Disarming:

It's a feeling that surfaces when suddenly confronted with the unexpected (at least it is for the purposes of this post). When a man (or woman - but this is really for the ladies) is so fine that for a split second he makes you believe down deep in your soul that there are still some good men left in the world, he's disarming. You might have to do a double-take or pause to catch your breath and smile to yourself, but overall it's a good, giddy feeling. And I think we all need it every once in a while.

This morning, I was walking around the front of our offices and a stunning young man looked up at me from the paperwork he was filling out. I thought nothing of it - at first, except maybe to make a mental note that he was Asian or Pacific Islander. My boss had recently made a comment that we need more diversity in our program and I thought that perhaps he was applying in answer to her prayers. Then I looked again. He sure was dressed well. Not in his apparel, per se, but in his overall put-togetherness. I passed by and looked again. My, my...what nice features you have...

"Hello," I offer politely, completely ignoring the dapper, yet older, black man sitting in the adjacent guest seat. ...Did BASS just resonate molasses-mellow-cool from his vocal greeting??? Hold up. This guy is fine. And he kinda smoov too! For some reason he kept looking up every time I passed. He was probably nervous or anxiously awaiting his interview, but what do I care? Every time enabled me to take a greedy bite of eye candy! It's time to put some calls in. So I ask the receptionist what he's applying for; drat! The K-5 program. Our program needs tutors, too! In fact we probably need them more. Elementary school kids just learn how to color, count, and read. Our student population has REAL problems and needs REAL help.

In any event, it SURE was a lot of fun to keep thinkin' up excuses to walk by. In the meantime, however, I guess I should try to figure out how I can get a job at the K-5...JUST KIDDING!!! =)

School's In

For me, the start of a new school year has always been more exciting than the start of a new calendar year. It holds more weight, if for no other reason, because it demands decisive goals. You either decide to be on the honor-roll or you vow to take it easy. Maybe you'll try out for the basketball team or try your hand at a part in the school play. In any case, the ideology of the school structure sets students up to make life choices in a way that the work world - in its continuity - does not.

Thankfully, I work in education, so I have easy access to the mentioned benefits of that environment. While my expectations for the year now rely more on the students instead of myself, the structure still allows me wiggle-room to make personal decisions. For example: I'm making it a point to be involved in the school Shakespeare performance this year. My job is steadily requiring more responsibility and input from me, so now I must learn to delegate and mentor the staff intern.

Above all, I hope to remember that the students are the focus of this program. I have a tendency to set high expectations, and I don't plan to mitigate them, but it's good to remember what it was like just trying to get through high school. I had a brief flashback of such times when I sat to take the CBEST. Sitting in a desk surrounded by people there for the same purpose took me back to the smell of fresh pencils and doodle marks on stray scraps of paper. I briefly wondered who the finest guy in the room was, and it made me smile. School in general was fun because it was more than the educational experience, as I'd like our students to think (for necessary and obvious reasons). It was a lesson in social experience that began anew each year, and for that reason alone, it was precious.

To the start of '08-'09...