Golden Birthday

On Monday, I turned 22... 22 on the 22nd... NEAT!

I wasn't really sure how I felt about turning 22... I mean, I had heard stories from friends that 22 was the best birthday they have had so far, but I have also heard that 22 is the worst birthday some of my friends have had.

I was pretty excited it was my Golden Birthday (22 on 22) because it will never happen again... but all the exciting birthdays are officially behind me. I mean, I have my license, I can buy tobacco (if I really wanted to), I can sign my own paperwork, and I can legally drink... I mean, what else is there to look forward to? Oh yeah, I can rent a car without additional charges when I am 25... nice.

I mean, in all honesty, my 22nd birthday should have been... well... ordinary. With a hint of depressing. But it was not. It was quite the opposite, actually.

It was low key and spent with my close friends, exactly how I wanted. We did go out the Saturday before. We had a little "Gold Party" at my apartment for a couple hours and then went out downtown. Pretty hilarious and random -- Just ask Laura Hund... can anyone say goldfish?

Monday started off as just an ordinary day. I woke up and got ready for school. I drove to Harrison, one of the elementary schools I teach at, and walked into the classroom. There on my desk was a cookie frosted with a big '22' on it, a cup of coffee, a card, and a present. I love my cooperating teacher. She is seriously the sweetest lady ever. Now, the first class of the day on Monday is a third grade class. These kids are NUTS. SO loud and awkward... love

'em, but I get super exhausted. Now I have a small idea of what my teachers probably had to deal with when I was in their class. Well, they normally come into the room super loud and running all over the place, but on this day, they walked in single file and quiet as can be. I knew something was up. This was NOT normal. Once they all got to their seats, they started singing "Happy Birthday". It was so cute! I seriously got so excited. They all made me cards too, which made my heart smile. The rest of the day, kids were bringing me little presents (like old pottery pieces they made in class) and homemade cards. It was adorable.

"Miss Cavender? How old are you?"

"22."

"Oh, I thought you were 16!"

After school, I went to dinner at Blue Sushi with a group of friends. I LOVEEEEEE sushi... so happy hour on my birthday? Nice. Extra good. Well, it was really refreshing to have people gathered together to just talk, eat, and just be with one another. After we ate dinner, Carolyn, being the best friend that she is, decided that she wanted everyone to go around the table and say why they love me or what they appreciate about me. Naturally, I felt awkward at this time and tried stopping this little event from occurring, but they insisted. I am so thankful to have people in my life who care for me and appreciate me for who I am. I am thankful that they would be willing to take time out of their day to celebrate my birthday with me. To those of you who helped make my special day... well, special, THANK YOU. LOVE YOU.

Later that night, I went to a speaker at Creighton -- Jaime Tworkowski, the founder of To Write Love On Her Arms. If you don't know what this organization is, I have a link to their page on the side of my blog. Please do me a favor and check it out. This was just a good reminder of the importance of community, compassion, and not being afraid to talk about even the most difficult things.

To most, yeah, my birthday might have seemed average... but I guess that I am just learning to appreciate the little things and the quieter moments more and more as I grow up. Dang, I'm 22.

Oh, except I lost my debit card. Dangggggggg. At least I still have 25 and renting cars in my future...

What Do I Make?

I am a future teacher... well, as of right now...

I am excited to teach. I really do think it's an exciting career... CRAZY and EXHAUSTING, but exciting nonetheless. I sometimes still have a hard time picturing myself running a classroom, but as soon as I get in the "mode", things change. I love interacting with kids. I love when they get excited about an art project. I love hearing their "oohs" and "ahhs" when I show them different art techniques. I can't stand those people that say, "those who can't do, teach..." Oh really? Well, I might not be able to sew someone's leg back on or defend a criminal in court, but I will be there among the future doctors and lawyers before they become big hot shots. I will be teaching them how to look at a picture and see SOMETHING. I am going to do my best to show my students how to appreciate art... even if they think they can't draw. I want kids to know that they are all artists... in their own way. Yeah, I paint and I draw, but music? That's an art. Reading? That's an art. Sports? That's an art. Everyone has a gift... and that makes them an artist.

Below is a poem/story I REALLY enjoy and appreciate. It has really made me a lot more confident in my current career path... I hope it makes you think a little bit differently about teaching if you feel like it's an easy job....

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education.

He argued, 'What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?'

He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: 'Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.'

To emphasize his point he said to another guest; 'You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?'

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, 'You want to know what I make?

(She paused for a second, then began...)

'Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.

You want to know what I make?' (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.)

''I make kids wonder.

I make them question.

I make them apologize and mean it.

I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

I teach them to write and then I make them write.

Keyboarding isn't everything.

I make them read, read, read.

I make them show all their work in math. They use their God-given brain, not the man-made calculator.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity.

I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.

I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America .

I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.'

(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

'Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant...

You want to know what I make?

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make Mr. CEO?'

His jaw dropped, he went silent.

An Ode to February.

February is the worst month ever. Why do I say this? Well, let me give you the top 10 reasons...

1. Weather. It is cold, bitter, and windy. Often times, it is too cold in February to even snow. The wind just terrorizes humanity in February... especially in Nebraska... dang flatlands. One reason why I want to move to the mountains. And not to mention, the sun rarely reveals itself. It frequently just hides behind those dreary, lumbering clouds in the sky.

2. Most pointless holidays. President's Day? Valentine's Day? Abe. George. You were solid people... kind of... but no offense, your holiday sucks. And Valentine's day? I never understood why there was need to assign a designated day to tell someone you love them. Shouldn't you be doing that every day? The excitement of Christmas and New Years is gone by February 1st, so now, individuals are left with the sad reality that there are no good holidays to look forward to... depressing to the max. OH, and let's please briefly discuss Groundhog's day. Tradition or not, having stupid superstitious beliefs that a dumb rodent predicts the weather is absolutely ridiculous. He always sees his shadow and there will always be 6 more weeks of winter. Face the facts people. Gosh darn animal.

3. It gets the shaft in the length category. Only 28 days? You just blink and the month is over basically. Why can't it just be equal with all the other months... even in a leap year it still gets the shaft. February is the neglected middle child of the Calendar Year family.

4. Nasty Snow. The excitement of snow and snow days are gone. All you see is the nasty, gray, salty, ice-blocked snow that sits depressingly on the side of roads and in the middle of front yards. Tainted snow. Okay, ew.

5. Lent starts. Not really my idea of fun... I'll have my chocolate AND still be tight with Jesus. You're my homeboy, JC. I'm sorry, is this reason sacrilegious?

6. The birthstone is an amethyst and the birth flower the violet. I HATE THE COLOR PURPLE.

7. There are no school breaks. No Winter break, no fall break, no Easter break, no Spring Break... just school. All. The. Time.

8. Hard to spell and hard to pronounce. I don't know if this was just due to my speech impediment when I was younger or my below average spelling abilities, but I seriously couldn't spell or say 'february' for a really long time. I think tat sneaky little 'r' after the 'u' just ruins everything.

9. Nothing good is named after February. I wish I could say there was some inspirational song or movie that focuses on or is set during this "glorious" month, but there's not. Besides general Valentine's Day movies, the media tends to avoid February as a worthwhile time in people's lives.

10. The general demeanor of all individuals. Due to reasons # 1-9, people during this month just seem to be taking slower steps. Feeling a little lazy and depressed because of the weather, bored out of lack of things to really DO in February, and upset at busy school schedules, people attitudes just seem to be a little down... well, at least mine are.

Too bad my birthday is the 22nd. Shoot.

The one thing that might be good about February? It's National Chocolate month. Mmmm, Hello.