Wednesday, May 18, 2011

2010-2011 School Year

The 2010-11 school year is coming to an end. This was my 5-year anniversary as a teacher and coach for Midland ISD. Out of all five years this was definitely the fastest. Every year is special. I have done more this year than I have done any other year as a professional, including teaching mathematics part-time at the college level at Midland College, attending graduate school at UTPB pursuing a Masters of Arts in Spanish, and maybe that’s the reason why the year flew. Every year is filled with challenges, but leaves me with so many great memories.

"The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place... and I don´t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently, if you let it. You, me or nobody, is gonna hit as hard as life (Balboa)."

I competed for a championship in football again and fell short losing to Abell in the final game, same goes for basketball finishing with a victory againts Nimitz to earn 3rd place. Track season went as expected with my returnee gold medalist finishing on top once more. I had a new bigger classroom in a portable building and taught Spanish level II and III once again. Those level II classes were amusing. The Spanish III classes took a while to get set this year, but when the 7th graders arrived, everything established.

1st period was the smallest class with mainly 7th graders, so it was the easiest to teach Spanish II. The few eight graders made it fun. The “Chelo” jokes will forever be remembered. I can’t wait to have this same group of kids in Spanish III next year.

2nd period was the biggest class with mainly 8th graders, and most of them were athletes coming from 1st period athletics into Spanish II. They were unique bunch because of their openness to express themselves freely. They were all inspiring. The “Dilbert” jokes were hilarious. I learned a lot from these kids.

3rd period was my Spanish III class with mainly 8th graders, most of them ESL students. They were great kids. A few Lakers haters, but they made it fun. Regardless, everybody was “Happy Happy” every single day doing work. Well, I can’t speak for everybody.

4th period was my conference period with 7th and 8th grade lunch attached to it. I don’t think I will ever have another hour and a half lunch again. That was definitely a privilege and I enjoyed it. My 7th grade athletes ate in my classroom every single day since the beginning of the school year. It served as a getaway island with a motivational purpose and sometimes game planning during football and basketball season, especially during game day.

5th period was my other Spanish III class with mainly 8th graders. When my 7th graders arrived it was a cat fight. All students were seeking attention. I had to share the wealth, and did my best to fulfill everyone’s needs. This class was a bright bunch and they were a lot more productive than the previous class, so it made it easier for me to teach them. One of these students actually gave me a dog as a gift, which has been a pleasant personal experience for me. Sadly, I will not have these 7th graders next year because they will complete their foreign language requirements, and for the record I am not a “Creeper.”

6th period was my last teaching class of the day with mainly 8th graders. Where do I start with this group? For one they inspired me to get a dog. They deserve the credit for that and I was thankful for the support and treats that they gave me. I knew that we lived in a small world, and the triple threat girls reminded me again because I knew their COUSIN, aunt, and even mom. We had so many laughs on a daily basis, especially that one student whose laugh was a gasp or a cry for help! The sweet and Sauer combination were entertaining. We shared our favorite Hispanic videos like it was show and tell. We laughed at the Special Agent Oso dance/swim move that we recognized. The mice incident was one for the records. I can go on and on about this class because they were amazing.

7th period was 7th grade Boys Athletics. They were Beasts! I enjoyed coaching all three sports and every single athlete. I bonded with many of them because of all the countless hours that we spent together during the period, after school, lunch, practice, during games, on the weekends, on some in my Spanish classroom. If I had the opportunity to coach them again in 8th grade next year, I would take it in a heartbeat. They have improved significantly and I know that they are going to be successful athletes in the future, especially if they stay out of ISS/AEP. Believe it or not, the grass is greener here at San Jacinto; we just have to keep watering it and add plenty of fertilizer so that it is more appealing for outside athletes looking in. I’m not trying to recruit, I’m just saying.

This year was an uphill battle, my five year tenure, the 3-peat year, despite the disappointments, is important to realize what Rocky said,

But ain't about how hard you hit... It's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward... how much you can take, and keep moving forward. That´s how winning is done. Now, if you know what you worth, go out and get what you worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits. And not pointing fingers saying: You ain´t what you wanna be because of him or her or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain´t you! You´re better than that!" (Balboa).

Defeat only makes you stronger. This isn’t the last of it because in fact it’s more like a new beginning. The doors have opened and we are given the opportunity to seize this moment. I don’t want to count these next couple of days that we have left of school instead I want to make these days count. Greatness will become a product of these days that I speak of. I look forward for these moments because our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

“Don’t let yesterday’s disappointments overshadow tomorrow’s dreams.” -O. Villarreal

All glory goes to God for carrying me through another school year. Good things happened to good people. I invite everyone to follow me in this journey, which includes a summer full of surprises. I am excited about my short vacation in Los Angeles, California, attending summer school at UTPB, teaching summer school at the college, all the home improvement projects that I have planned, and the possibility of yeah, good things to come.

God is good!