Saturday, June 26, 2010

Re-learning the U.S. Constitution

One of the things I've learned as I've gotten older in life is that I have a deeper appreciation for history: U.S. history, Hawaiian history, my ancestory, pharmaceutical history, and more.  In high school, I never found learning about history interesting or intriguing or very easy for that matter.  If there wasn't a mathematical function associated with the subject, I couldn't relate. 

Now as part of the Teaching Credential requirements, I found myself studying for my U.S. Constitution test.  I know that I had to learn this in my distant past but I realized how very little was retained.  I found the Constitution to be pretty much 99.9% new information.  I also found the material to be interesting and relevant.  I found myself reverant and touched by the brilliance and foresight of the writers.  What an amazing document that has enabled me to live in a nice house, vacation with my children, learn a profession that has given me many years of creativity and innovation and made it so that I was protected when I was laid-off!  I realize that as a 16-year-old, with such little life experience, there really isn't a way to understand and appreciate what an incredible document the Consitution truly is.

I am so fascinated that I can even entertain becoming more politcally involved in my community...okay, I'll make a go of teaching first but it is an interesting prospect.  I can see that as a teacher with over 20 years industry experience, I believe that I will have a pretty good idea about educating future scientists and maybe, just maybe, a politician would be interested in what I'd have to say....

Monday, June 14, 2010

I have a Dream...

I have a dream as a Chemistry Teacher. To enable my students to learn about themselves and life as part of learning about chemistry. I have a dream to start them on their digital portfolio to document their contributions to education and society. I have a dream to excite students to learn that chemistry is not about learning about molecules and bonds but about their quest to answering why the universe behaves the way it does. I have a dream to inspire tomorrow's scientist and giving them the desire to curing tomorrow's diseases, discovering new energy sources, and innovating tomorrow's technologies. I have a dream that my students will begin to master today's technologies and understand our world's problems for they will need this knowledge to build tomorrow. I have this dream and wonder if I am naiive... Do other teachers, administrators, state's leaders and our nation's leaders have this same dream?

Gratitude

I thank you for realizing that I am my Grandmother's daughter, melodramatic and over-reactive but true to my emotion

I thank you for realizing how my colleagues truly care and share my pain and want to help

I thank you for the opportunity to grow and learn and hone my craft; with working with the best and playing with the finest toys our industry can offer

I thank you for the experience of how to deal with bad policies with no human "resourceful" touch; then after getting through the system, knowing I can not change it...for I realize, I can apply this to my future career

I thank you for giving me back my motherhood which I've neglected for many years; I can BE with my kids and realize how WONDERFUL it feels to wait in parking lots to pick them up

I thank you for showing a leader with true unfeeling, cowardly reactions and another that is feeling, kind and strong of character who pushed beyond his fears...thankfully the world is made of all kinds to make us appreciative and stronger

I thank you for the financial support to pursue another venue that hopefully will satisfy my internal need to "save the world"

I thank you for the chance to make a difference and the courage to take that chance in something new and perhaps where I am more needed

I thank you for showing me how strong my bond is with my husband; lucky that I have someone who can make me feel contentment when everything else is falling apart

I thank you for giving me colleagues who inspire me and believe in me; they are my true friends for they see in me that which sometimes I can't always see myself

I thank you for this work-in-progress because I'm finding more for which I'm thankful