Reflections and Resolutions

As this year is reaching the end and a new one is about to begin, I sit here reflecting about how this was a year of reunions. I got reunited with some old friends from the good ol' days of John A. Forrest School (elementary school) all thanks to Facebook. Some were people I haven't seen since I was 10 or 20. Regardless, it left the rest of year open to bond with some old/new friends and make it feel like the years never passed, just another chapter to write.

After three years of being home, and sending my resume out to a bazillion schools and school systems, I landed a job at the only school system willing to take me. Unfortunately, I learned a harsh lesson on how much I can tolerate in my capacity when it comes to doing my job and fulfilling my other duties as a teacher in Newark. Though my end is coming soon, I do not regret any of my decisions. If people choose to judge this decision, then they should be in my shoes and face what I face on a daily basis or deal with what I deal with, with no administrative support. It might be strange of me to say, but my heart goes out to these kids because some of them will never know what its like to see the world outside their surroundings (even the ones that have threatened me). Few will take their strides to change. If anything, I am happy that I got a few students curious and inspired. I am also thrilled that I took an academic club (Debate Team) and allowed my team of 5 to see a talent they never knew they possessed. It was not even easy scheduling meetings when people make comments because Debate Team is not basketball (no exaggeration). Some of my students won't make it to 21 because they are already in gangs. I blame the school system for not adequately giving these students a safe haven; rather they took it away from them. Most of these boys were involved in after school program last year, but since the funding was cut, they made the program more selective. This was the first time I worked where my life was threatened almost on a daily basis. I had rocks thrown at me. Two students attempting to assault me. Verbal threats to the point where it was a student wanted to "blow my brains out." Stuff that would make a person not want to go to work, or wind up in the doctor's office almost on a weekly basis (has happened). It did not stop there. I ask students to open their books, and I'm told to "shut up." I am very proud to say that I never ever cried in front of the kids, and I only cried after school (in the beginning). It is soon ending and I can proudly wear a t-shirt saying that I survived as much as I could in probably one of the worst school systems in the country.

What stands out a lot for me this year is music, particularly local music. The first band Stephanie White and the Philth Harmonic has come a long way. I first saw them on a rainy night, about a year ago, in a basement lounge of a VFW in Bayonne. Now they revamped their sound and find themselves selling out local hot-spots in the city. White's range can resonate through a crowded room. The songs on their album "This is Why we Can't Have Nice Things" can make you feel like you want to get up and jam dance or sit on your couch with a pint of Ben and Jerry's. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/swatnjph2 Another local favorite of mine is Echofission. Even though their album "The Straights" came out about a year ago, it rocked my year. http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/Echofission1 I like how they can open for a well-known cover band at the Starland Ballroom, yet, still have the same rockability for sets at the local watering hole The Thirsty Toad. Lastly, singer/songwriter Jaymie Gerard either as solo or with Echofission guitarist Geb Zehrburg for their duo group Twice is nothing but sweet music for the ears. Their matched harmonies or her genuine songwriting can leave you wanting more and more. The "mainstream" band that I really got into this year was Airbourne Toxic Event. This band is more like a symphony. I advise to give a listen to their hit single, "After Midnight" to hear why I dub them symphonic rock.

Currently, I am getting a jump-start on my resolutions. I decided to take part in the 29-Day Giving Challenge on Jan. 17-Feb.14. Since, the dating world is rather bleak, I'd rather devote my love towards others in a different way. http://www.29gifts.org/ Another resolution that I've been working on for a while is diet/health. The day after Xmas, I started my day with an hours worth of pilates. Each day, I plan on doing some form of exercise, even if it is walking around somewhere. My target weight loss goal is 30 pounds. I have toyed with the notion of joining weight-watchers since it has shown worthiness towards some extended family members. But I have another diet in mind.

That leads me to my big news, I am going back to Korea at the end of February. 1) To work as an English teacher again, but this time in a totally different area and a totally different school (more money). 2) My friend and I have been talking about, since the beginning of our friendship, opening our own school in Korea. We both have the strive and drive for success, since we both know what "the bad" looks like. The future is wide open.