school starts

Finally, today is deskwork: I am inserting key dates, reviewing the class schedule, and preparing all sorts of 'stuff' for school - enough ink cartridges (used so many last semester!), lunch ideas (bringing good food for lunch!), what to put in my backpack?, ordering some textbooks on-line, and just chilling (relaxing) before it all starts again.

A copy of a childhood book 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit' is staring back at me from my bookshelf, and I remembered a very interesting quote by the author, Beatrix Potter who said, 'Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality.' I'm not all interested in the institution of school either as I know deep down, and my friends from high school will attest, but I do love being in and participating in spaces where expression of one's mind is permitted through reading and writing. It's kind of like running, it's enjoyable when you're finished!! ;-) That's all. Though I have been earning pretty good grades ever since my university life started so it's hard to shake off that 'on the roll' mentality. Last semester of grad studies, I actually earned a 4.0 GPA which I got down on my hands and feet and said, Hallejuah! I won't attempt to do that again this Fall but to keep the possibilities open sure makes it worthwhile. I'm one of those people who actually appreciate the journey more than the end-result. That is the end does justify the means, but the means to the end is just as important.

Like Ms. Potter said, some originality might be 'rubbed off' when being schooled, so creativity needs to be inserted, we need the stuff of life (like experiences, expressions, interest, passions) to penetrate the walls of school. Just the classroom alone is really not all that exciting. Creativity derive from somewhere in a human being despite the worn-out and stale walls of institutions, and the hum-drum of society. Looking at my class schedule below, I think all the courses appear to be the same which I hope will not be so true. Here is my Fall Schedule:

MON: Cross Cultural Education - 12:10-3:00pm - L. Martin
TUE: Culture Cognition & Power in Education -4:10 - 6:55 pm - D. Hemphil
WED: Curricular Leadership - Multiculturalism - 4:10 - 6:55pm - M. Stepney
THUR: Social Foundations Multicultural Education - 4:10-6:55pm - M. Lee
FRI/SAT: Culture, Language & Society in Education - 8:00am-5:00pm - D.Flowers
(8 meetings: Sep.11,12, Oct.9,10, Nov.13,14 , Dec.11,12)

Jam-packed schedule ahead. I will get through it no matter what. If I get a meltdown, I'll just let myself cry. Nothing to be alarmed about. If I have multiple papers due on the same day, I'll just listen to Seal's song, CRAZY! And, if I can't find any parking at school, I'll turn off the engine and wait, and ask for luck. Looking at the Peter Rabbit Book, I think if a rabbit could have an adventure so can I. If an accomplished author like Beatrix Potter didn't go to school, then what the heck! School isn't all what it's cut out to be, it's knowing how to play the rules, and bouncing and sharing some thoughts in our minds, whether it be speaking and writing and really claiming an education is the kind of attitude I hope to have. I can call that a 'useful' and 'worthwhile' day, and remember it for what it is. Thanks for reading. Keep on learning and reaching for your best. Bye bye now and hope to meet back here sooner than later. ;-)