some more school

There is so much to say about TFA's summer institute. There have been so many times that I wish I had the time to sit down at my trusty comp and write about all the things I've been learning and observing. But as I now know, teachers are always busy, and I've hardly had a chance to fully plan out my lessons as perfectly as I'd like no less blog and keep up with life in general.
But since institute is about to be a wrap this Friday, now is the time for reflection...
Teaching summer school has been the most difficult and rewarding thing I've ever done. I've always respected teachers (I was that kid in the classroom that wanted the kids to settle down, because I actually wanted to learn. In other words I was a lil nerd), but now that I'm actually leading classrooms, giving lessons, grading exams, and checking homework I realize that this profession is at once the most important and most under-appreciated. Teachers are expected to do so much (educate the populace) with so little (pay). And yet it is done, and we move on.
I get up early every morning, around 5ish, get on that bus at 6:15 and try my damnest to make sure my kids come away with something. I hope that they know how much I love them and believe in them and that my love of history rubs off on them just a little bit.

My kids come from the same parts of NYC as my own high school classmates, and sometimes roaming the halls gives me flashbacks to my days at APR (135th and St. Nicks, stand up!). A few years ago I was another public school kid in Harlem, just like them. And now I'm trying to familiarize them with the main aspects of WWII without the benefit of textbooks. Yes, its THAT real. Under the guise of meritocracy we say that all children can succeed. And that is certainly true, if indeed a true equal system were in place. One that at least gave my kids textbooks to take home. There are some things that even an Obama administration can't solve immediately.

But then there are the moments when I walk around my class and have one on one time with my students, and tell them to visualize their dream Regents score, writing them out on post-its and putting them on their t-shirts. Seeing them smile and realizing the possibility lets me know that there is no better way to begin my post-grad life.

(oh and the picture above is a shot of my high school, you betta act like you know!)

my first family

get these folks to the white house now!!!!!

Sending My Love

the odd thing about ending college is how fast life moves after commencement. two months ago i was still a coed, living in my amazing dorm room, taking my laptop to rao's (shouts to amherst and northampton!), and seeing some of my best friends basically whenever i pleased (well those who weren't buried in their theses, otherwise i would have to schedule a friendmeeting). our biggest worry was finishing finals on time and in one piece. now we gotta fret about lesson plans, LSAT/GRE/MCAT scores, malaria pills, and living in a totally new environment. the game has changed real quick.

i have folk leaving the otherland and going back to the motherland, heading back to the eternal caribbean, and globetrotting on watsons and other fellowships. so this one goes out to ya'll - all my people making their way into the big wide world. i'm sending all my love to you.

make the people and the ancestors proud. and i'll see you when you get back. in the meantime, here's looking forward to our reunion(s).

Nice White Lady

but real talk, a good teacher is a good teacher regardless of outer trappings. its just up to the instructor not to get caught up in their students supposed backgrounds and treat them as poor miscreants needing a savior.