts: hammer, anvil, and stirrup, eustachian tube, and cochlea. It was fascinating!

So, now I am excited about being a teacher again!

Complacency Isn't a Good Thing

I go to church at 2 pm which is ridiculous. As I was sitting in Sacrament meeting I was thinking to myself I need to find a ward that starts earlier--this is in the middle of my nap time I can do 9 am! It's weird because when church starts later I feel less spiritual, like I can get away with reading, doing my homework, or listening to music (maybe stuff I should or should not be doing . . . ) and forget to get ready. I get so caught up in what I am doing that I don't realize, "Oh! It's 12 o'clock. I need to get ready now!" (the fact that I am an early riser does not help the situation). Having church in the middle of the day, and into the evening, I feel takes away from the holiness of the day-- it just isn't right. I guess this is another reason for me to move. The problem is I am too lazy to move, and I have a pretty decent pad with decent amenities, and the situation is decent. Complacency isn't a good thing.

Get Rich Quick Schemes

Have you ever just wanted to throw your computer against the wall because it's acting retarded?! (I believe computers, like robots, have feelings, can think for themselves, and therefore can act retarded. Eventually they will soon take over the human race!) Well this weekend I didn't, but instead decided to buy a new one. I came into some money thanks to the government (pell grant), and put it in my savings so it will accrue interest (not very much), and well, it did, eventually I had enough money to buy a nice MacBook, and I am enjoying it.

Now I need to be really careful with my spending! I think I will go on "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader" as my next get rich quick scheme.