Heart Break

So this kid comes into my class during prep. He's a great kid, but he doesn't do hardly anything. This was our conversation (to the best of my remembrance):

Me: You know I worry about you right?
Him: No. Really? I always thought teachers didn't care.
Me: Not true, you have no idea (thinking of how often we discuss our kids)
Him: Well, maybe out of state teachers. They always told me that they didn't care what they did, because they were there to get paid and get out.
Me: Well, that's definitely not me. I'm not doing this job for the money, that's for sure.
Him: Then why do you teach?
Me: Because I care about you kids and I want to make a difference in your lives. I could have any job I wanted, but I'm teaching?
Him: But why?
Me: Good teachers are some of the most influential people.
Him: Well, then I've had some bad teachers.

It cut me to my heart!! How can there be so many teachers out there just doing it for the (pitiful amount of) money? I mean, we have so much influence and can change so much in the future generation's lives, and the kids don't even know that we care about them! This same student thought I didn't like him for the longest time till I toldl him I did. I know that I could do so much more for these kids. I just wish I had the time and resources to do it.

Teachers everywhere. Take this lesson to heart. You have a voice and a say in these kids lives. Use it! Help them! You have no idea what is going on in their lives and you could be the only stable adult that they know! That is why I became a teacher. Why did you?

Interesting Moments

I'm teaching Reading at a middle school in Sandy right now, and loving it for the most part. Every day something new happens that I just want to share with the world because it's so funny! But the problem is that I don't really believe in Facebook status updates; I just don't want to let the whole world know what's going on in my life. But I figure my blog is something you actually have to put in some effort to read, so I'm going to start sharing those interesting moments on my blog.

New Part of Life

I found a job! I'll be teaching at Albion Middle School in Sandy, Utah. 7th and 8th grade Reading classes... which is awesome considering how much I love reading! And I'm teaching 7th grade, which is my favorite age so far. :) I'm so excited to start planning and teaching students, and actually be getting paid to do it! The commute is kind of long, but I'll be okay for now. I know it'll be super tough, especially this first year, but I'm up for the challenge! August cannot come fast enough... well... probably could... but oh well. I'll be leaving for Ecuador in a couple weeks, and my brother came home this last week from his mission! Life is so great right now! The only bummer is that my grandpa is pretty sick still, and I don't know what's going to happen in that aspect. Pray for him!

I am a college graduate. Crazy! I kind of thought this time would never come, but somehow, time always passes. Funny how that happens. I graduated with an English Teaching degree, and am currently looking for a teaching job. It's a tough one, and I'm really hoping I'll get one and won't have to substitute for another year. That would be... dismal.

I competed in some ballroom dance this last year, though I wish I could have done more before graduating. It was really fun! And I'm going to keep going, eventually. Hopefully.

And I loved the student teaching I got to do this last semester! I had 6 classes of 7th graders, all of which were wonderful. Here's a couple of pictures of my last day with one of my classes.

And my brother gets home from Ecuador in like 3 days! I'm so excited to see him again! Then, hopefully, we'll be making a trip down there as a family ourselves! I just wish I had a good summer job right now. Money is tight after graduating, and soon I'll have to start paying off those student loans. Yikes!

Catching up

Yeah... Catching up is not happening. Everyone will just have to remain in the dark about what happened from last December till now. But no worries! All you need to know is that I'm doing my last semester of classes at BYU and loving it! I'm learning all this sweet stuff about becoming an English Teacher and despite not getting enough sleep, enjoy every second. I'll be student teaching in January at Lehi Jr. High, which means I graduate in April and get to start teaching! Getting to switch from being behind the desk to in front of them will be such a nice change. Well, I'll try to keep up on here, though I can't make any promises. Oh, the most exciting thing that has happened to me lately, I bought a netbook! It's cute and blue and has a webcam and everything! So yeah, that's probably how I'll be keeping up on this. More updates coming soon!

Still don't know anything.

I don't think I've ever been so all over the place anytime in my life. It's hard to figure out sometimes the path your life is supposed to take. The Lord promises us line upon line, precept upon precept, but those lines and precepts and steps don't appear for a while sometimes, and I end up sitting here, trying to plan out my life, while curveballs are getting thrown at me and I don't have the mindset to catch them. Patience has got to be the hardest and most important virtue to come by. Cause I'm seriously tired of being patient. I wish my life would just get a move on, or that I could get a move on myself. Not sure which I should do. Guess I should just focus on the scripture 3 Nephi: 13:34 "Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof."

Thinking about Things

So, I intended to write about thoughts and important issues when I started this blog. And I intended to write in it more often. But of course, life gets in the way, and if it's not a priority, it disappears into the stack of life. But anyway, I've been getting into a lot of new things this past year, trying to learn new things and learn about this world and the gospel and lots of other stuff.

I've been getting into health a lot more than before. I'm not crazy about it, after all, I just made a batch of chocolate chip cookies yesterday, but the health of our nation is terrible, and that's a fact anyone can attest to. Obesity and heart disease and cancer. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone that doesn't know someone that's been affected by either of these three things, or been affected by it themselves. Now, call me a nut job, but I think there are some serious misconceptions about health in American society right now. Most people seem to think that they can eat whatever they want, no matter how unhealthy it is for you, and go to the doctor's office when they get sick and get a magical cure-all prescription pill. Absolving them of any responsibility of the unhealthy choices they've made in the past. Of course, I know plenty of people that are very responsible and make healthy choices and as a result, rarely need the doctor for anything, except maybe their yearly check-up. And I know people that have gotten sick through no fault of their own, or have broken a bone or something, and have needed the doctor for something beyond their capability to fix themselves. I've been wanting to talk about this particular subject for a while, but people can get so touchy about it, and well, I don't like contention. Plus, I'm not saying I'm right, or that everyone should change or anything like that! I just think it's important for people to be more aware of their health and the things concerning health and medicine that are going on in this country right now. Granted, there are plenty of other things that we could focus on, that would help as well, but health is a little thing that can help each individual and their families so much. Just to be able to function better, do more good, etc. Of course, everyone is going to die anyway, so I think health fanaticism is a big much. After all, I don't want to be stressing about what I'm eating 24/7, I'd rather focus on other things too. However, I do want to be able to play with my kids (when I have some) and be around to help other people, rather than be in bed all the time cause I'm sick all the time. Sure, life is short and we can't freak out about health. But life is short! and we can't afford to be hindered from living it to the fullest because of bad health!

Ok, so a touchy subject many people won't like: I don't trust modern medicine. I remember going to the dermatologist (I'm one of those unlucky people who tends to break out a lot) when I was in high school and her telling me that what we eat has no effect whatsoever on our acne. I can't believe I was stupid enough to believe her. What you put in your body has absolutely every effect on acne, and skin health, and hair health, and every type of health. God gave us wonderful bodies with the capabilites to heal themselves. And the only help they get with that (or hurt) is the stuff that goes in it. Duh. Finding a doctor that actually talks about what you put in your body (your nutrition) is very rare. Most medical practitioners are trained on how to treat the symptoms or after-effects of sickness, disease, etc. Never on nutrition and how to actually prevent disease in the first place. After all, if everyone knew how to prevent disease, they wouldn't have any business, except for broken bones and stuff like that. I am by no means saying they are all like that, or that they don't have the best intentions, but maybe they just don't teach quite the right stuff in medical school.

So, what's the truth? Cause everyone has different opinions on health and medicine and stuff. Well, being LDS, I have one truth that I can always rely on. A promise from our Heavenly Father that if we follow, we are promised health throughout our whole life. The Word of Wisdom in the Doctrine and Covenants. That is truth, and if anyone says something that clashes with that doctrine, well... it's not right. If you aren't familiar with the scripture, here is a link:

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/89

My guess is that most people probably won't even read this far. I think sometimes I write too much... yes? :) But if you are interesting in learning more about the world of nutrition and health and modern medicine, there are plenty of places you could research on the internet. Personally, I read Natural News, which is an independent site that doesn't accept money from anyone to publish certain things, if that makes sense. I read an article from them today, which made me finally want to say something about the sad state our country is in when it comes to health, and the corruption in companies that intend to keep us that way. Now, I in no way am telling anyone how it is, but rather... go and read and find out for yourself. There are some things from that site that I question myself. I don't necessarily agree with it all. And that's totally fine! But in my religion, they do encourage us to go out and get an education and knowledge, and that doesn't have to come from school. Go out and learn! Don't believe everything people tell you. Find out for yourself! That's the best way to learn, and after all, isn't that the main thing we should be doing with our lives?

Here's a link to a pretty incredible story. Not sure how much I believe it, but it's something to think about:
http://www.naturalnews.com/030136_Rawesome_foods_raid.html

Be smart people! Learn for yourselves. Ask why? and how? and what can I do? And be teachers. Educate others on what you know, and then everyone will benefit.