tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37304602011-09-07T21:35:28.583-07:00Revelations of an Intellectual Observeraugustnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3601100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-45293275929449683822011-09-07T21:06:00.000-07:002011-09-07T21:35:28.615-07:00

Recently, I got into a minor car accident. Nothing much: a typical rear-end collision while waiting at the stoplight. As my car jumped forward, I sat in my seat in disbelief and surprise. Thoughts of “Why me?” and “What did I do?” and “Are you serious?” and “Are you kidding me?” and “What the hell?” filled my head and I didn’t know how exactly to process the incident. As the car behind me pulled

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-29053171556622364192011-06-20T23:19:00.000-07:002011-06-20T23:59:51.763-07:00

The school year ended more than a week ago. I have survived another year of budget cuts, professional setbacks and conflicts, hundreds of papers, countless immature attitudes and apathy, and final assessments. It was a successful year. Every August, I groan at the obstacles that I know I will face, but for now, I have two months to finally focus on something that is annually sacrificed while I

augustnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-24154142040344067442010-06-21T22:26:00.000-07:002010-06-21T23:40:42.325-07:00

When I was in high school, I didn't believe in staying friends after a relationship ended. How do you go back to platonic after vulnerability has been revealed? I wanted to be away from ex-boyfriends when the relationships were over--even better if we never spoke. For years, this philosophy has served me well. Then five years ago, one ex-boyfriend made me face the fact that we roamed the same

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-6254835396793157092010-02-08T23:17:00.001-08:002010-02-08T23:54:26.000-08:00

Last year, my students started calling me a "dream-killer," due to the strict way I grade essays. I'm so particular with language and grammar that, regardless of the color pen I use, I manage to make essays bleed with the regret of existence. But even with the low grades and the disheartening sighs, my students laugh at me and at each other before they dig their heels to do better for the

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-45570407492408571212009-10-16T23:30:00.000-07:002009-10-16T23:44:14.547-07:00

After nearly a month of silence, I was invited to lunch to visit a friend, only to have him tell me that he was mad at me. We had it out, and neither one of us apologized. This was a colleague, and we have (or had) been friends for about five years. He accused me of valuing my job more than our friendship. I never thought of it that way before, but now that he brought it up: I think it's true,

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-22371547060613613432009-10-01T21:16:00.000-07:002009-10-01T23:10:33.883-07:00

I see it everywhere: marks of individuality, signs of uniqueness, symbols of the "me." There is a long history of the tattoo; one can even argue that God made the first one for Cain--a symbol that singled him out as a murderer. In ancient Egypt, mummies have been discovered with symbols and signs on their bodies, characters and designs to represent love, honor, respect, even punishment. Tribes

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-30016721309381326952009-07-12T09:06:00.000-07:002009-07-12T09:06:30.349-07:00

As my older sister prepares to move back in with my parents, due to an impending divorce, my sisters and I have begun prepping our old rooms to make room for her and her children's belongings. It has been an arduous task because my parents are packrats; they refuse to throw anything away. As my sisters sifted through the garage, we grew frustrated at the old furniture, excessive clothes, and

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-60621350134304984502009-06-09T19:31:00.000-07:002009-06-09T23:22:25.015-07:00

I use technology as a tool. I use technology as a social network. I also use technology to publish this blog. Technology is part of my life--it comes as a computer, a cell phone, and an iPod. It has been part of my life since my father put together a "home brew" PC in 1994. I know what my life was like before computers and internet pervaded my habits and became part of my daily activities.As

augustnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-12690720166511283262009-06-02T21:11:00.000-07:002009-06-02T22:10:19.455-07:00

The Mother Card. Women pull this like some black people pull the "race card" when they don't get their way or don't like what they hear.I am single. I have no children. I have dedicated myself to my career. This is the choice I have made. This is not to say that I am against marriage or against having children; it is just those options were not part of the path that I have chosen to walk. If they

augustnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-90086926754745377012009-05-04T00:16:00.001-07:002009-05-04T00:29:42.987-07:00

After attending a car show in town, I was sure to find a 1965 Dodge Dart, my absolute dream car. But out of 1001 cars (literally, there were that many), I only came upon a 1969 Dart. Wrong year and model. *sigh* I also came upon several 1969 Dodge Chargers, another hot car which I can totally appreciate as much as the Dart.But while strolling down the streets in the midst of roaring engines and

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-16839625159995780432009-05-01T21:54:00.000-07:002009-05-01T22:46:12.768-07:00

After seven years of teaching (God has it been that long?), I have come across all kinds of students with myriad personalities. You think I've seen it all; but in comparison to teachers who have taught for over twenty years, I think I've only seen the tip of the iceberg. In my short teaching stint, I have come across three distinct types of students that I cannot tolerate:A) The Apathetic-Lazy

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-24118336501618047602009-04-30T21:16:00.000-07:002009-04-30T21:38:49.728-07:00

While cleaning up some notebooks in my home office, I came upon a black binder with lots of organized paper. I thought it was an old college reader with articles of educational importance. But upon opening this notebook, I found an old "novel" I had written when I was in high school. I have to confess: I was into that whole vampire thing during my junior year, but my nocturnal fix was satiated by

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-39886495553764259062009-04-25T21:38:00.001-07:002009-04-25T21:43:33.668-07:00

The school year is not officially over, but I can officially say that this has been the worst year ever. I'm ready for it to end already, and June cannot come soon enough. As I run through the events that defined this school year from the rest, I dread that I have to be here again for the next school year. I become more desperate to leave Riverside and go back home to San Diego. Another year of

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-49396020729548588302009-04-03T21:16:00.000-07:002009-04-03T21:27:10.576-07:00

My taxes were completed yesterday. It's one of those years when I have to pay up to the government. *sigh*As the accountant did my taxes, she informed me of this "great opportunity" if I am in the market to buy a house. Instantly, I began to daydream of owning a small piece of property, back in my hometown of San Diego... maybe in a suburban area similar to where I grew up; or maybe some place

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-42884444076103240932009-03-19T23:05:00.000-07:002009-03-20T01:40:45.087-07:00

In the past week, my world has been rocked and chaos has entered my life. But it's nothing tragic, nothing depressing. Quite the contrary, I've been on an emotional roller coaster that has been nothing but positive; I’m riding the clouds of teddy bears and hearts. I feel like I'm in high school again. Butterflies flip inside my stomach, smiles appear randomly, and affectionate words have made

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-27782166776725101242009-03-10T22:44:00.000-07:002009-03-10T23:15:08.238-07:00

I have a fascination with weaponry--knives especially. But tonight, a friend invited me to go to a shooting range.He had two guns: a 9mm and a 45mm. I liked the 9mm, and this was my best shot:

augustnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-84779708967439475952009-02-24T22:52:00.000-08:002009-02-24T23:10:16.368-08:00

I hate the way the people misuse this word: wise. They use it as a suffix to make words into an adverb. Here are some examples that I've heard this week:1. From a student during discussion: "He's saying that we're only smart, not with books, but... like, computer-wise."2. From a school counselor: "We don't know how this is going to work, you know, registration-wise."3. From a speaker at a recent

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-43308623961292405642009-01-23T22:09:00.001-08:002009-01-23T22:27:25.467-08:00

Yesterday afternoon, a student came to ask for help on the research assignment I had given. We had a half-hour conversation to discuss her ideas and how to organize them when, all of a sudden, my cell phone blared its ring tone while receiving a call. As the phone sang to Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me," my student's eyes widened and she began to laugh."What?" I asked."You like that song?"

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-25929426939712153722008-12-15T21:35:00.000-08:002008-12-15T22:31:54.082-08:00

I am not really self-conscious about my age; after all, it is only a number within my mind. Often, I have been complimented about my age and how I never really look like someone in their thirties. It is also those same compliments that never make me lament about how old I am getting every year. In addition, my occupation, my non-marital status, and my whimsical and noncommital attitudes towards

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-41219687917097365392008-12-08T22:56:00.001-08:002008-12-08T23:24:57.601-08:00

The talk of the school today was the boxing match between Oscar de la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao. The Mexicans were disappointed that De la Hoya lost, while the one Filipino student in class gloated with pride. During some down time, the Filipino student asked me if I watched the fight, and I told him that I didn't watch boxing or any type of sports. He informed me that Pacquiao was Filipino and

augustnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-55581587494625598362008-11-19T19:59:00.001-08:002008-11-19T20:53:25.447-08:00

I hope my audience does not think I am a racist or a sexist for writing such a title for this entry, but I wanted to expand on what I had previously written four years ago: The Psyche of Asian Submissiveness. In that entry, I reflected on my experience as a submissive Asian person who was too shy to take any iniative at job fairs and so naive to think that I could be a suitable employee anywhere.

augustnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-38991893067092938722008-11-09T22:41:00.000-08:002008-11-09T23:46:59.593-08:00

Growing up in San Diego, the military was always around me. My father served in the Navy, most of my friends' fathers served in the Navy; a few of my friends served and are still serving in the Navy, Army, Air Force, and National Guard; and now I have students who serve the military as well. I am proud of the United States military, and sometimes I wish I could do more than just declare my

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-50372057628191750102008-11-09T10:10:00.000-08:002008-11-09T10:25:54.229-08:00

In the past few months, well before I resigned my position as a department chairman, I had been feeling restless and anxious. As much as I love starting a new school year, some part of me also dreaded having to face another year of nonstop grading, meetings, lesson plans, and student apathy. Every day of my job is never ever boring, but some aspects of my daily routine are mundane, and they have

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-31564102016261713802008-10-18T20:44:00.000-07:002008-10-18T21:22:09.457-07:00

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."I am very careful when I ask for someone's opinion, especially when I ask about myself. I often ask for objective opinions from friends when my own thoughts obscure self-reflection and inner musings. It is not everyday that I ask for others' opinions, so those moments are rare, but it is annoying when someone

augustnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-5252611701791621912008-10-16T20:40:00.000-07:002008-10-16T21:36:34.045-07:00

"Time is money." This is an expression we have heard many times in the past. Given that we are a society that is paid by the hour, time is measured by the money we earn. We give our time to the companies and businesses that pay us; but with the economy in such decline, and the complexity of modern life so all-consuming, time is precious commodity that should not be measured by dollar signs.About

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-3472339453301648372008-10-16T20:15:00.000-07:002008-10-16T20:16:45.350-07:00

... oh sing your lifeall the things that you loveall the things that you loatheDon't leave it all unsaidsomewhere in the wasteland of your head and make no mistake, my friendyour pointless life will endbut before you go can you look at the truth?You have a lovely singing voicea lovely singing voiceand all of thosewho sing on keythey stole the notionfrom you and me excerpt from "Sing Your Life" by

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-66673033531652080062008-09-16T19:06:00.000-07:002008-09-16T19:27:44.336-07:00

In September of 2002, when I first started teaching, I was so stressed out that I would wish to get into a car accident while driving home, so I wouldn't have to go into work the next day. Then I did get into a car accident, and I suddenly regretted my wish because I wasn't stressed anymore.That feeling--the one of wishing, not regretting--came back again last night while I was driving home.As an

augustnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-55151190268628432102008-09-07T16:41:00.001-07:002008-09-07T16:47:55.924-07:00

I'm a season behind, but it's nice to see David Duchovny back in witty form. I'm wondering if this show is good for him, given that he's going into rehab for sex addiction.

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-16322750072196812622008-08-17T19:36:00.001-07:002008-08-17T21:04:21.719-07:00

In the past two weeks, I've been strangely hit on by men. I say "strangely" because I don't really consider myself a magnet for the male eye. Actually, I don't even pay attention if the opposite sex is paying attention to me. A few times in the past, male friends had to tell me that some guys were trying to pick me up because I was too naive to notice anything beyond the "Hey, how you doing?"

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-73405796850867734032008-07-28T22:30:00.001-07:002008-07-28T22:39:38.356-07:00

A prospective student who enrolled in my AP class emailed me, asking for clarification on a section of the assignment. Her email was littered with, what I call, "text message spelling"--the atrocious abbreviated spelling for very simple words. She did not bother to check her other spelling and her punctuation either. Did she text me from her phone?I simply replied to her email with the answer,

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-69917370161123798522008-07-25T23:55:00.000-07:002008-08-03T22:39:19.154-07:00

An old friend and I recently reconnected after a long dry spell of silence in our friendship. There has been a flood of emails as we reminisce about the time we spent together and laugh over one-liners. In the midst of conversation, we try to seek evidence of shameful moments to share more laughs, and then we remind ourselves that we will look for the photographs and the letters in our parents'

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-50630838820648331942008-07-21T21:07:00.000-07:002008-07-21T21:12:11.209-07:00

Of the AP class I taught this past year--which, by the way, was the first time I ever taught that class--thirteen out of thirty-one students passed their exam. The previous teacher only had two students who passed.I rock as a writing teacher!Now I have set the bar for myself: about fifty kids signed up for my class this coming year. I hope to get at least a 50% pass rate next May.

augustnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-72521371107892708302008-05-20T22:49:00.000-07:002008-05-20T23:38:11.331-07:00

You've heard the phrase: "everyone's a critic." Well, when it comes to education, everyone is an expert.In my six years teaching, I have attended quite a few professional development conferences--most of them trying to promote some new method of teaching or a new product to be tried in the classroom. Everyone wants to market to the schools and these "experts" have the panacea that will correct

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-14393198016929292542008-04-27T00:52:00.000-07:002008-04-27T00:53:52.399-07:00

In the Roman Catholic Church, absolution is gained through the act of confessing sins or problems to a priest. The idea is that if Catholics ever expect to get to heaven, they first must let go of their conflicts and burdens, ask for reconciliation from God, and then promise that they will never ever commit those sins again.Growing up in Catholic household, I participated in this rite several

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-18312195387210413162008-04-11T21:08:00.000-07:002008-04-11T21:39:12.224-07:00

I got an email from the Department of Defense last month, asking that I update my application if I still wanted to be on their database. As I clicked on the link, logged into my account, and reviewed the application I wrote in 2001, I thought of the possibilities that could have happened in my life.I love teaching and traveling. Working for the Department of Defense would have merged these two

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-10739538978539094602008-04-07T21:47:00.000-07:002008-04-07T22:45:16.010-07:00

While doing my taxes, I always complain how much money the government takes from my paycheck, and sometimes I still end up paying more on April 15. I don't understand how a teacher--who still spends $1000+ on yearly school supplies (books mostly)--still has to pay. I mean, I practically donate my money back into the classroom, and all I get a $250 deductible. It's true that I don't have any kids

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-46264505884774180562008-03-05T20:36:00.001-08:002008-03-05T21:58:31.370-08:00

Life is like the five paragraph essay that I teach in class. I tell my students that their audience will always remember the introduction and the conclusion, so they need to start off strongly and end their essay just as powerfully. And like life, you will be remembered most by how you came into this world and how you leave it.The introduction is birth: people will remember how you hooked them

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-64556701172761658892008-03-03T19:31:00.000-08:002008-03-03T20:04:47.275-08:00

A student of mine passed away this weekend. I hate emotional moments like this, when I'm taken by surprise. Of course, that's what happens when Death pays a visit. He is an uninvited guest that people hope would leave.I took a moment away from the students in the morning, but I couldn't stay away from the class that knew her. The grief counselors came in, but none of the kids wanted to talk to

augustnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-85213827623953915472008-02-13T20:25:00.000-08:002008-02-13T20:31:36.356-08:00

When I was ten, my father came home from military deployment from South Korea and returned with a strange book called “The Melting of the Ice Cream Girl,” which is a how-to novel for novice teenagers dating in high school. This funny how-to manual had a story woven between its technical pages about a boy who had a crush on a girl at his school, but she barely noticed him. She wasn’t a snob at all

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-24818267998283021702008-01-30T20:43:00.000-08:002008-01-30T21:40:27.186-08:00

A co-worker once said, "shit floats to the top," to describe how some people are just not fit for management duties. When my students often lament that presidents or leaders are inept, in their target's defense, I often say that leaders do their best within the parameters of their job. People can promise many things, but when certain rules or limitations are difficult to overcome in order to

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-70759755278790274392008-01-27T21:48:00.000-08:002008-01-27T21:51:48.282-08:00

I find it disappointing and almost pitiful that most musicians and actors I admired or liked in the '80s are now fodder for the reality shows that plague television. What is the point: our nostalgia for our past, or our eagerness to see our idols fall?

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-47461280247763125882008-01-16T20:11:00.000-08:002008-01-17T22:51:59.836-08:00

Six years ago I wrote about how my car guages the perfection of my life, and each time I think too highly of how my life is perfect, I get into a car accident.As of 7:45pm this evening, I became a victim of a hit-and-run accident. My emotions are running a bit high, from anger to relief. I'm angry because the other [teenaged] driver said he would help me out, and then he got into his car and

augustnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-43586910650409851462007-12-19T21:58:00.000-08:002007-12-19T23:01:15.850-08:00

When I first started teaching, I never believed that I would have lasted this long. I wanted to give up because I truly thought teaching was too hard. Five years later, I'm still here. I can honestly look back at my first year of teaching and laugh at it; I can laugh at my immaturity and my neophytic perspective that almost made me want to kill myself.As a first year teacher, I would get all

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-24066411702872543622007-12-15T17:22:00.000-08:002007-12-15T17:44:29.617-08:00

Sometimes I think I stand on the verge of a cliff, just watching the slow decline of humanity and the fall of civilization.Or am I the only teacher that feels this way?

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-4571540182849829902007-12-06T21:49:00.000-08:002007-12-15T17:02:04.486-08:00

As the semester ends, procrastinating students have been coming to me after school to ask for help on essays--college essays, final essays, writing tutorials, letters of recommendations, etc. I was feeling burnt out as students asked me to read their essays one more time.Yesterday, while reading an essay, two students conversed about the difficulty of writing. They kept saying that my class was

augustnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-45484614671339928672007-11-28T20:42:00.000-08:002007-11-28T21:09:02.675-08:00

There's a saying that goes, "The reward for hard work is more work. "Two years ago, I was left alone in my classroom so I could actually focus on teaching, planning, and grading. I connected so much with my students that they still come to me as seniors when they need help on essays. I can write a recommendation letter for them because I feel that I have known them solidly for two years. When I

augustnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-56508460593074610822007-08-26T18:37:00.000-07:002008-01-17T23:06:57.239-08:00

I realized that as I get older, I get more set in my ways. This becomes an obstacle when it comes to relationships and dating.As I observe young couples, from teenagers to college students, they have an advantage that older couples don't have: flexibility and growth. As these young people grow, they mold and develop their ideas and emotions around people and experiences. In a relationship, there

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-45969546903568155902007-07-02T09:22:00.000-07:002008-11-12T09:32:20.555-08:00

I have been a fan of his since 1998, and I never saw him perform until he came to Long Beach on June 29, 2007. Oh, baby! I was so happy to see him in concert--finally!

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-54995789489552476212007-06-23T19:08:00.000-07:002008-01-17T23:07:20.731-08:00

Relationships suck, especially with men who think they know you.

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-53569580355822116442007-06-14T00:06:00.001-07:002008-04-11T21:48:32.395-07:00

Graduation has passed and school has finally ended. As a teacher, it's always my proud moment to see a student march and cross that stage for the graduation ceremony. Although there are some students who do not deserve to graduate, due to their own lack of work ethic, it's more heartbreaking when a student doesn't march because of adult responsibility. A student informed me that he will not

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-83058237918966721012007-06-04T22:43:00.000-07:002008-04-11T21:50:09.428-07:00

An old internet friend found me after a six-year absence. It was odd to see an email from him. Through the power of Google, he searched my name and it was linked to the website of the school where I am employed.I used to depend on the high population of the internet community to remain anonymous, but search engines are suddenly making that impossible. Not that I was trying to avoid him, but it

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-54073932728831891862007-05-02T20:44:00.000-07:002008-04-11T23:41:19.706-07:00

Sometimes I learn the most sensible things about life from my teacher's assistant.A year ago, he came into my classroom after school, needing to talk to someone about his girlfriend and the complications and hassles of a relationship. Before I started to silently scoff about "teenage relationships" and drama, I listened to him and tried to understand his problems. His frustrations and opinions

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-22190173751605179742007-04-25T22:30:00.000-07:002008-04-11T21:57:27.353-07:00

In the wake of the Virginia Tech massacre, apathy and inhumanity swept across our campus. I hate to generalize, but why do the few bad apples at our school ruin it for everyone else? In the past week, we've had fire alarm pulled, an object thrown at a teacher, and a lockdown because of a possible weapon-threat. When I asked my students why they don't care about taking care of their school, one

augustnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-4431710273138980892007-04-11T20:00:00.000-07:002008-04-11T23:06:57.975-07:00

When I returned to school this past Monday from Spring Break, I was excited to talk about my trip to Japan with my students. Instead, our entire school was stunned when we learned the news of a teacher's untimely death. When I read the email, I held it in and did not bother to tell my students. Part of me did not know how to process the news and my own emotions. Eventually, I broke down during

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-53224029240583622872007-03-21T21:17:00.000-07:002008-04-11T22:09:15.125-07:00

I broke up my first fight today: two girls pulling their hair in a deadlock embrace. When I first saw it, I asked with disbelief to a bystanding student: "Is this a fight?" The student nodded, and then I stepped in to break it up. It was awkward because I never want to grab students like I did, pushing them, and even looking dumbfounded because no one was there to help me.I was lucky that it was

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-37335578589183209782007-03-14T20:31:00.000-07:002008-04-11T21:57:27.354-07:00

Words have power. Power does not always mean a good thing.Today, in class, I had an argument with several students about the connotation of words, "gay" and "bitch." First of all, I know that words like that are not even appropriate for the classroom, but no matter how much I try, students stick to the words they know. Forget vocabulary lessons; they don't ever stick.Anyway, the students and I

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-40960140878697505092007-03-01T22:26:00.000-08:002008-01-17T23:17:18.499-08:00

I saw a sneak preview of "300" this evening. I loved it! I have never seen gore, blood, and violence so beautifully done. I'm not into the whole CG thing, but this film was quite an aesthetic experience.In comparison with the graphic novel, and the movie does take quite a few liberties with character development, especially with the queen. But it's not the characters that glared so much

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-14559579113091964752007-02-22T21:01:00.000-08:002008-01-17T23:05:04.138-08:00

It's been a while since I posted a stupid kid story.This one is a stupid story and an offensive one.His name is the Mumbler, because he mumbles in class. He mumbles ad-libs when I teach, and when I ask him to repeat it, he says, "Nothing," like a coward. Like a whining child, he has to have the last word in every remark made in class. When I'm teaching, he has to add something, even if it has

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1169010566022806932007-01-16T21:04:00.000-08:002007-01-16T21:09:26.036-08:00

In sunny southern California, known for beaches and the everlasting sun shining upon us, it can be hellish when summer hovers for three (sometimes five) months. This winter has proven that it can be quite cold down here as well.It snowed up in the mountains this weekend, which is not a rare occurence. The rarity of the weather is that the Santa Ana winds are chillier and more brisk than usual. It

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1168891545734445382007-01-15T12:04:00.000-08:002008-01-17T23:17:18.499-08:00

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1168065891808443892007-01-05T22:42:00.000-08:002007-01-05T22:44:51.830-08:00

A three-week holiday is just what I needed. I've never felt so productive. I've read three novels, and most importantly, I've been writing again. My brain is on fire and my finger has a callous. I don't want to go back to work.

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1164950926807840092006-11-30T21:23:00.000-08:002006-11-30T21:28:46.930-08:00

I've been grading a stack of papers non-stop since November 24th. I'm finally done, and I have a one day reprieve before I spear-head the schoolwide writing project this Saturday--2700 essays to grade.My mental energy is hitting the red zone.

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1164165214195848362006-11-21T19:05:00.000-08:002006-11-21T19:14:13.306-08:00

Your results:You are Jean-Luc Picard Jean-Luc Picard70%Geordi LaForge65%Will Riker60%An Expendable Character (Redshirt)60%Mr. Scott45%Leonard McCoy (Bones)40%Worf40%Data39%Spock37%James T. Kirk (Captain)35%Deanna Troi35%Chekov30%Beverly Crusher25%Uhura20%Mr. Sulu5%A lover of Shakespeare and otherfine literature. You have a decisive mind and a firm hand in dealing with others.Click here to take

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1163880668257111762006-11-18T11:27:00.000-08:002008-04-11T22:31:34.251-07:00

In my last entry, I felt a little peeved because no matter what I did as a teacher, I thought it was all useless.Several things happened this week that made me begin to believe again that teaching is always about the students. I could be as disgruntled as high as the heavens, but if I remember my job is about the kids, I should remain sane.The events that happened were like a pat on the back--I

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1162351637000849262006-10-31T18:32:00.000-08:002008-04-11T21:57:27.354-07:00

I'm in my fourth year of teaching, and someone once told me that teachers burn out at their fifth year. I didn't believe him, and I said I can't burn out doing something I love.As a department chairperson, I believe I'm hitting that burnout period now. I'm seeing and learning new things as a department leader. It's like a "behind the scenes" look--not even a look, but more like a peek--of

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1160367602168266802006-10-08T21:10:00.000-07:002008-01-17T23:17:18.500-08:00

Early Christmas present to myself. I bought three DVDs.Hey, if I'm going to spoil myself, I'm going all out.

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1159604261761233702006-09-30T01:05:00.000-07:002006-09-30T01:17:41.773-07:00

Starbucks has 50% more caffeine than a regular cup of coffee found at restaurants; so just like the tobacco companies, Starbucks will be a company that will be tough to get rid of.I'm not against Starbucks, but I just had a thought: caffeine is addictive. With the high dosage of caffeine in its coffees, Starbucks is insuring its longevity by creating addicts... just like the tobacco

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1159254144980592002006-09-25T23:53:00.001-07:002006-09-26T00:02:24.980-07:00

When the Tick leeches on, it can't accept change.There's an important meeting taking place tomorrow, and the Tick is rallying up a battle cry. Everything the Tick does is for the memory of a beloved leader. It reveres this person like African-Americans admire Martin Luther King, Jr. and how Irish people still hang up portraits of John F. Kennedy.The leader is gone. The leader has a new life. Stop

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1158215488818724792006-09-13T23:17:00.000-07:002006-09-13T23:31:28.830-07:00

I met a parent today who also happens to work at the school. The parent's kid is in my class. The student is good--in behavior and academics--but it's still difficult to say if he's innately good or pressured into being good.I get the feeling that he's pressured into being good. Given his parent's approach to asking about his grades, how I teach, my grading standards, I feel that the parent is

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1157698097744110692006-09-07T23:48:00.000-07:002008-01-17T23:17:18.500-08:00

When my comic-reading friends would gripe and groan about Hollywood making film versions of beloved graphic novels, I never really understood their "pain," so to speak. My friends would get into long discussions about the politics of comic writers and how their visions become misunderstood when Hollywood is at the helm.I now share that pain.My graphic novel: Priest.A movie is in the works,

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1157517144211885692006-09-05T21:30:00.000-07:002008-01-17T23:24:10.059-08:00

Summer 2006 is not even officially over yet, and already I got an email and a call regarding my next summer assignment for another international trip.Spain, Italy, Southern France, and Monaco--here I come in 2007!

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1155354962296752842006-08-11T20:51:00.000-07:002008-04-11T21:57:27.355-07:00

School starts up again next Wednesday. There are plenty of changes this coming year:1) I'm teaching freshmen (and no one got me a whip)2) I moved to a new classroom that is closer to the administration's office (*shudder*)3) lots of new English teachers have been hired (fresh blood!)4) I'm one of the new co-department chairpersons (and no one got me a whip)It's going to be a GREAT year.

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1152268880893101392006-07-04T03:30:00.000-07:002008-01-17T23:24:10.059-08:00

We visited a small town where Lord of the Rings was filmed, but we didn't take a tour of the farm that it was film on. We just passed through the town. We visited a Wai-o-Tapu, which is a large volcanic plateau of craters and mudbaths. This is called the Devil's Bath, and it changes colors from green to yellow, depending on the season.

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1151441286034200122006-06-27T13:22:00.000-07:002008-01-17T23:24:10.060-08:00

I had no plans for summer until opportunity came knocking--actually, it fell in my lap! I'm going on an international trip where kangaroos, vegamite, and kiwis are to be had; where boomarangs are used for hunting, and taking coral from the Great Barrier Reef is illegal.How did this come about, you may ask? I applied for a position in the People to People program for next year's delegation, and

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1150953880201862482006-06-21T22:23:00.000-07:002008-04-11T21:57:27.355-07:00

School ended today. Grades are done.Free at last.

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1149656544167050542006-06-06T21:59:00.000-07:002008-01-17T23:17:18.500-08:00

I saw one episode of this quirky show back in 2004 and I was hooked. Unfortunately, it was cancelled after the fourth episode. I bought the DVD set a month ago, and finally had time to watch all of it. I love it!Next DVD set to watch: AEon Flux (the animated episodes)

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1148277900554322592006-05-21T23:01:00.000-07:002008-01-17T23:08:08.048-08:00

I went to a wedding this weekend, and all I did was dance with a couple of gay guys and got hit on by the father-in-law of the bride.Am I lucky or what?*rolls eyes*

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1147754877876509012006-05-15T21:31:00.000-07:002008-04-11T21:57:27.356-07:00

I share my classroom with a teacher who has no classroom management skills whatsoever. I can see it by the way the students ignore him, and when he sometimes ignores them. From what other teachers have said, he tries hard to be cool with the students. He lets his kids get away with too much shit.And my classroom is constantly a mess when I get there after sixth period. There's gum on the white

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1146976351110172752006-05-06T21:28:00.000-07:002006-05-06T21:32:31.120-07:00

I can't resist TV. I don't watch it, but when I do, I'm glued to the couch and a day could be wasted. I don't know why I can't just turn it off... there are so many interesting things to watch. It's probably because I resist it all week when I'm not working that it catches up to me when the weekends arrive.Should I get rid of the cable?But if I did, I'll never watch educational things on the

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1146721290096189022006-05-03T22:27:00.000-07:002008-04-11T21:57:27.357-07:00

I have instilled the fear of God in my students. My afternoon classes were in fear for their lives after they heard what had happened in my morning classes. I take comfort in that, that they can still be afraid and learn something from this.The site is down. That is all I wanted. Things are better, but that doesn't change the fact that it still happened. I think they know better now; they know

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1146548391035201812006-05-01T22:30:00.000-07:002008-04-11T21:57:27.357-07:00

I fucking hate my sophomores now. One of them created a fake website about me over the weekend, and I got wind of it today. Although the site is bare, they put up sensitive info nonetheless: my last name and the school name of where I teach. That's too much information. Not only that, they gave it a title that has a negative connotation.Fuck them all. I know that only one teenager was responsible

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1145513136169331142006-04-19T23:02:00.000-07:002008-01-17T23:17:18.500-08:00

My sister and I were clicking links one evening and found this cute and humorous video:OK Go's "A Million Ways"I cannot believe how many high school students actually imitate this video for airband and talent show competitions. I find it fascinating.

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1145215811722134192006-04-16T12:16:00.000-07:002008-01-17T23:24:10.060-08:00

The one thing I had to see while I was in Hawai'i. It was a very somber experience.

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1144304944008322962006-04-05T23:12:00.000-07:002006-04-05T23:29:04.090-07:00

Recently, one of my younger sister's friends stopped by to visit her. She had gone on a trip for the weekend and missed her, but he and I stayed up and talked to catch up. He is currently working as a substitute at our old alma mater, and the stories he had to tell me weren't very pleasant. The place has gone to shit. It was taken over by the state (but the rumor-mill says that our school was a

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1142305116530679982006-03-13T18:50:00.000-08:002008-04-11T21:57:27.358-07:00

A seasoned teacher once said that your second year of teaching becomes easier than the first because then you will have a reputation. My third year is coming up. Can you imagine the reputation that already spread between all the students I have had and have now?I had to make some presentations to the ninth grade honors classes. These are students I know will be coming to me next year. They have

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1141971009595189872006-03-09T22:09:00.000-08:002006-03-09T22:10:09.606-08:00

I hope I'm not speaking too soon, but this semester doesn't seem as stressful as last semester. I know I'm jinxing myself by saything that...

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1140589256967450342006-02-21T22:18:00.000-08:002008-01-17T23:17:18.500-08:00

The album is old, but it's about time I finally picked it for myself.

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1139292345357571702006-02-06T22:03:00.000-08:002006-02-06T22:05:45.370-08:00

Yours truly got a "Teacher of the Month" award for hard work, most notably for staying late hours and working with the school's most challenging group of students.I can finally scratch off "get an award for teaching" on my "Things To Do Before I Die" list.

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1139189026258901622006-02-05T17:06:00.000-08:002006-02-05T17:23:46.316-08:00

I went to my first professional conference this weekend in Anaheim. It's called CATE, which stands for California Association for Teachers of English. The district paid for everything--hotel and registration. I really enjoyed the conference. There were so many workshops on writing, reading, and activities; practical activities that I can use in the classroom. I even got a lot of free books and

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1138944777754899832006-02-02T21:09:00.000-08:002008-04-11T22:08:16.784-07:00

I find it extremely annoying that my sophomores declare their communist ideals whenever they refuse to do anything "democratic" in the classroom, such as voting. Then they call me a fascist whenever I try to maintain control and take away their privileges. Whenever they bring up the word "communist" and glorify its ideals and philosophies, I am so tempted to tell them to shut up and start

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1137894597948343182006-01-21T17:46:00.000-08:002008-04-11T21:57:27.358-07:00

I have one more set of essays to grade. Next week is finals. A large bulk of essays and grades have been entered. I'm feeling a sense of relief this evening that I want to scream for joy!Hallelujah!

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1137531299109167742006-01-17T12:51:00.000-08:002008-04-11T21:57:27.359-07:00

I'm burning out. I got swamped with essays this past weekend, and I didn't get to finish grading them, and the grading deadline is approaching. I stayed up past midnight trying to complete them so I could return them. I decided to take a day off work in order to finish.I really feel like I'm having a mental breakdown. Here I am... still grading... on my day off. I want to scream...

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1136870058024156492006-01-09T21:10:00.000-08:002006-01-09T21:14:18.036-08:00

I shouldn't drink alcohol on Mondays, but a few teachers and I couldn't resist $3.00 margaritas. I don't drink liquid fire very often, so I'm feeling a strange, unbuzzlike effect. I'm very lucid at this moment as I write this, but my throat feels funny, like it's swollen.I wonder if I could be allergic to margaritas... or alcohol, in general?

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1135029789314914632005-12-19T14:00:00.000-08:002008-01-17T23:17:18.501-08:00

You have redeemed yourself, Gackt-san! I love this new album.

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1134628937324076942005-12-14T21:58:00.000-08:002008-04-11T22:03:59.505-07:00

To give you an idea of what students are like in the community where I teach, I shall tell you some stories that have been passed around in department gatherings:I. "No Child Left Behind"The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) laws are really targeting teachers' and schools' accountabilities for the quality of their education. In order to ensure quality education, NCLB weeds out teachers who are not

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1133856050736497872005-12-05T23:53:00.000-08:002005-12-06T00:00:50.746-08:00

My idol. I never thought that in my lifetime would I actually get anywhere near her. Like a complete fangirl, I was speechless. Why am I always rendered silent when I meet great people?Although it looks classy with just her name, I am debating now whether I should have asked her to personalize it for me.

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1132296227017556982005-11-17T22:29:00.000-08:002008-04-11T22:08:16.785-07:00

Surprisingly, I'm finding that many of my sophomore students are on the verge of communism. I find this startling, yet a little refreshing at the same time. Startling, for the obvious reason that it's anti-American. Refreshing because, as much I have thought to myself that this generation of teens who practically have everything handed to them on platters (i.e. iPods, PSP, cell phones, DVD

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1131267451703336932005-11-06T00:54:00.000-08:002005-11-06T00:57:31.716-08:00

Coworkers decided to start a poker night: once a month. Twenty dollar buy-in. I thought that was a bit expensive, but with ten people playing, that was a pretty high pot. I lost; ended up in fifth place. Before leaving, I convinced the crowd for a ten dollar buy-in at the next game.

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1131004544686653572005-11-02T22:30:00.000-08:002005-11-02T23:55:44.766-08:00

Tonight, some asshole made some comment to me about being cold and unemotional. Coming from him, makes it all the more insulting.The first time he said it to me was in regards to my teaching. "You have a different connection to students because you don't know what they're going through," he said."I realize that students have personal problems that they bring into the classroom. I'm not

augustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730460.post-1130480254781557252005-10-27T22:43:00.000-07:002005-10-27T23:17:34.846-07:00

Random thoughts...I.Teachers have unique personalities. We have to--in this job, it's almost needed, especially in the English and history departments. Those teachers are just plain freaks; they study people and personalities and society. Compound that with all the learning they have done, you have a genius who is sociable and witty, but still a generation away from their students, therefore,

augustnoreply@blogger.com