(Sigh) This is so good.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

A PSALM OF LIFE

WHAT THE HEART OF THE YOUNG MAN
SAID TO THE PSALMIST

TELL me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream ! —
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real ! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal ;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way ;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle !
Be a hero in the strife !

Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant !
Let the dead Past bury its dead !
Act,— act in the living Present !
Heart within, and God o'erhead !

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time ;

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate ;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

Education Classes That Should've Been Available...

How To Straighten Desks Every Week Without Losing Your Mind 1340

What To Do When Students Swear At Each Other In Class 101

How To Make Your Favorite YouTube Video Educational 1260
with the follow up class, Skipping Over Bad Words In Educational YouTube Videos 1270

Responses For Students Blatantly Telling You They Didn't Do Their Homework, 1010, 1060, 2010, 3500

Suppressing Laughter When A Student Says Something Funny During Your Lecture 2610

Witty Comebacks 4250

Writing In A Straight Line On A Whiteboard 1030

The Best Snacks/Chocolate To Get You Through A Long Week 2230

Using Every Second Of The 6 Minutes Between Classes 1200

Maneuvering Through A Hall Full Of Teenagers 950

Understanding The Randomness At Which Your Classroom Technology Will Function 470R

Joys of being a teacher. =)

Being a Grown-Up

I've re-entered the life of the semi-responsible, and it's proving more difficult than I imagined. I'm tired. I just want to be sleeping right now. Not awaiting another class of teenagers that take having a substitute as having a day to do anything not normally acceptable in a classroom. Who can blame them though? I acted the same way in high school. I get a kick out of the fact that these kids think that I'm unintelligent. Rather, that they're more intelligent than I am, and that an eye roll is the appropriate response for my instructions. Bless their little teenager hearts and sassy attitudes. I adore the fact that they think their lives are of upmost importance. I love this profession. Sincerely, no sarcasm intended. I love what I do/will do in the future.

With that said, being a "grown-up" is still an overwhelming thought sometimes. Granted, I'm 24, live at my parents house, have little to no actual responsibility, very few bills, and revel in that fact. I think it's the lack of spontanaeity that's difficult for me. I've never been the type of person to take off to Spain with a weeks notice, or even to St. George for the weekend without thourough planning, but the idea that I need to be in the same place every day for 180 consecutive days seems a little daunting. Yet, I've picked a profession that will allow me a lifestyle that I've always wanted. No nights or weekends, and three months off in the summer. It's perfect really.

Most days I really want to be more productive and doing things with my life, which is what I'm doing today. Substitute from 7:00 to 2:30, then wait tables from 4:00 to 10:30. Active, productive, making money to put away into savings. But today, I don't want to be a grown-up. Today, I just wanted to sleep until 9:00 and then go snowboarding. Then maybe take a nap. Watch my favorite TV show. Then read a book until I fell asleep.

But alas, a grown-up I shall be.

Reasons to Be Happy

I've found a new reason to be happy this year, that I've never enjoyed any other year. SNOW! Wow I love the snow. Somehow having bought and paid for a season pass to Snowbird has made me revel in the scary roads, dark days, and frosty windows. And it got me thinking...

How much do I see in my life that I think the worst of? What do I come across that could be an opportunity to feel great about? What can I do to increase my own happiness so that I can increase the happiness of others?

There's a sister in the Relief Society Presidency in my stake. Every single time I see her, she makes me feel like the greatest person she's ever met. She lights up and immediately validates anything I have to say to her. She is incredible, and she makes everyone around her feel incredible as well. I once made a goal for myself to have a "contagious" but very genuine personality, and I've realized that this is exactly what this amazing sister is. She is genuinely contagious. And I want to be just like her. Now it's in figuring out how to do that. Here's a quote that will help me start...

"Be helpful. When you see a person without a smile, give him yours."
Zig Ziglar


My bluntness has always been a problem of mine, it gets me into trouble. I'm hoping to turn it to a positive thing instead.So to anyone that reads this, I truly and sincerely think you are fantastic. I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it.

Where have you been?

Rachel, where have you been? Rachel's been wearing the invisibility cloak and has been replaced by Miss Clark.

Oh Miss Clark, how your worries and fears differ from your counterpart's.
When someone asks "What are you doing later this week?" My thoughts revert to: "Preparing my sophomores for their final test from To Kill a Mockingbird. I also need to create a rubric for my junior's presentations for 'The Federalist Papers'. We're getting started on DBQ's for the AP test and I'm really worried about how well they will catch on."
When someone asks me how my day was, it relates directly to whether it was an "A" day or a "B" day.
Miss Clark dominates the majority of my thoughts, and I kid you not, I've even caught myself unintentionally use teaching techniques on my friends.
With that said, Miss Clark will be temporarily taking a rest as of Dec. 5. I will be done student teaching. That's right, I've survived this far, I can make it 7 more days. But before that time comes to an end, I'm going to post Miss Clark thoughts. Feel free to stop reading. This may be just for me...


A week and a half ago, a student at my school took his life. He was not one of my students, but I had students that were heavily affected. When a student dies, it affects every student in the school because the grief and sadness is related to such a young life being taken away. This causes me to grieve. But not on behalf of myself, on behalf of my students.
Last Friday my school went to the semi-finals for state football. The odds were heavily against us, and in the 1st quarter, our QB broke his collarbone. In goes 2nd string QB which is one of my 8th pd. students. He played an AMAZING game, and in the last minute of the 4th quarter, the opponents scored a touchdown making the final score 45-41. All I could think about was how sad my student must have been, and how difficult that ride home for him was.
I had a student who's mother passed away at the end of the quarter. I can't imagine what that would be like to handle at such a young age. She's missed hardly any school, but it is apparent how much of a struggle she is going through. All I can do is tell her that I'm sorry for her loss, and give her as much time as she needs to make up work.

As I see my students go through hard things like this, it makes my heart ache for them. Because of that, I enjoy the happy moments all the more. If only I could give them a glimpse of the potential of everything that they are. Even my the students that make me want to scream. I want them to know that they are amazing, and that life will always get better. Laugh. Sing. Dance. Do whatever it takes to make yourself feel good for a little while, and always count on the fact that tomorrow will be better. Always believe that things can be better. Everyone around you is going through something hard, believe that happiness is worth it.

That's all.
Laugh, be happy. It's always worth it.

Contradictions...

I realized today that I'm somewhat of a contradiction...

I'm sitting here working on lesson plans for teaching my 10th and 11th graders how to better understand the English language and use it properly. I'm dressed up because it's Parent Teacher Conferences, and I'm hoping parents will take me slightly seriously. I've got heels on, rings, earrings, bracelets, a cutesy little jacket, the whole nine yards. My hair is curly, and I bleach it blonde on purpose. As I do this, I'm listening to some new music I just bought off iTunes. What songs would you guess?
Well, if it were to be according to the way I'm dressed, it would be Brittany Spears (whom I own much of and teach a lot of dance to).
If it were according to my occupation, it would be some classical, or possibly soft rock, such as James Taylor or Carly Simon (also have on my computer).
Would it be my generation's pop culture music? Maybe some Katy Perry, or some Fray or Script, or maybe even B.O.B. or the beloved Jason DeRulo (again, I have all of these bands/artists in my library).

No, it is none of these people, instead it is a personal favorite that I can never get enough of and listen to way more than any of the artists listed above...


Rise Against. Angry, loud, wonderfully poetic, and crafted by the vegan genius that is Tim Mcllrath. I would LOVE to see them in concert, they've been to Utah a few times, but I haven't been able to go yet. They're the kind of band that you just know would be even better in concert and your life will never be the same after you see them. I would totally be the girl at the concert in a pink t-shirt and American Eagle skinny jeans... hated by everyone around me.

Do I think this makes me unique? Not really. I'm sure there are oh-so-many more just like me. I can't help but laugh when stuff like that comes up though.

Are you a contradiction?

Secrets to Interviews

I have a friend that's interviewing for a job, so I text him to tell him good luck. The conversation from there went as follows:

Me: "Good luck today!"
Him: "Thanks. As fate would have it - either after 23 years I suddenly have allergies...or I have a head cold.
Me: "Don't let the snot drip into your mouth during the interview...they'll think you're immature..."
Him: "Haha. Done. Also, I sneeze about every 3 minutes. Hopefully the interview isn't longer than that."
Me: "Oh I'm sure it won't be...grown-up interviews are quick. In and out. I mean, what do they really need to know?"
Him: "They have my resume...they should really just e-mail me all their questions and I'll get back to them when I can.
Me: "That seem reasonable. Who are they to try to take up your time with their useless questioning?"
Him: "Also, I wanna hit the gym after, so I just wore my gym clothes. And I rode my motorcycle so excuse my hair. Also, I'm expecting a call on another job so I may have to take a call in the middle of this."
Me: "Well, it's less of another job, and more my friend calling, but we need to talk about our fantasy football team, so you understand right? I'm kinda hungry, do you have any bagels or anything?"
Him: "But I'm testing my gluten allergy, so we're gonna need to go gluten free on these. No bagels? I'll call in an order - we can take a 15 - you go run and pick em up while I wrap up this football gig."
Me: "Lol! You win. Add on an "mmmkay pumpkin" and I think you've got the job."
Him: "Also, is this a smoke-free workplace? I don't smoke...but my dog does. And he can't go more than 45 minutes without me rubbing this ointment on his sores, so he's gonna need a place to run around while I'm here. Also, while you're on that bagel run, mind if I ask ya to swing by place and rub this on him? Thanks chief."
Him: "Ya know what, I feel good about this. I'll take the job! I'll start tomorrow!"
Me: "Lol, I won't be in until about 10:30 though. I don't like to wake up to early, makes me look groggy, and I don't do groggy well. And my band is playling a gig at Somedude's Playground this weekend, so they're going to come practice during lunch. You're gonna love it."

I think he's going to get the job, don't you?