Oh happy day.

I have a new job. Well, it's a week-old. I'm working at the club near my college and it is kind of the greatest thing ever. My boss is so chill and gives each of us (almost) total freedom to do whatever programing we want. And the kids I work with are the greatest kids on the planet. (Well, most of the time!) My staff is amazing and it is such a great fit for me.
I was helping a kindergartner with her homework the other day. She was learning about body coverings on animals- fur, feathers, etc. She had to draw another animal with the same body covering as the one pictured. The first picture was of a bird, so I asked, "What is on a bird?" She answered, "Brown? Black?" I suppose the idea of feathers was a little confusing. A boy across the table looked at her, shook his head, and explained that we all have things that cover us. Humans have skin, dogs have fur, and birds have feathers. The kindergardener looked up at me, smiled, and said, "Birds have feathers. So do dinosaurs!" Right on, kid.
Basically, I am happy. It's this one-on-one (or even15-on-one) interactions with kids that make me realize how amazing life is. Taking the time to listen to how a child processes ideas and thoughts is one of the greatest parts about my work. I have no idea how they can manage such creative and unique responses to homework questions, but it brings such joy. And fueling that joy can keep a child learning and discovering and making other people happy.

teacher school

It has been one month that I have been a part of teacher school. So far, I am hating it. Why do I have to fit into such a small mold?! Don't answer that, I am very aware of the political agenda that has spilled into the classroom.
During the teacher strike in Chicago, my justice in education class visited North Shore Prep, the most prestigious "public" school (I mean, it's a CPS school but you have to have super high test scores to be accepted). We talked to a teacher and why he supported the strike. He told us that he was striking for the schools, such as Roosevelt and DuSable, that lacked significant funding. He also wanted an adequate system of teacher evaluation.
Isn't it strange that our system of education, the foundation of EVERY humans' life (For the most part. Everyone has to learn something to function in society), hasn't actually ever been fair? In my justice class, we are writing a paper about if the American school system has favored equity or excellence. In my essay, I argue in favor or excellence. From the time of America's first university up to our present day, school is used to weed out those who do not have to resources to get far in life verse those who have the motivation, or means, go on and become something great. So I guess we don't just need fair teacher evaluations but also a fair student evaluation, something more that a standardized test. Maybe teachers should be allowed to rate the students on something that is tailored to the individual, not a system.
I had no idea that by attending the school of education I would just be a player in a much larger political agenda. Bummer dude. Sorry about this political rant. Just had to get this off my chest. But on a happy note, the new Mumford and Son CD is out. Go listen to it. It's pretty rad.

Breathe.

I SURVIVED MY FIRST WEEK!
Living in an apartment is really hard. Sounds weird saying that. But it's true.
My classes are all awesome, my homework isn't impossible and it's not super difficult to re-learn how to manage my time. But living in an apartment is so rough.
Our toilet leaks really badly and hasn't been fixed yet.
I've burned my arm.
My roommate forgot to fill up the ice tray.
The piolet light went out and I had to sacrifice an arm and a leg to get someone over to re-light it.
I burned cheese on the oven and the whole place smelled.
Honestly, my list is pathetic. What first world problems. But I'm so emotionally drained. All I want to do is find a quiet, air conditioned place and curl up with a book and iced coffee and get away from people. But, I have to keep truckin'.
So I will just breathe.
Sit here in my own apartment, one that is filled with our paintings and crafts and an orange filing cabinet and breathe.

Forward March

I'm heading back to Chicago today! Seriously, I am so beyond excited. This year won't start off with a bunch of awkward hello's and get to know you games (and I will be missing that not at all). I'll be able to step on campus and actually know where I'm going and who I'm seeing. Such improvements from last year.
More importantly, I am so looking forward to everything this school year is going to teach me. I honestly have not one clue of what's going to happen (does anyone, really?). But this is me, an anxious student, willing and ready to take on all of life's new challenges and lessons.

Done.

Yesterday, I went into club. It was empty. Silence bounced off the walls. Gone were the screams of joy and the yells of anger. Instead, in the front office, staff reminisced about the worst kid moments so the summer and the many of the crazy things some of them do. It was somewhat therapeutic to laugh at those challenging moments. Even though club proved to be most stressful job- mentally and physically- it taught me the most.

This summer, the most important lesson I learned was not to judge people. 

Many people live differently that I do. Many people have been raised differently that I have. And just because I don't agree with how they live doesn't mean I can't love them. 

At college, we're always talking about diversity. And after this summer, living in a subarb but working in a very cultured environment, I guess I have really taken a deeper look into the many differences that make up individuals. I am most excited to see how this will affect me as the year continues.

Puppies and Children (a lesson in worth)

This past week, I had the opportunity to chaperon a camp at our local dog shelter. I was in charge of looking after four kids, around the ages of 12, for about three hours a day. Easiest assignment ever, right?
The first two days were actually highly enjoyable. I do love cats and had the opportunity to play with them every day, a rare treat since most of my family is extremely allergic. By the third day, however, I began to dread the camp. I missed my kids. I missed my classroom. I missed teaching lessons. Even with all the ups and downs of this past summer, I love my job. It is so fulfilling and wonderful. Those precious children always put a smile on my face. They help define my worth. At the animal camp, the staff always stressed the importance of making new pets feel like part of the family, to never call yourself an "owner" but instead a "pet handler".  Now, I love my dog, but I'm also her owner. My family bought her and she is an animal, therefore, we are her owners.
What about an animal gives it worth? Animals can be loyal, shy, energetic, etc. But what trait says, "Hey! I'm worthy of your affection!" The answer to that question depends on where you find worth. For me, I gather a great deal of worth from my work. My kids depend on me for creativity, learning, exploration, and excitement. I am worth something to them- they find worth in me because of what I do for them.
This past week taught me that I do not find as much joy in animals as I do kids (kids say the funniest things, something animals will never be able to do). And I also discovered that I right were I am meant to be: working with kids, not puppies. The reward is worth so much more.

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! (a lesson in memories)

I went to the zoo on Friday. Wow. Pretty sure I’m still recovering. I hiked my group to the Kingdom of the Night, gorilla complex, aquarium, petting zoo, sea otters, cheetahs, and many other exhibits’. After about 4 hours, my 16 kids and I were poop out. There had been fits pitched, rules broke, tears cried, lost backpacks and scraped knees. We tiredly trudged up to the waiting buses.  Upon reaching the pick-up spot, I looked around for our other groups. Almost everyone from work was at the zoo, a group of about 120. There was not another soul from my work. I quickly called the main building, got the number of the lady in charge, called her and asked where everyone was. They had left.

I am sitting on the grass, exhausted in the heat, wondering how, and if, we were ever going to get back. I had already worked 9 hours and was so tired from all the yelling, fighting, and animal-like behavior the zoo brings out in kids. When the lady called back, she said that they would drop off the kids and one of the buses would drive back to get us. (At this point, the kids got a map of the zoo and divided up the exhibits to where each person would life. Super hilarious) My group and I sat for 40 minutes. I thought the day couldn’t get any worse.

When the bus finally picked us up, a girl got a very bad bloody nose, which bled all over me as I helped her. And when we were about a block from the building, our bus got pulled over for going 40 in a 35. Happy Friday the 13^th.

As I am recovering this weekend, that crazy zoo trip makes me laugh. Of course something awful would happen to me. But it made for the best memories. I will never forget those kids who got left at the zoo with me. And, I guess I wouldn’t have it any other way.