Thinking Ahead

A lot of my down time has been spent lately applying for teaching jobs for next school year. I am excited to get back in the classroom. Things like this make me look forward to it even more.

What Teachers Make- Taylor Mali

Watch the video:
http://www.ted.com/talks/taylor_mali_what_teachers_make.html

He says the problem with teachers is, "What's a kid going to learn
from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"
He reminds the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about
teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.

I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
and resist the temptation to remind the other dinner guests
that it's also true what they say about lawyers.

Because we're eating, after all, and this is polite company.

"I mean, you¹re a teacher, Taylor," he says.
"Be honest. What do you make?"

And I wish he hadn't done that
(asked me to be honest)
because, you see, I have a policy
about honesty and ass-kicking:
if you ask for it, I have to let you have it.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional medal of honor
and an A- feel like a slap in the face.
How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall
in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups.
No, you may not ask a question.
Why won't I let you get a drink of water?
Because you're not thirsty, you're bored, that's why.

I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:
I hope I haven't called at a bad time,
I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today.
Billy said, "Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don't you?"
And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.

I make parents see their children for who they are
and what they can be.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids wonder,
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write, write, write.
And then I make them read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely
beautiful
over and over and over again until they will never misspell
either one of those words again.
I make them show all their work in math.
And hide it on their final drafts in English.
I make them understand that if you got this (brains)
then you follow this (heart) and if someone ever tries to judge you
by what you make, you give them this (the finger).

Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
I make a goddamn difference! What about you?

Today's Inspiration

"Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never
find it."
-Roald Dahl

The Person Next to You

A really great blog- "Fraternal Thoughts" (http://fraternalthoughts.blogspot.com/)-"is devoted to examining the role of the fraternity and sorority in today's world, as well as ideas and practices for ensuring their sustainability." It's newest post is of a poem that says a lot about brother/sisterhood and how you are given the opportunity to really form meaningful relationships with others through Greek Letter Organizations. I though it was neat...here's the poem!


The Person Next To You

The person next to you is the greatest miracle
and the greatest mystery you will ever
meet at this moment.

The person next to you is an inexhaustible
reservoir of possibility,
desire and dread,
smiles and frowns, laughter and tears,
fears and hopes,
all struggling to find expression.

The person next to you believes in something,
stands for something, counts for something,
lives for something, labors for something,
waits for something, runs from something,
runs to something.

The person next to you has problems and fears,
wonders how they’re doing,
is often undecided and unorganized
and painfully close to chaos!
Do they dare speak of it to you?

The person next to you can live with you
not just alongside you,
not just next to you.

The person next to you is a part of you.
for you are the person next to them.


This poem also made me think about how often I interact with complete strangers on the airplane/in my travels...so cool to think about how everyone has a story!

Familiar Faces

My first visit back on the road was to Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). I was super excited to meet the sisters of our newest chapter and to be back in Indy where our headquarters is located. While I was at IUPUI I got to meet with all of the officers and provide them with some training on what their positions entail. I also got to work with the chapter to recruit some new members and help their new chapter grow even more.

A big highlight of my time in Indy was getting to see some familiar faces. One of the toughest things about this job is being surrounded by people all of the time- but those people usually being ones that you just met. I got to go into the office a couple times and see some of the ladies who helped train all the TLCs over the summer. Our International Office is a huge and beautiful building that I am always happy to get visit. Being there reminded me of all the fun I had there at training this summer (see below).



It was so refreshing to be back in the office and I'm so glad I got the chance to visit!

I also was able to take a quick trip to Indiana University to see some friends and the beautiful ZTA house there. The ZTA chapter at IU raises the most money (around $170,000 annually!!) out of any chapter nationally through their Big Man on Campus fundraiser so it was really cool to see where all the magic happens.

Here are the girls from that chapter being interviewed about the great work they do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bXRSOPcJJ4

Next Stops!

See, I'm sticking to my resolution already! I am getting very excited to get back on the road (though time at home with family and friends has been GREAT)...here are my next stops!


First up is IUPUI or Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis. This chapter is brand new, having only been installed in December.


I am so excited to go back to MTSU!! These women are incredible AND I will get to work with another TLC, Shaina, while I am there!


I am very glad to get to stay in the south for a little bit longer and am excited for my first trip to Georgia.


I will also get to go to Rhode Island for the first time!



Then its back to Indiana for Indiana State University and Franklin College





This schedule finishes up with Baldwin-Wallace in Ohio.

For those keeping score at home, that means flying 7 or 8 times in 8 weeks! Yikes!

New Year's Resolution

My resolution: I'm going to try really really hard to blog more. I promise!!