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I think I would like to revise "Everything aint for Everybody". I think there were some thoughts there that I can build on. Comments and suggestions would be helpful.

"Everything aint for Everybody"

I am taking two math classes today at the local City University of New York. One of the two math classes is Introduction to Statistics. Now, as a music major, I never had to count beyond 64 when I was reading sheet music and even going up to 64 was rare. Needless to say, math and I have never really had a chance to get acquainted. Math stays in his corner and I stay in mine. We sit at different lunch tables and hang with a different crowd. I actually like it this way. I mean, you can't be friends with everybody right? When I decided to take statistics, it wasn't becuase I loved Math and decided to get closer to it. No! I took that class because all the more friendly versions of math were filled.
My statistics professor is one of those people that got lucky when he got tenured. He is a horrible teacher! The class is an Intro class yet he teaches as if we were born statisticians and we are at a Statistics conference. This got me thinking about his teaching style vs. my teaching style. I have four years of teaching experience, He has 24 years of experience. I delight in my students, He acts as if he is allergic to his students. I encourage group work, He truly supports the idea of 1 being a lonely number. I love to answer questions, He gets annoyed when we ask questions. The list can go on and on. I really do believe that he is one of those people that should not be in a classroom. Maybe it's because he's been teaching Statistics or maybe it's because he's been teaching for 24 years but He lost his passion. He no longer delights in his students or the subject he teaches. He seems bored and angry.
I wonder how my students see me? Can they tell that I am still having fun? Can they see how much I care about them and that I only want them to succeed. My statistics teacher may be a very happy man once he leaves the classroom but while he's there he seems miserable! Teaching has lost its spark for him. As a math teacher, you know its time to hang up your equations if you have a room full of 24 students and the highest average in the class is a C. Math isnt for me as Teaching isn't for my Statistics Teacher.

Summer Camp- The begining

This summer I landed a part time job teaching vocal music and music theory to children at a summer camp. I love it! Not only am I having tons of fun, the children are very talented. Dare I say they are the most talented I've ever worked with? Camp started on Monday and I conducted auditions so I can hear the children sing as well as place them in vocal sections. That means I had to figure out who was a Soprano (high singers) Alto (middle singers) Tenors (low singers) so that I can start forming my choir. While I was listening to the auditions, I smiled the entire time and I had a thought. These children have great vocal roll models like Beyonce, Brittany Spears, Christina Aguilara to name a few. Every one wants to be the next Brittany or Beyonce but no body wants to be themself. Kids study the artists songs and practice their moves and in the end, they end up sounding like them. I realized that when the children were auditioning, my job would be to help them find their own voice. My job is to help them realize that Brittany is Brittany and no one else can be her. They need to find their own voice and be thier own person. It's not as if they don't have the talent. I wish there was a way to upload videos or sound bites on this website. You all would lose your breath and perhaps tear up if you heard them. These kids are truly amazing. I feel lucky to be the one to help mold their talent and help them to be performers.

Mi Vida Loca

Wow...I'm a blogger! I never thought I'd see the day. This website is very cool. I believe I will like it here. I don't know how to start. It's strange knowing that my classmates who are virtual strangers will be reading and commenting on my thoughts. I'll be open minded and see how it goes.
The last three months for me have been very strange. I've always been in a position where I have plans and I know where life is heading. At this point I have no clue what will be happening to me. The job market is insane right now and because i'm a sub and not in a permanent teaching position at, my job security is in question. It was strange for me to write that, its as if i'm making a confession and its official now. When September comes, what will happen? Thankfully, I don't have children so I don't have the added stress of worrying about that.
I submit resume's every day, I go on job intervies that lead no where and honestly, I was on the verge of dropping out of school. I realize though that there is no real point to feel sorry for myself. I have my health and the love of friends and family. I have a partner that supports me and motivates me and I have a roof over my head. A roof over my head! That's more than most people have right now. When I think about it, i'm fortunate to have the opportunity to have a Bachelor's degree much less the ability to pursue a Masters! I remind myself of these blessings daily. I hold my head up, go on my interviews, submit my resume and trust that everything will be ok :-)