Looking Forward and Up

The SCMTB Fest is coming!

What do the next ten months of 2012 hold? For myself and my little family, we are stuffing as much good stuff in among the work. I count myself pretty lucky that I work in education and have some summer break time to do more family stuff. I usually end up working over the summer and this one will be no different. But I have a boss who wants me to write up my schedule and give him an idea of what I will do.

What does the rest of the year hold for us? Several group camping trips with friends to Big Sur, Mt. Madonna, Arroyo Seco, the Sea Otter Classic, Spicer up north and New Brighton Beach locally. I've got my first and likely only triathlon of the year scheduled and on the books at the Avia Wildflower, we may camp for it but not in with the other triathletes as it is just too darned pricey to do it right now. Maybe next year when my pay returns to its normal levels (long story but the short of it is my checks are about $350 light right now).

A Peek into the Future

I'd like to be able to show a kid where he or she is going to be in 20 or 30 years given their current state and direction. Sort of a scared straight kind of thing.

I look at some of the kids I see everyday and can tell you where they are headed. Some are born into gang culture and have little chance, hope or even desire, to escape. Some are already being pulled in, even in elementary school. Which is pretty messed up.

Then there are the other kids who are on the fence between descent and ascent. A couple of students I have gotten to know pretty well are extremely bright but come from difficult circumstances and may never be able to achieve their full potential (though my inclination is to say that very, very few of us ever achieve full potential). Those kids could use a nudge upward, which I try to provide them when I can. I encourage, cajole and challenge those students I know aren't coming close to what they are capable of.

Some of these kids are really pretty freaking brilliant and it would be a huge disservice to not try and pull them upward as much as I possibly can during the little time I can. I will miss interacting with the kids everyday, the vast majority of them are sweet, good natured and curious. They are one of the main reasons I am pretty sad about this short chapter of my life coming to a, presumed, close.

Though there are still some possibilities that we're exploring. I should have a better handle on those things towards the end of the week, maybe.

Oh, and another school party on Friday! Woot! This time at a rather nice lunch place which means drinks and NO KIDS!