handwritten on February 9, 2019
Today I made a little stop back to the neighborhood where my parents still dwell. We had some lovely conversation and then decided to get food at a local Mexican restaurant. This one is gong to be hard to explain, but these days, I am so refreshed when I interact with someone who simply exudes love and positivity from their very soul. In this case, it was our waiter. This is hard to do, I think. In a world where most of our happiness is viewed on a "filtered snapchat" or picture uploaded to instagram, many individuals have almost lost their charm and their personality. Strange to think about, but we are so fixated on whether or not the third-party individual will enjoy viewing our "image of...
handwritten on February 8, 2019
Ever since I was a young child, I can always remember my mother's words ringing in my ears, "Whenever someone gives you something. I do not care what it is. You have to write a thank you." I was taught (and my brother) that words mean something, and a thank-you is a note that is cherished forever by the one who receives it. Every birthday party we had, we wrote thank you's at our round kitchen table right afterwards. Every holiday, my mom made everyone in the family sign the card and write a thoughtful message. Every birthday we did the same thing. Then of course there were "I'm sorry cards" and "I'm grateful cards" and "I'm thinking of you cards" and every card in between. And you know, as...
handwritten on February 7, 2019
Today was an incredibly busy academic day. By the time 2:15 rolled around, my students were exhausted. However, as promised, we began our small Science Chapter dealing with Energy (Kinetic and Potential.) We began with a little game regarding the difference between Kinetic and Potential Energy and then worked together as a group on a skateboard simulation program on the smartboard. By designing the skateboard "track" so to speak, students were able to discuss where the kinetic energy was the greatest or lowest and why. They were incredibly excited. However, they were even more excited when I introduced the "roller coaster energy" STEM project where students would be creating their own...
handwritten on February 6, 2019
For those of you who know me, I dedicate a lot of my after-school time at The Urban Impact Foundation which happens to be located in the Northside of Pittsburgh. I may be a bit biased, but I do not believe there is a more beautiful organization out there helping students grow. I have met the most unique individuals through this volunteering experience the past few years. I think it is safe to say that The Music Department at this foundation is my second family. This is now my third year volunteering, and it has truly been neat to see my students grow from young elementary students to middle school students and even high school students. Even more so, it is always neat to receive new...
handwritten on February 5, 2019
I have an afterschool friend. She is about fifty years old, and she is always ready to give me about twenty hugs before saying hello to me at 5:00 at the copy machine. This beautiful friend, ironically was at my YMCA training many years ago, when I first secured a summer job teaching at one of my former elementary schools. Though a chaotic experience, it was still a good one at that. It prepared me for the beautiful, yet messy classroom ahead and taught me some excellent life lessons. I remember sitting next to this woman. As we completed a YMCA training together, I could not help but wonder why she laughed at everything I said. Was she laughing at me? Did she find me funny? Perhaps she...
