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Let's Get Down and Dirty

philhonthropy — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 09:21:01 +0100

It's the end of the second day of induction and its likely most of the corps members are in bed getting ready for morning interviews with possible school placements. For me, I'm a little bit tired but feel like some deep down reflection of all the feelings I've had in the past 48 hours will be very valuable. First, carrying off my first post of the anxiety and uncertainty of everything, that has all but dissipated since I've been here. Everything has been so seemless, welcome, and supportive I have already felt welcome and perfectly at home. That's not to say I don't have questions, especially about my placement, but I realize that everyone is in the same boat as I am so I just have to go with it. Everything else has been extremely positive so far though, especially the people. I see a lot of value in having a small corps because the staff and alumni are super involved and super open to answering questions and working with us. As well, the 55 (?) of us 2011 corps members have a really easy time getting to know one another and getting along. This definitely for me is one of the absolute best perks... making so many friends and meeting so many great and passionate people. While I don't really have the energy to recount ever single experience of today, it was not the Luau's, parties, and celebrating I thought induction was going to be. We've gotten right to work in exploring our core values, handing logistical work, and getting to know each other. It's been really exciting yet humbling work as we are reminded about our purpose of being here and the challenges yet to come. Hawai'i as a state is 47th in Math Proficiency, has the highest number of restructured schools in the nation, and only 12% of Hawaii students graduate with a college degree in 6 years. Today we were asked to share in a group whether we thought it was possible to close the achievement gap in our lifetime. For me, the mentality I believe I need to carry is that the challenges that awaits us here are daunting but not insurmountable. WE together in fact can overcome them and create transformational change. Otherwise, if we do not believe we can do it, it will inevitably never happen. If we do, we will work tirelessly towards it and I believe we have no other option then that.

So Blessed

philhonthropy — Tue, 31 May 2011 03:47:20 +0100

First Steps

philhonthropy — Mon, 30 May 2011 14:45:38 +0100

Right now I'm sitting in the airport about an hour early for my flight ready for my adventure to begin. Not surprisingly I didn't get too much sleep and that of which I got was not of great quality. My emotions and heartbeat are a little off today, as I usually prefer to be Calm. Cool. Have my emotions in check. Instead I'm really...anxious, and a whole mix of other feelings, but anxious describes it best. I'm excited for the new experiences I'll have, for the people I'll meet, for the challenges I'll face, and especially for the impact I will have. However, at the same time I'm pretty nervous to be leaving a state in which I've lived my whole life. I could use a couple more days to chill, relax, see some friends, and maybe even finish up some leftover school work I haven't taken care of. Although, now that I think about it, a couple more days probably won't make a difference. There's anxiety in the unknown too. Where am I going to live? Where am I going to teach? What am I going to teach? What about the people I will meet? What will I meet the expectations the program and people have of me? Will be Teaching Credential ever get processed? DANG... TFA leaves a lot of major questions unanswered don't they? Regardless of my anxiety I think there is a lot of value in all these questions though. There's value in taking a risk. There's value in having a new adventure and being able to be flexible. And there's value in challenge and adversity. So, I really do thank TFA for this amazing opportunity to not only do the work that I will do and make the impact I will make, but also to completely move and change my life. To be provided something so new, so disrupting in life is not something everyone has the opportunity to have. This is an opportunity of a lifetime and moments I will cherish. Phillip Hon

LA COEUR.

ryanlebeau — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 02:29:04 +0100

À cœur vaillant rien d'impossible. Nothing is impossible for a willing heart. La coeur ... French translation: 'the heart'. I am a little bit disappointed in myself that this is only my second blog post, my first and only post having been nearly 5 months ago, but sometimes you need just the right inspiration to hit before you can get back into something. Sure, a great deal has happened in my experience with Teach for America in Hawaii within these last 5 months, but it all can be summed up in one word ... HEART. Reflecting on the past thus far, looking at the present, and contemplating the future has led me to see so much HEART. My kids have HEART. My fellow Corps Members have HEART. Other teachers have HEART. But the spark that ignited the fire to get on here and blog again is the community in which I have been placed, Waialua. If there is one advantage that these kids have over their more privileged peers here on the island or elsewhere ... it is HEART. THESE KIDS HAVE SO MUCH HEART. This past weekend was the school's Homecoming Weekend- considered by most to be the single biggest event within the Waialua community every year. Homecoming Weekend begins every year on Friday after school with the homecoming parade. As a teacher, I was expected to, and excitedly joined in the festivities not really sure what to expect. The parade was complete with marching students, teachers, class floats, and the homecoming court for each grade riding along in mustang convertibles! The streets of this small community were lined with cheering residents as we made our way toward the school. The night ended with a school pep rally, bonfire, and concert with the football game to be held the next day. In addition to my role as a teacher at Waialua High School, I have also been working with the Boy's Varsity Football team as Wide Receivers Coach. GO BULLDOGS! We started off our season with a record of 2-3 and faced off against the undefeated #1 ranked Pearl City Chargers. The game was a must-win for us to clinch a playoff birth as only the top 4 of 8 teams make the division playoffs. The Chargers had a duo of talented running backs racking up 200+ yards per game, but if our talented linebacking corps played their A-game we could shut it down. Kickoff was at 7PM and the whole town was there, the atmosphere was electric! We were absolutely the underdogs and ready to put up a fight. First play of the game from scrimmage ... WAIALUA INTERCEPTION ... TOUCHDOWN! We were up 7-0 early. The game was a battle back-and-forth showcasing our hard-hitting defense VS. their offense. We found ourselves down 21-14 with only 5:00 remaining in the 4th quarter with Pearl City threatening to score again. With 3:00 left one of our linebacker's CW took a 50 yd interception for a TD to tie the game!!! With our team of 3o players toughing it out on both sides of the ball and Pearl City running a deep bench with a roster of around 75 players, it was the HEART of these kids that was keeping us in the game. In the end, we got the ball back with around 2:00 left to go for the W. Driving, driving, driving ... by God we were going to win. Our offense put our kicker KR in position to attempt a 48 yd field goal to win the game. Having injured his leg during the first quarter it was going to be a challenge, but definitely within his range. The crowd was rocking, I felt as though I was in the middle of a Disney movie where he was about to be hoisted on the other player's shoulders. The ball was snapped ... BOOM! ... it had the line but something about the trajectory was not right. The line judge signaled that the ball had been tipped as it come falling to the ground about 5 yards shy of clearing the uprights, NO GOOD. From there, time expired and we entered OT, college football style, where we would lose as we failed to put the ball in the end zone while Pearl City converted on their possession. Tears streamed down many player's faces in disappointment, but we coaches all agreed that there was no shame in this loss. THESE GUYS PLAYED WITH HEART. After the game, several seniors gave heart-filled speeches about the opportunity that they jut had and how to move forward. I experienced a feeling of extreme pride in these young men that I had not often experienced. Something inside of myself changed that night, even though I had not yet realized it at the time. The HEART that these players showed me was completely representative of everything I am looking to accomplish with TFA. To make a difference, to put it all on the line, to inspire others to achieve greatness. As I work to teach, to coach, to learn, to live this year ... I will do it with HEART. I looked at quotes to carry me through this year and will be certain to carry this french proverb. À cœur vaillant rien d'impossible. Nothing is impossible for a willing HEART.

And so it begins ...

ryanlebeau — Mon, 10 May 2010 20:29:33 +0100

Here, I sit ... the date: May 10. Induction is rapidly approaching being just a mere 3 weeks away! Time has flown by so quickly over the last few months leaving me somewhat in disbelief. I have awaited this moment for so long and here I am standing on the brink of the next 2 years that are sure to be transformational in so many ways. I am leaving behind the culture of Corporate America that has been ingrained within every cell of my being to head out to the shores of Hawaii ... and I'm not turning back. My journey with Teach for America began back in Fall 2008 when I received an e-mail from one of the recruiting coordinators asking to sit down with me for an informal interview. As a business student, I never really contemplated a career in teaching. But, the more I learned about Teach for America ... the more I was impressed and left wanting to join in the cause of tackling the achievement gap. The gauntlet of readings, assessments, and interviews soon followed leading me to that final interview. In the midst of finals, projects, a full-time internship, and serving as president of my business fraternity I dedicated any free moment to this final upcoming interview doing the best I could as a business student to come up with a lesson plan! When the interview finally came, months of preparation came down just to these few final hours. I left that interview at the University of Rochester not really being able to make heads or tails of my performance, but I knew that my intentions were sincere and that I gave it everything I had. Unfortunately, shortly after family illness struck that was going to need me to stay close to the Western New York area to help support my family even if I were to get in. Notification date: January 20, 2009. What else was significant about this date? It was the Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barrack Obama. Eagerly awaiting my notification status later that afternoon, I watched the historical swearing-in of our nation's first African American President. Later that afternoon my notification from TFA: I was ACCEPTED to the '09 Philadelphia Corps! The whole situation was just all so fitting. It drove me to even write a note on my facebook page, the only note that I have written to date which I entitled "INSPIRED". An excerpt from the post reads as this: "With today's events of the Presidential Inauguration of Barrack Obama I cannot help but wonder if this is a sign of what I am to become. The presentation of an opportunity to affect the lives of hundreds of students and choose the most noble act of creating a social impact rather than the monetary rewards of business ventures which embody the greed that has left the nation where it is today.There are many people out there - my family and my friends - that have been so amazing and I would not be where I am today without them. If I am certain of anything, it is that I will use whatever platform I may hold, to have an affect on the community that surrounds me and INSPIRE others as I have been INSPIRED today." Although I knew I would be unable to teach in Fall 2009 due to my circumstances, I applied for a one-year deferral from the program with faith that all would work out as it should. I was fortunate enough to get a position in the meantime with a major investment bank as a financial advisor, putting my business acumen to work. Since that day time has flown by and I am set to join TFA as a Hawaii Corps Member for 2010. I could not be happier. I am aware of the challenges that lie ahead, but determined to propel my students toward becoming their best self, in and outside of the classroom. I AM READY TO TEACH FOR AMERICA

the staff

staceylh — Sun, 17 May 2009 00:49:13 +0100

Just a quick note about TFA as an organization and people on staff:

They are all so enthusiastic and helpful and smart. I really feel like I'm being guided through this difficult process, making it so much easier. They all know how difficult it is, having been through it themselves. I just can't express how great they've all been. I feel so lucky!

one down...

staceylh — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:41:42 +0100

Praxis I - Done done and done. Yes, there were 3 tests that I took in one sitting. By the time I got to the last 30-minute test, the written essay portion, my brain was pretty fried. After sitting there for 4 hours, why would they make me do that part LAST?

I'm so anxious to get started on everything. Each day I sit in my abnormally messy apartment and wonder what I should be doing. I then start to do 10 different things. Let me tell you, it's not very efficient. Although I do feel like I'm being productive, no matter what, as long as I'm doing something.

Thinking about surfing this afternoon. I need to move around a bit. And I want to get as much time at the Bu as possible before I leave. Wow, just saying that makes me tear up. This is not going to be easy...

praxis madness

staceylh — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:11:04 +0100

signed up for the praxis I and II today. Now i have my share of studying to do. my motivation: I HAVE TO PASS. :)

starting out

staceylh — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:28:07 +0100

This last week has been a whirlwind, with getting accepted to TFA and accepting my assignment to teach secondary math in Hawaii. I have my ticket and I have boxes scattered through my apartment. So I guess it's official: goodbye LA (at least for my two years in the corps). Well, I still have a month, so no goodbyes yet. Flying out of here on June 1st. I couldn't be more excited about having the opportunity to be part of Teach for America and start working! I plan to update frequently, so keep checking back. Stoked, Stace

birds.

cjudson — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 06:44:08 +0100

So.....I took my kids to lunch and ran back to my classroom to get prepped for the rest of the day. Sitting behind my desk, typing away at the computer, I see something out of the corner of my eye. Assuming it was a large gecko or cockroach of some kind, I prepared myself for the worst. I continued working, planning on getting the little sucker later....that is, until the creature began hopping. What?! I glanced over. There was a stinkin' BIRD inside my classroom. How did a bird get into my room?? Not wanting to get some bird-related disease, but also not wanting to hurt him....i ran to the opposite side of the room and hurled a roll of paper towels at it, I didn't want to hit him, just encourage him to leave. It freaked out and flew right into the window. There he sat. for 10 minutes. I figured he'd eventually find his way out, being so close to the door. I sat at my desk trying to find a plan of action. I glanced over, he was gone. Phew! or so i thought. about a minute later he popped up on my overhead. what the....? more paper towels.... he dissapeared again. sure enough, 2 minutes later, popped up, this time on my piano. UGH! I looked for something a little more intimidating than paper towels. an eraser! then, a glue stick! nothing. he just sat there, now on my tv, chirpping and mocking me. Fine! have it your way! and i sat back on my desk. The bird began hopping. closer and closer. i picked up a manila folder, just in case i would neet to smack it away from my head. sure enough, the little monster dive-bombed my head! naturally, i squealed like a little girl and dove under my desk. a minute later i decided to peek out. the little stinker was perched on my desktop computer, staring at me. i made a run for it and got outside. i wanted to call a custodian, but the bird was too close to my phone. i wasn't about to let some stupid bird get the best of me. So, i brilliantly decided on a plan of attack....run into my classroom with arms flailing (which looked more like me running in circles, batting the air with eyes squinted!). ready....set.....go! the bird flipped out, flew around in circles for a few seconds, then bee-lined out the door. Haha! Take that bird! Who's the boss now? Ahahaha! Feeling pretty proud of myself, i headed back to my desk to keep working. I sat down and put my arms on the desk....squish. Little birdie left me a little present. Looks like he got the last laugh.