Don't Come Back

Long time no talk (or at least legitimate talk), comrades. I've been making excuses and actually even took down a blog post that I didn't feel happy with in the long break between my entries (I suppose I'll put it back up because Jess seemed to think it was okay). I'm sure no one waits with bated breath for these things, but I still feel a little guilty about neglecting this project of mine.

Anyway, to establish a setting I'm living in Parkersburg, West Virginia and I work in Belpre, Ohio at Kraton Polymers Belpre Elastomer Plant. Fun fact, we're named after the god of strength. My job takes me out in the field some days and on the computer entering or analyzing data on others. It's pretty epic. I cook all of my own food and take care of myself nearly completely. That's a first for me. Being away everyone I know has been a little trying at times. There have been lonely nights. But overall it has been a great experience so far. I'm truly living my own life here. I'd like to highlight my trip to Athens two weekends ago to visit Tori and see Jess (who was also visiting)...and also other Jess, Tori's roommate with whom I have, as I often say of late, "infinite common interest". That was great times. I absolutely love Athens. It has a lot of unique places to shop and eat as well as a laid-back atmosphere I appreciate to no end. Not to mention it was the first time I had seen any of my old friends in a good while. I won't go into all of the lovely details for fear of boring you, but it should be known that I plan on visiting Tori and Athens again soon.

I suppose it would be prudent of me to take time out to mention that I'm not totally alone in Parkersburg. I have two other co-ops living across the hall from me to keep me company, Kirby and Lendell. Very interesting fellows indeed. Kirby and I share an office and carpool to work. He is a thoroughly enjoyable new comrade. Lendell sticks more to himself but is a friendly fellow. I'm quite glad that I'm not totally alone here. Of course that's not to imply I've been a state of communications blackout. Now that I have the Internet (it did take two weeks from when I moved in) I can chat with my friends (and post on my blog). However, I'm very thankful for the phone calls from my friends (particularly Jennifer who calls me often), they really help me make it through the week. David also deserves a lot of credit for actually writing me a letter; cheers to that. I only wish I could talk to and see all of my friends. But that's simply not happening at the moment.

Anyway, what really compelled me to write this blog post was an experience I had today. As some of you may know, I tutor at the local junior high every other week as a Kraton community outreach representative. Everyone who hears about this is always surprised for some reason. Whatever. Well, today was tutoring day and I was assigned to work with a very interesting 8th grader who was attempting to master the art of percents. Well, he was having a lot of problems. But I introduced myself to him at sat down to try to work through things with him. He had a few of his assigned problems copied down from the board, but they were not numbered correctly and illegible (at least to me), so I endeavored to explain the concepts to him without worrying about his previous work. I worked with him for a solid hour and it still seemed like he wasn't getting things. But at the last minute I think I got him to understand the basic formula that he was dealing with. (To teach these kids about percents they use the formula: Change/Original = %/100) For some reason, the poor kid just couldn't get it into his head...at least until the end.

Almost a complete loss...that's what you're thinking, right? That's not how I felt. This kid talked to me in a way he couldn't talk to his teacher. He told me how he didn't get it but wanted to. How he was sick this weekend and today but couldn't stay home. How he hated that his teacher treated him like a child. And how the methods used by the teacher to solve problems felt not like learning a concept, but simply memorizing a formula. This kid was critical of the teaching methods he was being subjected to. I told him sometimes you just had to get things done how they had to be done and move on, regardless of true learning and understanding. He said to me, "Isn't [learning] what math is about? Isn't it what life is about?" Maybe I'm a sentimental fool but I think this kid, despite his flaws, was really fairly intelligent. I'm willing to paint him a victim of our factory-line style of education. He didn't learn like the other kids and as a result he didn't feel like making an effort anymore. But when I sat down with him, really talked to him, worked with him as an equal to further his understanding...he truly responded and tried. From what his teacher told me that's something he hardly ever does nowadays.

I don't blame his teacher at all. We had a talk after class about the student. She recognized his potential and tried every trick she knew to get him to work with her...but a teacher in a standard staff position can't help a kid like this. She has to focus on the broader spectrum and on achieving state mandated goals. She must tailor to the masses. My friends, this kid needed real individual attention, someone to level with him and work to find how he learns best. From here out I can only hope things work out for him in the future...but for a little while I was able to help. It was amazing.

But really, the experience got me thinking. I could handle being a teacher. In fact, given the proper tools and space, I could probably be decent at it. And I think that there's no more noble a way than teaching kids to leave your mark on the world and influence the future in a positive way. *sigh* Another life I'll never live.

It's not that bad though. When I truly put it to mind, I can be everything I want to be in one life. Engineer by trade. Singer in my heart. Teacher to my children. Philosopher and poet among my friends and in my free time. Linguist in my travels. Actor on the stage we call life.

Who can complain about a fate like that?