I Have a New Hobby
This one is sort of for my parents, but feel free to read, because it'll entertain you as well.
This all started way back in high school. See, I wasn't the most motivated student. I wasn't flunking out or anything like that, but I hung out in the "B/C" area. Looking back (and realizing how smart I am now) I probably could have done way better- if I would have been just put forth some effort. Pretty much the story of . . . lots of high schoolers.
So anyway, one day I arrive at the dinner table and I make a big announcement. It's a very dramatic moment because that's what I did back then (not now. Now I am never dramatic. Hardly ever.). I announce with excitement. . . "I have a new hobby!" I pause dramatically, and my parents and siblings sit with baited breath waiting (or rolling their eyes- whichever). "My new hobby is studying!!!!!" I was for real- at that moment. It was my new hobby. There was a pause, and my parents laughed like crazy and to this day- tease me about that- mostly because it didn't last and also because it probably should have already been my hobby, but whatever.
This semester I am teaching 2 Study Skills classes. I have been worrying about this class for the entire school year. What is Study Skills? It's sort of like a class for students who may have trouble in their other classes, to get a little extra help from me. Either they use the time to get some one on one help, or extra time to complete school work, or get additional practice with other academic skills. Basically it's wrangling 14 unmotivated cats to do schoolwork, while working with one on using the litter box- and the other 13 keep escaping. That's not why I've been worrying about Study Skills- that's everyday in the classroom for every teacher. What I've been worrying about is . . . some of these kids were going to need help with . . . . math. Math is my nemesis. Andrew likes to say, "Mom can't help me with my homework because it's fractions!" or some other nonsense that makes me feel like a moron. I didn't even make it through the stupid first day before some kid needed help with math- not just any math, stupid Geometry, which I stunk at because there was a boy who sat behind me that I was madly in love with (in a weird stalkerish way- not in an actual relationship kind of way). Wonder of wonders. . . . I . . . could actually do it! I solved for 'x' while figuring out the value of an angle. Shut the front door!!!!!!!!!! I was a GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!! Except yesterday . . . the student showed me the worksheet and I got a lot wrong. How is that possible?! I knew what I was doing! So I contacted the teacher and told him he was an idiot- I am a genius and he better recheck those problems. Ok. Not really. I contacted him and asked him if he would tutor me. He helped me out this afternoon. I think I am onto something.
So- after I got tutored, I was helping the student. The room was sort of quiet, I was solving for 'x' (like a boss) and thinking how, I sort of get it. It is sort of easier than English- because there's only one right answer, and that's sort of soothing. Actually, this whole 'x' thing isn't so bad, it's calming me down . . . Hey! I think I have a new hobby!!!!
This all started way back in high school. See, I wasn't the most motivated student. I wasn't flunking out or anything like that, but I hung out in the "B/C" area. Looking back (and realizing how smart I am now) I probably could have done way better- if I would have been just put forth some effort. Pretty much the story of . . . lots of high schoolers.
So anyway, one day I arrive at the dinner table and I make a big announcement. It's a very dramatic moment because that's what I did back then (not now. Now I am never dramatic. Hardly ever.). I announce with excitement. . . "I have a new hobby!" I pause dramatically, and my parents and siblings sit with baited breath waiting (or rolling their eyes- whichever). "My new hobby is studying!!!!!" I was for real- at that moment. It was my new hobby. There was a pause, and my parents laughed like crazy and to this day- tease me about that- mostly because it didn't last and also because it probably should have already been my hobby, but whatever.
This semester I am teaching 2 Study Skills classes. I have been worrying about this class for the entire school year. What is Study Skills? It's sort of like a class for students who may have trouble in their other classes, to get a little extra help from me. Either they use the time to get some one on one help, or extra time to complete school work, or get additional practice with other academic skills. Basically it's wrangling 14 unmotivated cats to do schoolwork, while working with one on using the litter box- and the other 13 keep escaping. That's not why I've been worrying about Study Skills- that's everyday in the classroom for every teacher. What I've been worrying about is . . . some of these kids were going to need help with . . . . math. Math is my nemesis. Andrew likes to say, "Mom can't help me with my homework because it's fractions!" or some other nonsense that makes me feel like a moron. I didn't even make it through the stupid first day before some kid needed help with math- not just any math, stupid Geometry, which I stunk at because there was a boy who sat behind me that I was madly in love with (in a weird stalkerish way- not in an actual relationship kind of way). Wonder of wonders. . . . I . . . could actually do it! I solved for 'x' while figuring out the value of an angle. Shut the front door!!!!!!!!!! I was a GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!! Except yesterday . . . the student showed me the worksheet and I got a lot wrong. How is that possible?! I knew what I was doing! So I contacted the teacher and told him he was an idiot- I am a genius and he better recheck those problems. Ok. Not really. I contacted him and asked him if he would tutor me. He helped me out this afternoon. I think I am onto something.
So- after I got tutored, I was helping the student. The room was sort of quiet, I was solving for 'x' (like a boss) and thinking how, I sort of get it. It is sort of easier than English- because there's only one right answer, and that's sort of soothing. Actually, this whole 'x' thing isn't so bad, it's calming me down . . . Hey! I think I have a new hobby!!!!
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