This upcoming school year will be my fourth year as a high school teacher, and I have to admit that career-wise, this is not where I thought I would be at age twenty-seven. I guess I thought I would be doing something more extraordinary by now, but I'm not sure what I thought that grand profession might be. As I begin preparing for the next school year (yes, I am already making plans in July), I find myself trying to think ahead - not just about how I can do The Odyssey differently or how to make my history classes more engaging - but I try to see myself doing anything else other than working with high school students. And I can't. But is my feeling of permanence in secondary education a true passion for the craft of teaching, or is it complacency and fear?
I remember when I first started teaching, lots of people, including my family and mentors from undergrad, would tell me that teaching high school is a reasonable place to start, but I should aim higher. I could be a college professor (if I can ever get into a doctoral program!) at some prestigious university instead of teaching Romeo and Juliet to ninth graders, and part of me still holds on to this notion. At the same time, I actually like working with teenagers. Yes, they are immature and awkward, but most of them are hungry for guidance. After all, wouldn't you want someone who actually cares about your children teaching and advising them?
Maybe I started teaching "by accident," but I am not still teaching by default. There are lots of jobs that I'm qualified to do. And while there are parts of teaching that make jumping off of a cliff seem like an inviting endeavor, I enjoy what I do on most days. So, am I settling? Maybe to some people I am. I mean sometimes I do miss researching and reading theory (and I'm not being sarcastic - I LOVE theory), but I like teaching, and word around campus is that I'm doing a pretty good job. Most importantly, I'm happy.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Reflections on the 15th Anniversary of Biggie's Death
I don't think I have blogged at all in 2012. I haven't really had a lot to say until now. Today is March 9, 2012 - the fifteenth anniversary of Notorious B.I.G.'s death, and I have seen so many facebook status updates and posts about him and how great of a rapper he was. While I'm not disputing any of these claims, the remembrance of Biggie brings about mixed feelings for me.
I can definitely remember what I was doing when I found out that B.I.G. had been murdered. I was in my sixth grade science class. In my middle school, we used to watch this news broadcast called Channel One. That day, Channel One did a breaking news story about how Biggie had been murdered. I was shocked and sad that he had been killed, but I didn't really understand how big of a deal his death was until later in my life. After all, I was an 11 year old who probably shouldn't have been listening to B.I.G. in the first place. As an adult, I listen to some of his songs bobbing my head and remembering the days when I didn't really listen to rap like that, but how I would dance along to the occasional Biggie song. I listen to some of his other songs cringing, wondering how I (or anyone) could really feel comfortable rapping along with those lyrics.
Even though "I got mad love" for Biggie, seeing all of these posts about B.I.G. makes me wonder...Don't get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with remembering and celebrating such an accomplished artist, and I'm not going to pretend like I wouldn't ride around Richmond blasting some Biggie right now. But how many people who are posting about B.I.G. today posted ANYTHING celebratory about black artists or ANY black person last month, Black History Month? Who is going to post something in memory of a black woman tomorrow in honor of Women's History Month? Who even knew that March is Women's History Month? Who are the most influential black intellectuals right now? What issues are they bringing to the forefront? What are the most salient issues facing black people in our communities, and who's addressing these issues?
Better yet, why is it that, other than the Obamas and maybe Blue Ivy, the only people we (and by we I mean black people) celebrate are dead?
I'm not trying to pretend like I'm all righteous either; most of my status updates amount to my venting about my job. And I'm not asking anyone to stop posting about Notorious B.I.G. I'm happy for him and his family that he was able to make such a great impact on the world, and I am genuinely saddened by the fact that he died so young and in such a viscous way. Knowing about Biggie's life makes me respect him a lot more. I also realize that some people will argue that today is Biggie's day, so we should focus on him. I agree.
All I'm asking is that tomorrow, and next week, and next month we (and yes, I'm including myself) expand our levels of consciousness a little bit. Let's not forget about people who are still here making a difference in the world. We shouldn't wait until people die to celebrate what they have done and what they are still doing.
I can definitely remember what I was doing when I found out that B.I.G. had been murdered. I was in my sixth grade science class. In my middle school, we used to watch this news broadcast called Channel One. That day, Channel One did a breaking news story about how Biggie had been murdered. I was shocked and sad that he had been killed, but I didn't really understand how big of a deal his death was until later in my life. After all, I was an 11 year old who probably shouldn't have been listening to B.I.G. in the first place. As an adult, I listen to some of his songs bobbing my head and remembering the days when I didn't really listen to rap like that, but how I would dance along to the occasional Biggie song. I listen to some of his other songs cringing, wondering how I (or anyone) could really feel comfortable rapping along with those lyrics.
Even though "I got mad love" for Biggie, seeing all of these posts about B.I.G. makes me wonder...Don't get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with remembering and celebrating such an accomplished artist, and I'm not going to pretend like I wouldn't ride around Richmond blasting some Biggie right now. But how many people who are posting about B.I.G. today posted ANYTHING celebratory about black artists or ANY black person last month, Black History Month? Who is going to post something in memory of a black woman tomorrow in honor of Women's History Month? Who even knew that March is Women's History Month? Who are the most influential black intellectuals right now? What issues are they bringing to the forefront? What are the most salient issues facing black people in our communities, and who's addressing these issues?
Better yet, why is it that, other than the Obamas and maybe Blue Ivy, the only people we (and by we I mean black people) celebrate are dead?
I'm not trying to pretend like I'm all righteous either; most of my status updates amount to my venting about my job. And I'm not asking anyone to stop posting about Notorious B.I.G. I'm happy for him and his family that he was able to make such a great impact on the world, and I am genuinely saddened by the fact that he died so young and in such a viscous way. Knowing about Biggie's life makes me respect him a lot more. I also realize that some people will argue that today is Biggie's day, so we should focus on him. I agree.
All I'm asking is that tomorrow, and next week, and next month we (and yes, I'm including myself) expand our levels of consciousness a little bit. Let's not forget about people who are still here making a difference in the world. We shouldn't wait until people die to celebrate what they have done and what they are still doing.
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