Pre-Test Jitters

Yesterday was pretty great because I got to have my first interview. Kim was hired and found out through a reliable source. Sarah and I on the other hand, still have to wait. They say that 2/3 of TfAers aren't hired in their first interview... I hope this isn't true.

The interview itself wasn't too bad. They asked my some random questions about how I would handle paperwork for a classroom, something I failed at, what I would do in a situation (student acts up), and who do I like more "Gambit or Nightcrawler?" (Nightcrawler, duh!)

I guess it won't matter if I am hired or not if I don't pass the English CST and the LAST. I worry, maybe unneccarily, but I can't help that. Being surrounded by all these overachievers makes me a bit more nervous and wary about how well I am performing.

I took a couple of pictures today, but I still don't think that Apple software is supported by Blogger, so you'll just have to wait to see them.

Have a good night... and hope I do well...

Nervous Wanderings

My two biggest challenges today? Well, the first was my interview with IS 195. It really seems like my kind of school and I really want to work there, but I have to admit, if some higher power (administration or otherwise) feels that I need to be somewhere else, than so be it...

My second big challenge was going to find comic books. I went in what was probably the biggest comic book store I have ever been in! It was GLORIOUS!

Actually, I have been trying to comprehend the brevity of the sitcuation that is TfA. I am ultimately reponcible for the success or failure of my students. That is a lot of pressure. How can I do that? Can that training be that good? The last thing I want to do is be a cog in a failing system. There certainly are schools that work, like the one I interviewed at, but I don't want to break that...

i think that recent bout of insecurity is coming from lack of sleep, so I will retire. Enjoy the picture of the Empire State Building!

Small Victories

Today seemed endless. More sitting in stuffy rooms listening to what speakers promise to be the most important piece of information at TfA. That’s alright… It is all good stuff and I am so excited that I am here. A teacher from a school came as our keynote speaker and he was actually really good, once I gave him half a chance. I have to admit that i was skeptical at first. He gave a lot of good advice about having a clear vision and being rigorous in our instruction and in between, there were bouts of clapping and chanting.

A few of us got into a wonderful discussion about race and the perceptions of race in America. I am definitely in the presence of very intelligent and articulate people. They know what they are talking about and how they want to communicate it. Later in the night, the roomies and I talked a lot about social justice, agism, and Liberal America.

So in the few days that I have been here we have discussed religion, race and soical justice. I am truely in the presence of some really great people.

The next thing I have to mention is that they also objectively look at the TfA program. They critisize it and love it all at once. It is nice to see that kind of love, the adult kind where you want what is best for what you love, not blindly love something.

It's getting late, and I have my first interview tomorrow. Wish me luck out there on the ISH!

PS... This entry is called "Small Victories" because I navagated the NYC Subway system alone! I traveled from the Financial District (the most southern portion of Manhattan) to Western Bronx (which is past the most norther portion of Manhattan).

Road Rules, What?

What an awesome day it was! TfA continues to amaze me with every person I meet. For instance, today Kim leans over and says, “Hey, isn’t that guy from Road Rules?!” Being the skeptic that I am, I tell her no. She continues insisting that he is but refuses to ask him. Finally, being the brazened individual that you all know me to be, I ask if he is and he replies yes. Weird! Apparently, he was from that one season of Road Rules where they would eliminate a cast member if you fail 3 missions in a row. I guess he didn’t last long on the show because I don’t remember him.

Today was a hard day because we were trapped in a room for what felt like 4 or 5 hours (and truthfully, it probably wasn’t too far from that). It was a lot of logistical stuff, which is always boring. However, good things come to those who wait. After the arduous amount of sitting and paperwork we did, we were set loose upon a medium spread consisting of many hor d’ourves and cheese cubes. The best part of that was the 4 glasses of wine I had (Chardonnay and Merlot). You know I love the vino. I got adequately toasty and went home with other TfAers so we could go out more and watch the basketball game. We got to the bar and it isn’t the game that interests me, but this nice young lady named Liz Wolf. We talked about our lives and I was funny how much we had in common. We like the same music and did many of the same things in college, like Orientation Leading. I got contact information from her, so I could keep in touch and I intend to. She seemed genuinely interesting and liberal. That’s not all that matters, but it is a good start!

Well, that is it for now… Gotta get some shut eye so I can continue my training. Ciao Bella!

More New Friends in the Big Apple

I am continually amazed at the amount of very intelligent, engaging and fun people I am meeting at TfA. Today I met Kim and Hillary. Kim’s family is Nigerian, and she is from the south. She reminds me very much of Bibi. She has embraced her walk with God and that it is a process and something to be achieved rather than a means to attach people. Hillary is my new nerdy friend. She has a degree in English, reads comic books, and loves liberal rhetoric! She in some ways reminds me of Sarah Feingold, but so much more genuine and real. Sarah, who looks like Jim’s girlfriend, Liz, is amazing too. She is ready to continue challenging herself through book group discussions and sounds like a heck of a lot of fun.

The best thing about these three girls is that they are all of them holders of English degrees. Along with Nate, Dan (a roommate), and Anthony (a newer but still coolish guy), I feel that I have found an awesome support group of people who are not only passionate about being an agent of change in the educational disparity in NYC, but also are passionate about literature and nerdy English stuff.

Today, we observed classes and talked to students, teachers and parents. This was wonderful. To actually be in the classroom with students, interacting and observing was transendent! We learned a little more about what it means to be a TfAer and I have to say that it seems a bit daunting.

The city seems much bigger than I anticipated. Which goes to show that books, movies and TV haven't represented NYC the way it actually is. Well, that is all for now, peace out!

New York, New York, It's a Hell of a Town!

Wow-zers, what a first day this has been! Strangely enough, it started during my least favorite time of day, the morning. At 4am, I woke up to get ready to go to New York City for Teach for America. Dad, mom and I went and picked up Mike and we went to the airport. I can’t say that I was too excited at that point, the morning had barely begun and I knew the day would be long for me. We got to the airport and problems began for me. First, the electronic ticket machine refused me service, and then I didn’t get any boarding passes. All of these things cleared up and Mike and I were on our merry way. We landed in Chicago and everything went smoothly. A short flight later and we were in NYC!

In the short time we have been here, we have met and befriended many people. Stephanie, of course, has been with us while we wander around this HUGE city, but also there are other cast members, not from Minnesota. First, there is Nathan. He reminds me of someone, but I cannot put my finger on it. He, like everyone else in our group, has obvious leadership qualities, but unlike most, it is quieter. Then there Mike from Wisconsin who also reminds me of someone, and again I can’t place it. He seems to gravitate towards women more. It seems too early to be playing the field, but maybe there is more to it than that. Then, there is Krystal, who is also from Oakdale. She went to Tartan, but knows many of the Polar posse. After her is Rachel. She is like Nate in the quieter sense. She is one of those who seems quiet, but is clearly thinking more than she is letting on. Very interesting person. New-ish to our group is Sarah, who is in the same Region and subject matter as Nate, Mike and me.

Together, and with others who will undoubtedly find their way into my journal, braved the streets of NYC and found our way through the subway system. This whole experience has been great thusfar, even the 15+ blocks we walked to get to lunch. But as I told Stephanie, it feels good to know that I have burned more calories today than I have consumed!

Peace out for now, I’ll get back to this later.
******
I am a little concerned about some of the strategies that TfA has set out for us. In one of the readings, they continually suggest the benefits of holding non-traditional meeting times with students (i.e. after school, during holiday breaks, on weekends, etc.) I think this is fine, but how does that translate for high school students. If they have been continually exposed to the level of apathy that they have been, what can I do to counteract that? In another words, why would they want to come during those hours?!