I guess in some ways I had a very lucky childhood. Although I wasn't always happy, I had a lot of opportunities to do things most people never get to do. My mother was a homemaker, and my father was a petroleum engineer. I was born in Wyoming, but when I was one, right after my brother was born, we moved to Saudi Arabia where we lived for six years. During this time my family traveled a lot, so by the time I was seven, I had been around the world three times. Of course, I don't remember a good part of this, but the memories I do have contain a touch of the exotic, like seeing lions in Africa, skiing in New Zealand, or snorkeling in Tahiti. One of my favorite memories though comes from our family trip to Thailand.
I guess I was three or four at the time. This was the 1970's, and the tourist path in this part of the world was not so well worn, especially for people traveling with young children. So there we were, my folks, my brother, my older sister, and I in the heart of South East Asia, and we stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb. Really. It wasn't so much that we were western tourists, although that was part of it. What really mattered is that we were a family with young children who had very blond hair. Now I've always been blond, my siblings are blond, and all of my cousins are blond, but my hair was probably closer to snow white at this age, and to many people in Thailand it was something they had never seen before.
It's no exaggeration to say that to some of them I was like a miracle. Everywhere we went, I realized, people were staring at me. But it wasn't only that, the braver ones wanted to touch me, and this really got to be too much. I remember walking around a marketplace and there was an entire family following my family, all of them reaching out to stroke my hair. I was in tears. My father had to carry me and politely try and tell the people to go away.
But I must have gotten used to it, or not everybody bothered me, because the experience I remember most involved this same extraordinary level of attention from a Buddhist monk in Bangkok. We were visiting a temple there, and this one monk in his gold and red robes became infatuated with me. He picked me up in his arms and carried me all through the temple; I don't remember being upset by this at all. He was so gentle and so happy to be holding me. In the end, he blessed me and gave me a charm, a gold leaf tied to a red string. I had that leaf for many years, but sadly I lost it.
In 1999 I went back to Bangkok. It was full of western travelers then, and no one seemed to notice my blond hair too much. At one of the many temples there I stopped on a staircase with a flashback of this memory. Was this the place where that monk carried me around so long ago? I couldn't be sure, and my parents couldn't confirm it either, but the premonition was strangely powerful.
I don't think we should ever forget how we have been blessed in this world. Every one's life is unique, and we all have received treasures from those who carried us in the past. Just don't forget to pass those treasures on.
Feb 20, 2007
Describe a memorable teacher you have had. How was he/she special for you?
I've had many great teachers, but my first memorable instructor was my fifth grade teacher, Mr. Hazelwood. Mr. Hazelwood was my first male teacher, and he had a great impact on me, in part because of what he taught me about the world, but mostly because of what he taught me about myself.
I liked Mr. Hazelwood from the first day. He was not young, but he was cool. Unlike my previous teachers, he didn't have to prove himself, make demands, or threaten his students to maintain order; he didn't treat us like children. In Mr. Hazelwood's class I felt like I was respected, and I wanted to give him back the same respect. I remember being so amazed the first time he stood up and walked out of class without warning. We were working, and most of the kids didn't notice, but even when they did, no one started any trouble. I think everyone felt like I did, that this teacher expected us to behave, and so we did.
Mr. Hazelwood always made me feel smart and special. We would be doing something in class, and he would call me back to his desk and tell me some interesting fact or story that wasn't part of the regular lesson. I felt like he was letting me in on some secret. In retrospect, he probably did this with all of his students, but at the time it seemed like I was getting special treatment, and I learned to think much more positively about myself and my abilities as a student.
And we learned cool stuff. We watched history and science films on those ancient reel to reel projectors. We built bridges with Popsicle sticks. We took batteries, steel wool, and insulated wire outside and made fire. Then of course there was sex ed. "This guy knows everything," I thought, sitting attentively in the front row. He got me into a special math class, and twice a week I would go to the cafeteria with one other kid and some sixth graders to study algebra and trigonometry. With just a little encouragement, it seemed like there was nothing I couldn't do.
My favorite time in Hazelwoods class though was after lunch. We would all come in sweaty and tired from the playground, and he would stand in the back of the class, his elbow resting on his file cabinet by his desk, and read to us for twenty minutes or so. Everyone was silent. It was great to hear his voice. In that year we heard the entire Chronicles of Narnia and several other books. I fell in love with reading, a gift that has stayed with me forever.
One time some cool looking high school kids came by our class. They stopped in just to say hello to Mr. Hazelwood. He greeted them like friends and talked to them for a while. I remember thinking, when I'm old and in high school, I'll come back to Mr. Hazelwood's class and thank him for being such a great teacher, but I never got the chance. I moved away in the ninth grade and never saw him again. Thanks Mr. Hazelwood, you were a great teacher.
I liked Mr. Hazelwood from the first day. He was not young, but he was cool. Unlike my previous teachers, he didn't have to prove himself, make demands, or threaten his students to maintain order; he didn't treat us like children. In Mr. Hazelwood's class I felt like I was respected, and I wanted to give him back the same respect. I remember being so amazed the first time he stood up and walked out of class without warning. We were working, and most of the kids didn't notice, but even when they did, no one started any trouble. I think everyone felt like I did, that this teacher expected us to behave, and so we did.
Mr. Hazelwood always made me feel smart and special. We would be doing something in class, and he would call me back to his desk and tell me some interesting fact or story that wasn't part of the regular lesson. I felt like he was letting me in on some secret. In retrospect, he probably did this with all of his students, but at the time it seemed like I was getting special treatment, and I learned to think much more positively about myself and my abilities as a student.
And we learned cool stuff. We watched history and science films on those ancient reel to reel projectors. We built bridges with Popsicle sticks. We took batteries, steel wool, and insulated wire outside and made fire. Then of course there was sex ed. "This guy knows everything," I thought, sitting attentively in the front row. He got me into a special math class, and twice a week I would go to the cafeteria with one other kid and some sixth graders to study algebra and trigonometry. With just a little encouragement, it seemed like there was nothing I couldn't do.
My favorite time in Hazelwoods class though was after lunch. We would all come in sweaty and tired from the playground, and he would stand in the back of the class, his elbow resting on his file cabinet by his desk, and read to us for twenty minutes or so. Everyone was silent. It was great to hear his voice. In that year we heard the entire Chronicles of Narnia and several other books. I fell in love with reading, a gift that has stayed with me forever.
One time some cool looking high school kids came by our class. They stopped in just to say hello to Mr. Hazelwood. He greeted them like friends and talked to them for a while. I remember thinking, when I'm old and in high school, I'll come back to Mr. Hazelwood's class and thank him for being such a great teacher, but I never got the chance. I moved away in the ninth grade and never saw him again. Thanks Mr. Hazelwood, you were a great teacher.
Feb 11, 2007
What makes you happy? What can you do to bring more happiness to your life?
There are many things which make me happy, such as receiving an unexpected gift, seeing something amazing or beautiful for the first time, acheiving a goal, or getting a kind word or compliment from a friend or loved one, but I would have to argue that the greatest feeling of happiness is the feeling that comes from doing something for someone else. Making a difference in another person's life generates a sense of happiness that is more genuine and long-lasting than any other kind of satisfaction that I know.
In our society, it is really easy to get caught up in material things. We are so bombarded with advertisements and social pressures, and they all send the continual message that we need buy or have the next great thing in order to feel good, happy, or just normal. So many people seem to believe that you need to be rich or beautiful in order to be successful and happy in our world. This is really unfortunate.
In order to bring more happiness into my life I need to constantly remind myself what truely makes me happy and to remember that endlessly chasing after my desires is a hopeless pursuit for the wrong kind of happiness. True happiness is not what you get for yourself, but what you give to others. I think that if I can perform more unselfish acts towards others and do more to make others happy then I will be a much happier person myself.
In our society, it is really easy to get caught up in material things. We are so bombarded with advertisements and social pressures, and they all send the continual message that we need buy or have the next great thing in order to feel good, happy, or just normal. So many people seem to believe that you need to be rich or beautiful in order to be successful and happy in our world. This is really unfortunate.
In order to bring more happiness into my life I need to constantly remind myself what truely makes me happy and to remember that endlessly chasing after my desires is a hopeless pursuit for the wrong kind of happiness. True happiness is not what you get for yourself, but what you give to others. I think that if I can perform more unselfish acts towards others and do more to make others happy then I will be a much happier person myself.
Feb 4, 2007
Describe your dream job
Like a lot of people, it is really hard for me to say exactly what my dream job is. I have many interests, and it would be hard to find one thing that could satisfy all of them. Perhaps this is why I have found teaching to be such a great fit for me.There are many positives to being a teacher. Most teachers like their jobs because they get to make a difference in the lives of thier students and to share their enthusiasm for something that they love. I agree with these things, but I also like teaching because it allows me to work independently and to get to know a lot of different people. As a writing teacher, I often get to learn so much about my students through their assignments, and I am constantly amazed by how much diversity and experience there is in each class. I often feel like I learn as much or more from my students as they learn from me.
Teaching will never make me rich in a financial sense, but it has many benefits that are hard to find in other professions. I like that each day is different, and I'm not tied to an office or an 8-5 work schedule. Of course one of the biggest perks for me is the time off! I truely value my free time, and I love to travel. Teaching definitely gives me opportuntites that I wouldn't get from most other professions.
Jan 30, 2007
What can you do to get the most out of your time at Butte College?
For most of us, going to college is about getting the education we need to start a meaningful and rewarding career, but the transition from college to the perfect job does not come automatically. Having a degree or certificate in something is not by itself a guarantee that you will end up with the job of your dreams. Most professions these days are extremely competitive, and more often that not it takes much more than that coveted piece of paper from a college or university to find yourself in the perfect position. So while we should focus on our learning while we are in college and on making sure that we do the best we can in our classes, I think getting the most out of one's time at college also involves looking at the bigger picture and thinking further down the road.
One of the first things a person needs in order to be successful is to have clearly defined long term goals. As the Cheshire Cat told Alice in Wonderland, "if it doesn't matter where you're going, then any path will do!" For some of us, our exact career choice or educational path is still unclear, and that's OK, but we should remember our future is not something that we want to just ignore either. It is hard to argue with the fact that those of us who have clearly defined goals are more focused, more determined, and generally more successful than those of us who do not. In order to get ahead, spend some time with yourself to define as clearly as possible what your goals are, and keep these goals in sight.
College campuses are wonderful environments for many reasons. One of these reasons is that there are so many resources available to help students achieve their goals, and Butte is certainly no exception. If you want to get the most out of your time here, I strongly suggest that you make the effort to find out about what is available on campus and then take advantage of everything that is relevant to you. You probably already know about some of the resources such as CAS (the Center for Academic Success) and EOPS, but there are many other resources around to help you too such as a the career center, the library, and even your instructors. Talking with instructors in your field of interest is a great way to find out what opportunities are out there and which direction you may wish to go. Remember, your tuition is helping to pay for all of these resources, so you might as well take advantage of them.
Finally, I think one of the best ways to get the most out of college is to get involved. This is more difficult for some of us than for others, but finding ways to be active in the college community can make your experience a lot more rewarding and can also help you get ahead. Consider your interests and your long term goals and look around for opportunities that are related. Join a sports team or class. Find a job or volunteer opportunity that will give you experience in your field of interest. Join a club or start one of your own. All of the extra things you do are what will give you a competitive advantage over others who may have the same goals as you. In all cases, you get out of something exactly what you put into it, so make sure your time in college is as productive and rewarding as it can be.
One of the first things a person needs in order to be successful is to have clearly defined long term goals. As the Cheshire Cat told Alice in Wonderland, "if it doesn't matter where you're going, then any path will do!" For some of us, our exact career choice or educational path is still unclear, and that's OK, but we should remember our future is not something that we want to just ignore either. It is hard to argue with the fact that those of us who have clearly defined goals are more focused, more determined, and generally more successful than those of us who do not. In order to get ahead, spend some time with yourself to define as clearly as possible what your goals are, and keep these goals in sight.
College campuses are wonderful environments for many reasons. One of these reasons is that there are so many resources available to help students achieve their goals, and Butte is certainly no exception. If you want to get the most out of your time here, I strongly suggest that you make the effort to find out about what is available on campus and then take advantage of everything that is relevant to you. You probably already know about some of the resources such as CAS (the Center for Academic Success) and EOPS, but there are many other resources around to help you too such as a the career center, the library, and even your instructors. Talking with instructors in your field of interest is a great way to find out what opportunities are out there and which direction you may wish to go. Remember, your tuition is helping to pay for all of these resources, so you might as well take advantage of them.
Finally, I think one of the best ways to get the most out of college is to get involved. This is more difficult for some of us than for others, but finding ways to be active in the college community can make your experience a lot more rewarding and can also help you get ahead. Consider your interests and your long term goals and look around for opportunities that are related. Join a sports team or class. Find a job or volunteer opportunity that will give you experience in your field of interest. Join a club or start one of your own. All of the extra things you do are what will give you a competitive advantage over others who may have the same goals as you. In all cases, you get out of something exactly what you put into it, so make sure your time in college is as productive and rewarding as it can be.
Jan 23, 2007
What are your goals and/or expectations for this semester?
I am really hoping that this semester will be a lot less stressful and a lot more productive than the last one. I'm not sure why, but I always feel more optimistic and motivated in the Spring semester, and this helps push me to accomplish more and to successfully complete all of the things I want to get done.
One of the goals that I am working on is improving the effectiveness of my LEAD 217 courses. This is only my second semester teaching this particular course, so I feel that there is a lot of room for change and improvement. The major change of course is the inclusion of a computer lab in my sections and having my students post their journal writings on their own web logs. I think this may be somewhat challenging for some people, but I am confident that it will be a useful and worthwhile activity. Also, since I am working on the committee to update the 217 course outline, I intend to try and implement some of the concepts we are discussing into my course this semester, namely the development of a stronger link between reading and writing skills. I hope that I will be able to do this even though we still have a variable unit course.
Outside of my LEAD classes I am also planning on improving my teaching skills by becoming certified as an online instructor through a training program here at Butte. This will involve a serious commitment of my time, but I am confident that it will be worth it. Like any other profession these days, teaching also requires a certain degree of computer knowledge and skills, and I feel that this is an opportunity which I can't pass up. Actually, I am excited to get started on this project.
The last goal I really have right now is to continue to work on getting in better shape. Although I already play soccer with a group of international students once a week, I plan on getting even more exercise by taking a tennis class with my wife here through Butte. I am hoping that this will be something we both find fun and will enjoy doing together. I played quite a bit of tennis in my younger years, but I haven't picked up a racket in a very long time, so I hope that I won't embarrass myself too badly. I just need to remember that it is for fun, and for health!
One of the goals that I am working on is improving the effectiveness of my LEAD 217 courses. This is only my second semester teaching this particular course, so I feel that there is a lot of room for change and improvement. The major change of course is the inclusion of a computer lab in my sections and having my students post their journal writings on their own web logs. I think this may be somewhat challenging for some people, but I am confident that it will be a useful and worthwhile activity. Also, since I am working on the committee to update the 217 course outline, I intend to try and implement some of the concepts we are discussing into my course this semester, namely the development of a stronger link between reading and writing skills. I hope that I will be able to do this even though we still have a variable unit course.
Outside of my LEAD classes I am also planning on improving my teaching skills by becoming certified as an online instructor through a training program here at Butte. This will involve a serious commitment of my time, but I am confident that it will be worth it. Like any other profession these days, teaching also requires a certain degree of computer knowledge and skills, and I feel that this is an opportunity which I can't pass up. Actually, I am excited to get started on this project.
The last goal I really have right now is to continue to work on getting in better shape. Although I already play soccer with a group of international students once a week, I plan on getting even more exercise by taking a tennis class with my wife here through Butte. I am hoping that this will be something we both find fun and will enjoy doing together. I played quite a bit of tennis in my younger years, but I haven't picked up a racket in a very long time, so I hope that I won't embarrass myself too badly. I just need to remember that it is for fun, and for health!
Jan 15, 2007
Welcome!
Hello everyone, and welcome to the LEAD 217 Blog. Lead 217 is a developmental writing class at Butte College that "focuses on sentence structure in the context of student writing." For the sections of the course which I teach, there is a computer lab component and, beginning this semester, much of that lab time will be devoted to writing practice in the form of personal web logs (blogs.) It is my hope that creating your own blogs as part of this class will help you to meet our course objectives, give you valuable writing and reading practice, develop your awareness of audience and personal writing style, foster creativity and thoughtful expression, and give you a chance to voice your opinions and ideas on a variety of topics as well as explore and respond to the views of others.
Writing is essentially a means of communicating ideas and information across time and space, and as such it is meant to be shared. Web logs offer the best opportunity that has ever existed to share your thoughts with others. Imagine that, once you hit "publish" on your post, hundreds of millions of people around the world will have the potential to access your words! Hopefully your experience blogging in this class will give you some insight into the power and importance of the written word as a means of communication as well as an understanding of the need to write clearly for your intended audience.
The LEAD 217 blog is intended to be a link to the blogs of all students in my classes; it is also a way for me to participate in and experience the practice of blogging. Therefore, I will be responding to the journal topics along with you, and my blogs will be open for comments just as yours are. I look forward to everything you have to say this semester, and I hope you enjoy your time and experience in the LEAD 217 writing lab.
Writing is essentially a means of communicating ideas and information across time and space, and as such it is meant to be shared. Web logs offer the best opportunity that has ever existed to share your thoughts with others. Imagine that, once you hit "publish" on your post, hundreds of millions of people around the world will have the potential to access your words! Hopefully your experience blogging in this class will give you some insight into the power and importance of the written word as a means of communication as well as an understanding of the need to write clearly for your intended audience.
The LEAD 217 blog is intended to be a link to the blogs of all students in my classes; it is also a way for me to participate in and experience the practice of blogging. Therefore, I will be responding to the journal topics along with you, and my blogs will be open for comments just as yours are. I look forward to everything you have to say this semester, and I hope you enjoy your time and experience in the LEAD 217 writing lab.
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