~:[CH13 - Day 127]:~ Matching & Meetings

 
~:[CH13 - Day 127]:~ Matching & Meetings

This always is one of my favorite assignments. Leading up to this assignment, each student is assigned 3-4 countries and has to research about their imports and exports. They then select one of their country and make a trading (dating) profile. It's fun to see their creativity come alive as they make a profile that is attractive so they can find a compatible trading partner. While some try to go to their friends, they realize they cannot work together because their imports don't match up to their exports. In the end, there's a few who struggle to find a match. It's a nice break from the stress of APs. It's not an easy assignment, but at the same time, it's fun and they don't have to focus too much. After subbing a class, I headed back home to prep for the banquet and start my series of meetings that I'll be having over the next few weeks. Planning for my projects is always exciting, but the time difference means, late night meetings - a lot of them. Regardless, it gets me excited to think of the various projects I'll be working on and I only hope that the days ahead pass smoothly and quickly.

~:[CH13 - Day 126]:~ Switching Places

 
~:[CH13 - Day 126]:~ Switching Places

It's always fun, but a little strange, to be sitting in the back of the room. This week kicked off my freshmen teaching the class. I think when students see the classroom from my lens, I think they gain a little more respect for the challenges that we face on a daily basis. The two things that always stand out are the pace at which they can progress through a power point and also how to keep the class quiet and manageable. It will be interesting to see what they come up with as while many groups will keep it simple, there always is a group that has a fun assignment that really intrigues the class. What kind of student should I be this week?

~:[CH13 - Day 125]:~ Kodomo No Hi

 
~:[CH13 - Day 125]:~ Kodomo No Hi

It's Children's Day in Japan. I may be much older now, but still yet, my mom still celebrates this day with us. I find it a bit strange to celebrate now that we are adults, but it's fun to receive this and save it. I actually have been collecting them for awhile now and have stashed away every one that my mom has made for quite some time. As while adulthood has been present for awhile now, I am glad to celebrate this day with my family as it's another reason for us to celebrate together. One day, I may no longer receive these gifts to celebrate this day, but at least I have a stash of these memories to look back upon to remember these days. What are some things you've saved that help remind you of the past?

~:[CH13 - Day 124]:~ The Battlefield

 
~:[CH13 - Day 124]:~ The Battlefield

We traveled out to Ontario this year for CIF. When looking at the entries, we knew it was going to be a tough battle. Being in Division II, always is quite the challenge when you get to CIF, as if you're able to advance, you know you're elite. This year, was tougher than most. We had to assemble last minute relay teams, which definitely made it difficult in the 4x100m, where hand offs are key. However, no matter, each of my athletes ran their best and pushed their limits. Most of my distance athletes found their way to new PRs, which included a school record that's been standing for 25 years. In the field events, the starting heights may have been above their PRs, however, they did their best to reach heights they hadn't before. Similarly our high jumpers also PRed with one just one height below the qualifying mark. Although we did not have an athlete advance to finals, today ended up being a day that was one to celebrate. They faced some of the toughest competition we've seen and they never backed down, which is all you can ask of your athletes. Track and field challenges  you both physically and mentally and these athletes did all they could this season to get themselves fine tuned for this moment. With a number of underclassmen among the qualifiers, I know they are better prepared for what's ahead and will be ready to step on the track, faster and stronger than every before. I appreciate all the time and effort these athletes gave through the season and applaud their efforts they gave today, as they all definitely battled, leaving all of themselves out there. 

~:[CH13 - Day 123]:~ The Comforts of Home

 
~:[CH13 - Day 123]:~ The Comforts of Home

Sure it's great to go out with your friends, however, although I do end up out a lot, I often prefer the comforts of home. I enjoy the food that I have at home, especially after a Costco run and I don't mind the peace and quiet as well. I'm often away because of the various jobs I do, so I actually like it when I can be at home and just taking care of this and that. I always wonder what type of people others are. I wonder what in their lives has influences why they love to be away or why they like the confines of home. Do they have good memories in home or are they so exhausted by day's end, that they just want to stay in? Are they introverted? Are there certain places they want to avoid versus places they'll gladly go? I often like to consider other people's perspective, which is why I probably end up thinking about what would others prefer to do and why. Regardless, it was a fairly quiet night at home after a few errands as I prepared for the race. I had a lot of work to do, so it was nice to be able to catch up before the long grueling day tomorrow. 

~:[CH13 - Day 122]:~ Every Opportunity

~:[CH13 - Day 122]:~ Every Opportunity

Today is one of my favorite units - character. As I introduce the character speech final, I always have an opportunity to reflect on what I need to change and adjust. It makes me think about the things I've been failing to do and what I need to change to make the most of every opportunity I am given. In life, we always lose our way at times and the question is, can we guide ourselves back on track? I question if I have taken every opportunity to be aware of what's around me and reach out to as many people as I could. What more could I have done to remedy a situation? Ultimately, how could I have made adjustments to be a better model for my students and those around me? As I talked about how our actions affects others, I thought about how what I do each day effects those around me, especially my students and athletes. As many points of corrections I found, today was also a day that I found more opportunities to give back to my athletes. For each of my athletes at dinner tonight, they found a way to make the most of an opportunity given to them, as they qualified for CIF. As good as an athlete may be, these moments are not a given and thus, appreciating this very moment is important, as commonplace as it may seem. It was a joy to sit back and see them enjoy the celebration, as I appreciated what I could do to honor their efforts and sacrifices through the year. Just like my journey with character, I know that through this season they questioned if they were on the right track. They probably battled the ups and downs, dealt with injury, and found moments when standing in this year's series of races in the rain, soaking as the rain poured down asking themselves, "what am I doing here?" In whatever we do, we'll face this same struggle. We'll wonder if we're on the right path, re-evaluate and find our way back to where we should be going. In all cases, I hope that we take every opportunity possible. For me, I hope that I can find a way to stay focused on my path ahead even when thing around me try to place obstacles in my path. I know that I must trust in myself knowing that I need to constantly remind myself and check that I am on the path that I hope to be. I hope that I am taking every opportunity to reach out to those who need it whether it be a friend, family member, student, athlete, or colleague. At the end of the day, I hope that I can find a way to take every opportunity I have it life to help others, support them, and help guide them to a place that will help them find their way. As we saw one inspirational video after another, I was inspired to take advantage of every opportunity that life gives me. In just a few weeks, these freshmen will deliver these speeches they are preparing and I hope that at the very least, they'll come to the conclusion that every opportunity given to them, is yet again another opportunity to better this world, in hopes that they see the importance of displaying good character in our daily lives. 

~:[CH13 - Day 121]:~ Mining the Gold

 
~:[CH13 - Day 121]:~ Mining the Gold

It was a busy day. Our hardest workout of the week, followed by an ice bath, backed by Premios de Oro. I thought the timing would be alright, but realized the ceremony was at 6pm, so I had a tight window to transition. Regardless, I made it. It was a little bittersweet. I love this ceremony and to hear Mr. Walker speak up there is always great as he makes the students feel so special for this honor. However, with this being his last Premios, I soaked it all in. As much as he puts emphasis on the students being the golden prize, he himself has been a golden prize for this school. His energy and spirit were injected on our campus when he arrived at a moment we most needed it. Through my life, I've crossed paths with many "leaders" and there are some who speak loudly, but do very little to demonstrate their leadership. There are others, like Mr. Walker, that no matter what is being said, already earn the respect of so many through action. There are many roles that a leader must take on, but often times, the most important is simply being present. To be the model, you inspire others to do the same or lead many down the wrong path. I've seen my share of both, but it's rare to see someone who attended so many events from spotlight sporting events to the ones that no many people attend. He was visible, he was energetic, and that in itself turned around the environment on campus. We faced our ups and downs, but the reality is, that through it all, he was leading through the work, time and effort that he put in. As he talked about those golden prizes that we honored tonight (our students), they only shine like they do when there is someone there to mine them to show their glory to the world. Mr. Walker inspires us to do just that, to work hard with our students and help them shine like the golden prizes that they are. Titles should not be the thing that helps you decide who to follow, rather, I hope that we can open our eyes and truly see the leaders that are around us. Often times those leaders are not the ones who speak the loudest, but truly show us what it takes, because at the end of the day, instead of telling us about all the gold around us, they've already rolled up their sleeves and are working towards mining that precious gold. Congratulations to all of those who are our golden prizes, to all those who are working to be one of those golden prizes, and to those who helped mine them - the community around them. 

~:[CH13 - Day 120]:~ Keeping Things in Order

 
~:[CH13 - Day 120]:~ Keeping Things in Order

There's always something to organize. On my list of to-do's, my list of things to organize ranges from clothes to school materials to pictures and more. It's an endless cycle of things I need to do and it can be exhausting to think about. When you think about a mountain, it feels impossible to scale, but when you look at the step in front of you, you don't think much about it. When we want to avoid the stress and chaos of life, I think it's best if we break it down into smaller chunks. We wouldn't try to eat a hamburger in single bite, therefore, why do we try to take on these difficult tasks all at once. As I move from task to task, I keep it manageable so I can keep thinks in order and avoid stressing myself off. I take frequent mental breaks and find ways to keep myself motivated and happy. Yes, work can be a grind, but it can also be a lot easier when we take it all piece by piece. 

~:[CH13 - Day 119]:~ Togetherness

 
~:[CH13 - Day 119]:~ Togetherness

There's something about just being together that brings people together. In cross country, we hold a number of events and while they don't always know each other, the more time they spend together, the closer they become. It's true that not everyone will get along, but being in close proximity of people increases your chances of connecting. It's always nice to stake a step back and observe the students together and see them interact. After months preparing and a week in New York, you could see the connections they made over the course of this stretch in order to find the bonds that they have. In my own life, the ones I spend the most time with tend to be those in my inner circle of what I am doing. It's hard because I always want to connect with those who I hold dear in my heart, but often times because of my schedule, it's limited to those within close proximity. It's great to be able to form stronger bonds with those I see regularly, at the same time, it makes me realize that I have to make a greater effort to reach out to those who I don't see as much to ensure that we can also maintain our bonds despite our distance. As the night closed, it was fun to see the team together one last time as they joked around and ran around the shopping plaza before calling it a night. There was plenty of reason to celebrate, as they were recognized one final time for their wonderful efforts to reach this goal they aimed for. Congratulations to the Nationals 2024 delegation from Japan and the Republic of Korea on your accomplishments! 

~:[CH13 - Day 118]:~ On the Scenic Route

 
~:[CH13 - Day 118]:~ On the Scenic Route

 I used to be one of those kids who always tried to be the fastest to do something. I wanted to finish my homework first, learn a skill first, or even attain something first. I am not sure why I was always in a rush, but over time, I learned that while moving so quickly, I missed a lot along the way. When typing directions into Google Maps, it often gives you the fastest route, but is it the route you want to go? I often change it up and find a way to go the route I want to go; oftentimes the scenic route. I discovered in life that we often miss these beautiful moments when we preoccupy ourselves with trying to make everything happen so quickly. Even when we are not trying to be first, sometimes when we are often so focused on a goal, we miss out on opportunities that may have taken us to where we want to go or others that would have opened our eyes to new beauties and wonders to explore. In our lives, just remember that there is no one single route to where we want to go. Life is full of detours and also, life allows us to travel at our own pace. Even when that pace is not one that we ourselves want to go be going, roll down the window and enjoy the scenic route your on. Shake things up and force some of the things you want to happen, but also don't worry if things don't pan out, rather that having tunnel vision focused on your destination, look out and soak in the beauty of the route you're on. Eventually you'll find your way to your destination or a destination that is destined for you, but don't be afraid not toss Google Maps out the window and follow your own path to discover what lies out there on this path unknown. Maybe, just maybe, it'll be a path that brings you to a place better than you could have ever imagined.