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Last week was the monthly match. I told the shriners about my mom. They were going to call me if I hadn't shown up this month. They say that I've skipped two months of shooting, but I can't even remember. I did take a break from March due to the Beijing trip and the cancer diagnosis, but I don't recall what happened in Feb.
I shot well despite getting upset about having to explain my mom's situation. To me, you only cry at a gun range for two reasons--
1. You've been wounded.
2. There's no more ammo.
Funny thing is that if I ever was ever in a position to teach shooting, I would tell the students that for the duration of the match that in order to stay focused, they are not to think about fights they had with their families or cancer eating away at their insides. I had to follow my own advice last Sunday. I shot decently, 466/500. Dave kicked my ass by ten points.
This week, a student, Evelyn, spotted a surplus SAT prep book and pack of vocabulary flash cards in the classroom. They were reserved for a student classified as Gifted and Talented (GT), but I felt bad when she asked for the book and I had to decline her request. I did double check to see of she was GT, maybe she could get one after all, but she wasn't. Then I felt worse because I had to explain why her profile labeled her as economically disadvantaged. When my conference rolled around I found the books at BN.com and had the store hold them for me. After work, I picked them up and surprised Evelyn with the SAT book and flash cards the next day.
I deal with a lot of bad seeds-- apathetics, out-of-jails-, drug pushers, all-I-wanna-do-is-party-- basically wastes of skin and life. So when I encounter someone like Evelyn-- hard working, never gripes, lots of potential-- I have no reservation about giving them a helping hand. From what I remember taking the SAT thirteen years ago, those auxiliary materials are necessary. You cannot do well just on what you get in class alone.
It is just so refreshing to have students like her. And it's kids like her that have kept me from really going off the deep end this year.
I shot well despite getting upset about having to explain my mom's situation. To me, you only cry at a gun range for two reasons--
1. You've been wounded.
2. There's no more ammo.
Funny thing is that if I ever was ever in a position to teach shooting, I would tell the students that for the duration of the match that in order to stay focused, they are not to think about fights they had with their families or cancer eating away at their insides. I had to follow my own advice last Sunday. I shot decently, 466/500. Dave kicked my ass by ten points.
This week, a student, Evelyn, spotted a surplus SAT prep book and pack of vocabulary flash cards in the classroom. They were reserved for a student classified as Gifted and Talented (GT), but I felt bad when she asked for the book and I had to decline her request. I did double check to see of she was GT, maybe she could get one after all, but she wasn't. Then I felt worse because I had to explain why her profile labeled her as economically disadvantaged. When my conference rolled around I found the books at BN.com and had the store hold them for me. After work, I picked them up and surprised Evelyn with the SAT book and flash cards the next day.
I deal with a lot of bad seeds-- apathetics, out-of-jails-, drug pushers, all-I-wanna-do-is-party-- basically wastes of skin and life. So when I encounter someone like Evelyn-- hard working, never gripes, lots of potential-- I have no reservation about giving them a helping hand. From what I remember taking the SAT thirteen years ago, those auxiliary materials are necessary. You cannot do well just on what you get in class alone.
It is just so refreshing to have students like her. And it's kids like her that have kept me from really going off the deep end this year.
