92) A Problem

I teach a college level class each semester at a community college here in Dallas.  I arrived to the classroom early this past Saturday in order to set up and I discovered the following poster on the wall:

This is a "Student Participation Chart" that is lower budget looking than what I remember seeing in elementary school.  I do not like criticizing a fellow professor, but any student seeing this on the wall will fail to take this class or professor seriously.  Engaging your class is at the heart of what it means to be a teacher.  This simply is not going to cut it.

And we wonder why we as a society have unemployment issues.

After reading through this, I feel sort of bad for calling this out.  Is this because I am too nice of a person?  Because I feel like this should make everyone mad.

91) Kids and Career

Been thinking about grown up things recently, which is strange because tonight I am going to a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert, and most of my free time is split between playing in a band, playing soccer, or drinking until 3 in the morning.  The 2 topics that have been surfacing and resurfacing are kids and career.  I'm only going to address one of these right now, and that is career.

I'm not convinced I chose the right career path.  I like what I do, and I am decent at it.  I feel challenged, yet not overwhelmed.  However, I am not inspired.  I am not making a difference in the lives of others.  I am not creating anything unique or beautiful.  I am not inspiring others to think of things they normally ignore.  And for this I am slightly unhappy.  

I know there must be balance in life, and one of the things we must balance is money.  I like that I make some money, that I am employed and have the ability to sustain employment because I have learned an industry to some degree.  Recently I've felt as though I am not putting in all the effort I could into my career in order to spend time writing music or playing sports.  Or spending time with my wife.  I do not regret that.  Instead, this situation forces me to think that if my career is not competing for my attention, then I am in the wrong place and wasting my time.

So, what would not be a waste?  

* Documentary film maker

* Mediocre amateur musician

* College professor

* An MLS scout for FC Dallas

As of now I'm not brave enough to drop what I have spent the last 10+ years doing, but a larger side of me has recently thought, "why the hell not?"  

So beware, there is a chance you will see me around Dallas holding a camera and filming a documentary...