At the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year, I decided to be ambitious and take 40 Latino high schoolers on a day retreat to help the class bond. We planned a hike and bonfire but unfortunately the cold came sooner than we were expecting. While we were starting the first game, snow began to fall. As students huddled together, I knew the retreat would be short-lived if we didn't move it inside.
One of the two options to house the students was the church building only because it was a large space and I had keys. But that whole first amendment thing about not mixing church and state...I decided that the better option would be to take them to my house. (Obviously it was the better of two evils because what teacher wants 40 students to know where she lives. You are just asking for your house to be toliet-papered or worse).
Despite it being a Sugarhouse home, meaning it was the size of a child's shoe and we were all crammed in there, we had a blast. We did end up getting to make s'mores, play soccer at the park, witness an epic Battle of the Sexes game, devour Hispanic food, and dance. It was one of the best moments of being a teacher this year.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Almost Fired
One brutal Monday morning at 7:25 am, I was yawning outside
my classroom door as I tried to welcome students to class and help them feel my
excitement for the new week, although I was still reaching deep into my heart
to try to find the excitement. A student walked up to me and said “Ms. Davis,
I’m not your student but I thought I should let you know that one of your
students said last night on Twitter that he was going to kiss you today in
class,” then she walked back into her AP English class. I just continued to yawn;
the cognitive processing part of my brain was apparently still tucked into my
bed at home because I quickly dismissed the Twitter post as far-fetched and the
ridiculous comments of a teenage boy.
However, after first period, both Kim and I have our consultation
periods and she came over uncharacteristically serious. A different student had
reported the Twitter comment to her but in greater detail. Apparently the
student was in my honors class and had said that if he got 100 “favorites” on
his post, he would kiss me “on the lips” the next day in class. What follows is
an interesting insight into the teenage brain. Instead of reminding this
student how completely inappropriate this would be, other students of mine
plotted ways he could execute this dastardly deed. Thankfully Kim, ever my
unpaid mentor, reported this to the assistant principal who called the student
down and explained the potential charges he would face if he went forward with
the plan such as sexual harassment and sexual assault. Thankfully, those words
dissuaded him.
After an uneventful class I decided to read the Twitter feed
that was rife with inappropriate comments about my body. I sent a screen shot
to Kelsey with the actual post and she texted back “Who is Lyman?” That is when
true panic set in because Lyman was a football coach who had to leave
Cottonwood two years prior for sleeping with a student. I asked Kelsey what
prompted her random question and she showed me a response to the Twitter post
that said this would be “another Lyman scandal.” PANIC. DISGUST. I am
regurgitating. That is when I decided to start wearing a nun outfit. Not
really. But maybe I should.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
His Love
Although initially I am tempted to call the past few months heart-breaking, if I had to be honest, I would qualify them as a "beautiful heartbreak." Heavenly Father has been teaching me; there is no feeling and peace equal to knowing that He is molding me, pruning me. The actual aching of my heart, the pleading sobs, the stubborn anxiety is all worth it if it brings me closer to Him.
Throughout this journey I have been repeatedly in awe of Heavenly Father's tender mercies. During General Conference last weekend I was again struck by a sign of His love; I had been praying and even fasted for direction. As soon as Elder Uchtdorf began to speak, I just knew that his entire talk was my answer. I felt extremely humbled that 1. prayer works! 2. Heavenly Father knows me and would care enough to send me the direction I desperately want.
Throughout this journey I have been repeatedly in awe of Heavenly Father's tender mercies. During General Conference last weekend I was again struck by a sign of His love; I had been praying and even fasted for direction. As soon as Elder Uchtdorf began to speak, I just knew that his entire talk was my answer. I felt extremely humbled that 1. prayer works! 2. Heavenly Father knows me and would care enough to send me the direction I desperately want.
This is beautiful to me.
I am grateful for His Love.
Monday, April 8, 2013
What Shakespeare Can Teach Teenagers About Procreation
Monday, April 8, 2013. Cottonwood High School.
Me: "Shakespeare got married when he was 18 years old to Anne Hathaway, who was 26. Within four years, they had three children."
16-year-old male honors student: "Women can still have children when they are 26?!"
I told him to have a heart-to-hearter with his parents.
Yep. I got paid to hear that hilarious comment!
Me: "Shakespeare got married when he was 18 years old to Anne Hathaway, who was 26. Within four years, they had three children."
16-year-old male honors student: "Women can still have children when they are 26?!"
I told him to have a heart-to-hearter with his parents.
Yep. I got paid to hear that hilarious comment!
Saturday, April 6, 2013
9 Years of My Best Dating Now On a Haitus
Nine years ago, a 17-year-old Britney was heartbroken. (Almost a decade has not drastically changed that)...and Valentine's day was approaching. To exacerbate it even further, she would not be going to the Sweetheart's dance...
her SENIOR year of high school...
with ALL her friends...
because the breakup was so recent...
Tragic, right?
In comes her then pipsqueak of an 11-year-old brother Casey, who asked her on a date instead. After helping all her friends with last minute wardrobe touches, and giving the confidence-boosting "you look gorgeous" talks, Britney drove her red Jetta home, where her younger brother was waiting for her with flowers in hand. Flowers that cost $12, wiping out his entire life savings. Flowers that were nonetheless his idea, without any "planting of ideas" from Mom.
(Ladies, give him two years to get back from Brazil and then you should snatch this one up. If, at a young age, he already knew the importance of bringing flowers to women and sacrificed to do it, imagine your future).
They then splurged on a gourmet dinner of MEAT at Damon's. Damon's other selling point, besides its steak, was the fact that every table had a radio that could be tuned into whichever sports game you wanted to watch. This may not have been the elegant dinner her friends were dropping hundreds on, but it was more real love than theirs anyway.
A manly dinner could only be followed by a manly movie; "Miracle" was the answer. Despite the night's activities being obviously testosterone enhancing, and a date that Hallmark would only market if they wanted to go bankrupt, Britney walked away feeling truly cared about; someone had noticed her needs and spent meaningful time with her.
And this is when it began...a series of " bro/sis dates;" Urban Dictionary would translate it as follows "Times when a younger brother is sensitive to an older sister's feelings and then uses his wit, spontaneity, and humor to cheer her up."
One night, while eating fattening pasta at the CougarEat, Casey managed to make Britney laugh and postpone quitting her job, in the midst of stealthily surviving an "assassins" game. Ladies, reason #264 to marry him: he can care about your feelings while under stress.
Even better was the va-ca to St. George. There were some throwback moments to the original bro/sis date, such as a steakhouse and cheesy movies, but scaling red rock mountains, car dance parties, and shopping like mad took it to a whole new level.
Our most recent and our last for a while...Spring Break 2013. Here's how we kicked it up a notch this time: twinner outfits. A necessity that we mistakenly have been overlooking all these years. On one day, when our ESP was the strongest, we matched twice. In the morning we both walked out in dark denim jean pants with rolled cuffs and light denim button-ups and later that night we donned our Jazz shirts.
Also, car dance parties morphed into freestyle about the Jazz. I think we'll join Eric after the mish and go on the road as white rappers. (It's my backup plan for when I get sick of teaching again).
One constant though has been the boy advice; what will I do without Casey here to tell me how to attract the men and then feed me the lines that keep them? It might be a dating famine for the next two years.
But there was an unexpected twist for me this time. My "little" bro all of the sudden didn't seem so little; in fact, I learned from him. While I was racing around, trying to fill our time with thrilling "entertainment," Casey paused and said he wanted to "read." Read what? Oh, just the scriptures. NBD. Oh, he was just prioritizing, putting God first. Good idea, Britney - you should try it sometime. He also, although half joking, put my dating laments into perspective as he reminded me of "Heavenly Father's timing."
And now this boy, who has rescued me multiple times, who continually helps me feel Heavenly Father's love, is going to help others feel it too in Manaus, Brazil. For two years, bro/sis dates will have to be put on hold. But that's okay; He is teaching me about doing Heavenly Father's will.
Heavenly Father, please protect him and help him serve you. I'll be praying for him.
...And... I'll be ready in two years to hit up South America for our grandest bro/sis/family date yet.
her SENIOR year of high school...
with ALL her friends...
because the breakup was so recent...
Tragic, right?
In comes her then pipsqueak of an 11-year-old brother Casey, who asked her on a date instead. After helping all her friends with last minute wardrobe touches, and giving the confidence-boosting "you look gorgeous" talks, Britney drove her red Jetta home, where her younger brother was waiting for her with flowers in hand. Flowers that cost $12, wiping out his entire life savings. Flowers that were nonetheless his idea, without any "planting of ideas" from Mom.
(Ladies, give him two years to get back from Brazil and then you should snatch this one up. If, at a young age, he already knew the importance of bringing flowers to women and sacrificed to do it, imagine your future).
They then splurged on a gourmet dinner of MEAT at Damon's. Damon's other selling point, besides its steak, was the fact that every table had a radio that could be tuned into whichever sports game you wanted to watch. This may not have been the elegant dinner her friends were dropping hundreds on, but it was more real love than theirs anyway.
A manly dinner could only be followed by a manly movie; "Miracle" was the answer. Despite the night's activities being obviously testosterone enhancing, and a date that Hallmark would only market if they wanted to go bankrupt, Britney walked away feeling truly cared about; someone had noticed her needs and spent meaningful time with her.
And this is when it began...a series of " bro/sis dates;" Urban Dictionary would translate it as follows "Times when a younger brother is sensitive to an older sister's feelings and then uses his wit, spontaneity, and humor to cheer her up."
One night, while eating fattening pasta at the CougarEat, Casey managed to make Britney laugh and postpone quitting her job, in the midst of stealthily surviving an "assassins" game. Ladies, reason #264 to marry him: he can care about your feelings while under stress.
Even better was the va-ca to St. George. There were some throwback moments to the original bro/sis date, such as a steakhouse and cheesy movies, but scaling red rock mountains, car dance parties, and shopping like mad took it to a whole new level.
Our most recent and our last for a while...Spring Break 2013. Here's how we kicked it up a notch this time: twinner outfits. A necessity that we mistakenly have been overlooking all these years. On one day, when our ESP was the strongest, we matched twice. In the morning we both walked out in dark denim jean pants with rolled cuffs and light denim button-ups and later that night we donned our Jazz shirts.
Also, car dance parties morphed into freestyle about the Jazz. I think we'll join Eric after the mish and go on the road as white rappers. (It's my backup plan for when I get sick of teaching again).
One constant though has been the boy advice; what will I do without Casey here to tell me how to attract the men and then feed me the lines that keep them? It might be a dating famine for the next two years.
But there was an unexpected twist for me this time. My "little" bro all of the sudden didn't seem so little; in fact, I learned from him. While I was racing around, trying to fill our time with thrilling "entertainment," Casey paused and said he wanted to "read." Read what? Oh, just the scriptures. NBD. Oh, he was just prioritizing, putting God first. Good idea, Britney - you should try it sometime. He also, although half joking, put my dating laments into perspective as he reminded me of "Heavenly Father's timing."
And now this boy, who has rescued me multiple times, who continually helps me feel Heavenly Father's love, is going to help others feel it too in Manaus, Brazil. For two years, bro/sis dates will have to be put on hold. But that's okay; He is teaching me about doing Heavenly Father's will.
Heavenly Father, please protect him and help him serve you. I'll be praying for him.
...And... I'll be ready in two years to hit up South America for our grandest bro/sis/family date yet.
Monday, March 18, 2013
"My Britney"
The Preface:
Typically, a three-year-old wanting to call you isn't exactly noteworthy. You would imagine that a single, 26-year-old girl would rather have her crush call her, right? I have to confess: when Courtney told me Olivia wanted to call me today, and in fact 'talks' to me frequently, I felt just as ecstatic.
How It Went Down:
After semi-completing a somersault, which of course is a noble feat deserving celebration, apparently Olivia purposefully ran to her pink play phone announcing that she needed to call "her Britney" to tell her. If only I would have answered, we could have relived her glory and the 1,700 miles between us would not have felt so painfully far.
The Epilogue:
Olivia, in the future, I am answering all your calls.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Seeing The Real World
"I'm having a food craving that I must satisfy," my co-worker Allie messaged me. Coincidentally, I was looking for a way to avoid grading papers. Of course, I felt an obligation as a friend to accompany her to Einstein's (Women can't even go to the bathroom alone, right? Why expect them to get food by themselves?)
We guilty snuck out to the restaurant...And that was when I became a captivity-born animal escaping the zoo. We saw people chatting in business meetings at Einstein's, leisurely standing in the sun and discussing plans. "So this is how the rest of the world lives," I thought. People who don't have to shove food down their throats in a 25 minute time frame and people whose work is flexible. Oh the life of a regular 9-5 job. I almost did not believe it; I just stared and will now take this time to publicly apologize to those who were at the Fort Union Einsteins' at around 10:00 am today. I was just in awe of your flexible schedule - I felt free for a moment through you. Then, we were back at CHS but I did walk out of my "office" at 3:40 into the sun so...can I really complain?
We guilty snuck out to the restaurant...And that was when I became a captivity-born animal escaping the zoo. We saw people chatting in business meetings at Einstein's, leisurely standing in the sun and discussing plans. "So this is how the rest of the world lives," I thought. People who don't have to shove food down their throats in a 25 minute time frame and people whose work is flexible. Oh the life of a regular 9-5 job. I almost did not believe it; I just stared and will now take this time to publicly apologize to those who were at the Fort Union Einsteins' at around 10:00 am today. I was just in awe of your flexible schedule - I felt free for a moment through you. Then, we were back at CHS but I did walk out of my "office" at 3:40 into the sun so...can I really complain?
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