Chris is on the complete opposite side of the spectrum right now. He is BUSY! Work, projects, homework, classes, searching for a career, etc. I've never seen him study so diligently(by the way, highschoolers think the word diligent is hilarious. Really, try using it in a school setting when trying to get them to work. It always gets a good reaction when I use it. I'll talk more about that later though). It's great.
Being a student always gave me something to work towards...a lot of work usually. I dreamed of the day I would have the time to read all the novels my sisters and friends raved about. That time is here, now I'm dreaming about meaningful goals that I don't have. Things I should be doing to help other people or contribute to society somehow...but....what exactly should I be doing? I can't really pursue my career at this point in time, not knowing where we will be after the month of June.
Really if any of you readers out in the blogging world have any suggestions on a way to pursue something meaningful, please let me in on your secret. I need to find something or someone to have to be accountable for or to. It is easy for me to set a goal and not complete it if I'm accounting to no one.
I really hope those last few paragraphs don't look like a pity party or anything. I'm very happy, just not content with the few persuits I have right now.
Now, here is some background for my next bit of ramblings:
I've spent the week with 14-16 year olds in various science and english classes in the valley. By 7th hour this afternoon, I'd had it. The day began like this just before school when a boy came in early:
Boy:What are we doing today?
Me: We've got the chapter 16 review to work on to help you get ready for the test tomor...
Boy (interupting me mid sentence): Yeah, yeah, yeah...and walks out the door
Me: Respond with a sarcastic, "yeah, yeah, yeah" to let him know I noticed the bratty tone, but really thinking, YOU BUTTHEAD! That was so rude to interupt me like that!
Let me tell you, that was a mild interaction compared to the rest of the day. I delt with long boards, bouncy balls, VERY POWERFUL magnets, and flat out rude and disrespectful behavior. I was referred to as a "bitch" (sorry if people are offended) when I had only asked the class to find their seats so I could tell them what we were doing for the day. A lot of boys these days are supporting breast cancer awareness these days. Did you know? Yes, many of the 14 year-old boys I saw were wearing wristbands stating "I love boobies!" However, after I caught these same boys trying to sneak pictures of girls butts on their camera phones, I somehow became convinced they weren't so concerned about cancer. When I read this paragraph, some of these things actually seem quite humorous....they don't always seem that way in the moment.
All of these lovely interactions and more really left me thinking. First, I wished I had the time to stick around with them and stand on my soap box explaining, "I don't feel bad for you! So many of you are completely RUDE, beyond rude, horrible! You all are complaining that your life is so hard. You had to take notes all last hour?! Now, a chapter review??!! Life is tough." I would tell them about the book I just read, Three Cups of Tea, where I learned about the thousands of students in Pakistan living in poverty. They gather on windy, sometimes frozen plains to learn outside in the elements. No school supplies, sometimes no consistent teacher. Just their fingers in the dirt to practice multiplications facts or any bit of knowledge they can get their hands on! They thirst for knowledge. Somehow, here in America, so many students seem to resent it.
Alright, so you know that I do have a heart after all this, I think I get so heated up because I do care that these kids suceed. I do realize that some of these kids really do have difficult lives. Some are probably dealing with things beyond my experience: abuse, abandonment, learning disabilities, language barriers. I also do realize, that there may just be a maturity issue at this point. But, I have to wonder what is going through the heads of some of these kids that are so blatantly rude and vulgar even toward teachers.
As I taught my visiting teaching lesson tonight, I couldn't help but think of these kids as we talked about the topic of strengthening our faith through scripture study. Pres. Monson is quoted in the lesson saying,
"A study of the scriptures will help our testimonies and the testimonies of our family members. Our children today are growing up surrounded by voices urging them to abandon that which is right and to pursue, instead, the pleasures of the world. Unless they have a firm foundation in the gospel of Jesus Christ, a testimony of the truth, and a determination to live righteously, they are susceptible to these influences. It is our responsibility to fortify and protect them."
So, it may just be that some kids haven't been given the opportunity in life that Pres. Monson talks about, maybe their parents haven't had it either. Maybe none of them want it. How it would bless them. How it would improve their quality of life. I did rant about these "horrible" kids, but even after a rough day like today, I love them. I hope they are able to figure out the important and meaningful things in life that will bring them true joy.
1 comment:
It amazes me what some kids have to go through. I want to read that book now, it sounds like a great one!
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