Five things meme, part one
Comment to this post, and I will list five things I associate with you. They might make sense or they might be totally random. Then post that list, along with your commentary.
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Prompts from ofenjen!
Knitting: As strange (or not) as it may seem, my dad taught me how to knit when I was in late middle school. Apparently, when he was a boy, he learned and actually knitted a sweater; he hadn't done anything with his hidden talent since, but he was able to teach me how to cast on and off and how to manage a simple garter stitch. I've been working up to projects ever since! My first endeavors were scarves, and I tend to stick to that even now. I'm not all that well-versed when it comes to using circular needles or dpns, so the sort of projects I can take on are rather limited. However, I've managed a slew of scarves and hats as well as a couple of balls that became Toclafane and Tribbles! Knitting is glorious and surprisingly stress-relieving (once I got past my OCD, that is - undoing row after row because I "thought" I had done something wrong got really frustrating really fast), and I've enjoyed so much getting a handful of my students into the hobby this year, as well!
Steam Punk: I've never dabbled in Steam punk until recently when aalia7 started up the Steam-Punk-Along (http://www.steampunkalong.livejournal.com/). I'm fascinated by the combination of past and future and the strange mix that is historical fiction and sci-fi... very Doctor Who, innit? I have grand plans for a costume that (*crosses fingers*) will be for Dragon*Con 2012, but right now it's a far cry from even being on the drawing board. It's a challenge for a new year, though, and I'm pretty excited!
Teaching: Teaching has been, alternately, the bane of my existing and one of life's blessings. I started teaching through Teach for America which I joined upon graduation from college. I'm not sure whether to say it was the worst decision of my life or... well, I'm coming to accept that it was just a step I had to take to get to where I am now. Suffice it to say that my first year teaching was complete and utter hell; by the second semester I was having a panic attack at least once a month and I came home crying/depressed just about every night. I quit TFA this summer, took a job at a charter school this past fall, and I've been growing into my position gradually ever since. I love my new school, my position, my coworkers, and my students and I feel like (quite contrary to last year) I'm actually in a position to help and make a difference in these kids' lives. So who knows? Maybe I'll stick with teaching for a while longer!
Live Theater: Theater has been a part of my life for almost as long as I can remember. Since I was a wee (well, wee-er...) tot, I've had a flair for the dramatic that's manifest itself in the form of random bursts of song, inpromptu mini-plays, and costume parades up and down my neighborhood in broad daylight. I saw my first Broadway show when I was seven ("Beauty and the Beast) and when I got into middle school I began acting with a community theater. The musical "Jekyll & Hyde" cemented my passion, and I haven't looked back since! I minored in Theatre Arts in college, and although I haven't had many opportunities to participate in theater here in C-town since I left Elon, I try to work drama and acting into my teaching style in order to bring students out of their shells and to add drama and color to the literature that we're studying.
The Hunger Games: I first read "The Hunger Games" series in college. I was participating in a book club for local high school students where we (the older, more experienced and super-awesome college mentors) led discussions once a month of various books. This popped up on my list, and I was happy to give it a try. Of course, I fell deeply in love with it pretty quickly and breezed through the entire series as soon as I could get my hands on them. The writing style itself isn't stellar, but it's one of those books whose action just keeps you needing more. Suzanne Collins is evil when it comes to leaving you on cliff-hangers; every chapters as well as every book ends with you wanting to scream WHHHAAAAAATTTTT??? Very frustrating when your personal reading time is limited! I can't wait for the movie to come out, although I'm rather nervous that the movie-makers won't have done the book justice. My students (especially my 10th graders) are super excited about the film, and I'm looking forward to holding a contest where the winners will get free tickets for the show. More news on that to come! In the meantime, I wear my Mockingjay pin with pride :)
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Prompts from ofenjen!
Knitting: As strange (or not) as it may seem, my dad taught me how to knit when I was in late middle school. Apparently, when he was a boy, he learned and actually knitted a sweater; he hadn't done anything with his hidden talent since, but he was able to teach me how to cast on and off and how to manage a simple garter stitch. I've been working up to projects ever since! My first endeavors were scarves, and I tend to stick to that even now. I'm not all that well-versed when it comes to using circular needles or dpns, so the sort of projects I can take on are rather limited. However, I've managed a slew of scarves and hats as well as a couple of balls that became Toclafane and Tribbles! Knitting is glorious and surprisingly stress-relieving (once I got past my OCD, that is - undoing row after row because I "thought" I had done something wrong got really frustrating really fast), and I've enjoyed so much getting a handful of my students into the hobby this year, as well!
Steam Punk: I've never dabbled in Steam punk until recently when aalia7 started up the Steam-Punk-Along (http://www.steampunkalong.livejournal.com/). I'm fascinated by the combination of past and future and the strange mix that is historical fiction and sci-fi... very Doctor Who, innit? I have grand plans for a costume that (*crosses fingers*) will be for Dragon*Con 2012, but right now it's a far cry from even being on the drawing board. It's a challenge for a new year, though, and I'm pretty excited!
Teaching: Teaching has been, alternately, the bane of my existing and one of life's blessings. I started teaching through Teach for America which I joined upon graduation from college. I'm not sure whether to say it was the worst decision of my life or... well, I'm coming to accept that it was just a step I had to take to get to where I am now. Suffice it to say that my first year teaching was complete and utter hell; by the second semester I was having a panic attack at least once a month and I came home crying/depressed just about every night. I quit TFA this summer, took a job at a charter school this past fall, and I've been growing into my position gradually ever since. I love my new school, my position, my coworkers, and my students and I feel like (quite contrary to last year) I'm actually in a position to help and make a difference in these kids' lives. So who knows? Maybe I'll stick with teaching for a while longer!
Live Theater: Theater has been a part of my life for almost as long as I can remember. Since I was a wee (well, wee-er...) tot, I've had a flair for the dramatic that's manifest itself in the form of random bursts of song, inpromptu mini-plays, and costume parades up and down my neighborhood in broad daylight. I saw my first Broadway show when I was seven ("Beauty and the Beast) and when I got into middle school I began acting with a community theater. The musical "Jekyll & Hyde" cemented my passion, and I haven't looked back since! I minored in Theatre Arts in college, and although I haven't had many opportunities to participate in theater here in C-town since I left Elon, I try to work drama and acting into my teaching style in order to bring students out of their shells and to add drama and color to the literature that we're studying.
The Hunger Games: I first read "The Hunger Games" series in college. I was participating in a book club for local high school students where we (the older, more experienced and super-awesome college mentors) led discussions once a month of various books. This popped up on my list, and I was happy to give it a try. Of course, I fell deeply in love with it pretty quickly and breezed through the entire series as soon as I could get my hands on them. The writing style itself isn't stellar, but it's one of those books whose action just keeps you needing more. Suzanne Collins is evil when it comes to leaving you on cliff-hangers; every chapters as well as every book ends with you wanting to scream WHHHAAAAAATTTTT??? Very frustrating when your personal reading time is limited! I can't wait for the movie to come out, although I'm rather nervous that the movie-makers won't have done the book justice. My students (especially my 10th graders) are super excited about the film, and I'm looking forward to holding a contest where the winners will get free tickets for the show. More news on that to come! In the meantime, I wear my Mockingjay pin with pride :)