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Thursday, January 27, 2005
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
The Plan
In Dr. Oliver's class, he gave us a doozey of an assignment right off the bat. He wanted our 10-year plan. I'll admit, I've never been much of a planner. I'm kind of a "see where the night takes us" kind of fella. But as I started to think of what I wanted for myself; sythesize all of the "what if's" and "that would be nice's" into a possibility of what my future could hold, I was shocked to see a mission I've set for myself.
I finish my Master's here at Baylor and go straight into working on a PhD. In Higher Educational Leadership at Ohio St., NYU, U of Maryland or maybe even Vanderbilt. Hopefully, I'll pay for my education at whatever school by fulfilling my professional dream of running a Residence Hall and working with Resident Assistants or Community Leaders or whatever, pouring into them and making a difference in the lives of students. My dissertation will be something along the lines of "The acculturation of Student Athletes in Higher Education." I feel very strongly about this topic. It is something that needs and deserves thought and research.
Also, by the time I leave whatever school is lucky enough to have me, I want to be published as an author of both fiction and non-fiction.
Then I'll go on to teach leadership courses in leadership while I learn what it takes to start a school of my own with my friend, Greg Hanson. I figure I'll use what contacts I've made through Horatio Alger to help me get started.
It'll be a 4-year secondary charter school for students showing high-aptitude, but more importantly, high-motivation from lower socio-economic status and backgrounds, mainly inner-city. We'll partner with a community and relocate the students from the City such as Chicago, New York or Miami to a small town outside of walking distance away, like Carthage, Ill.
I have ideas for the housing, such as having Faculty and their families live with students from a cohort to form a true residential learning community. We would live and teach in the cohort system, each cohort or peer group takes the same classes. What's more, we would be two-deep at every faculty level. Then, the faculty members would follow their cohort through all four years of their matriculation.
The school would worry less about test scores and more about the fact that we've never had a student drop out through lack of emotional or moral support. We would try to create an environment of cooperation among the students and not competition.
What's more, I'm very interested in progressive grading which is subject to inflation. That is, I am interested in de-emphasizing Letter Grades and instead pursuing the EverGreen State system of essay grades. For each class Joe or Josephine takes, in lieu of a letter, he or she will receive an essay of fitting length describing in-depth what parts of the course requirements Joe excelled at, fully grasped, and perhaps, needs further thought upon.
Also, while intramural sports or activities will be mandatory, athletics will be de-emphasized. This school's motives will stay pure. Everyone will participate in music courses of some sort.
As for how the school is funded. Obviously it'll be private and fully endowed. Greg suggested getting the money from a single donor and calling it the Oprah Winfrey Institute. Personally, I believe maybe some of my contacts might be more likely. So it could end up being the Wayne Huizenga School or Arthur C. Cioca High or perhaps even Le lycee d'Horatio Alger. I'm not picky. It doesn't even have to sound classy. (Nabisco's EZ Cheeze High?)
That's it as of right now. But I reserve the right to tweak any of these dreams as they are, in fact, mine.
I finish my Master's here at Baylor and go straight into working on a PhD. In Higher Educational Leadership at Ohio St., NYU, U of Maryland or maybe even Vanderbilt. Hopefully, I'll pay for my education at whatever school by fulfilling my professional dream of running a Residence Hall and working with Resident Assistants or Community Leaders or whatever, pouring into them and making a difference in the lives of students. My dissertation will be something along the lines of "The acculturation of Student Athletes in Higher Education." I feel very strongly about this topic. It is something that needs and deserves thought and research.
Also, by the time I leave whatever school is lucky enough to have me, I want to be published as an author of both fiction and non-fiction.
Then I'll go on to teach leadership courses in leadership while I learn what it takes to start a school of my own with my friend, Greg Hanson. I figure I'll use what contacts I've made through Horatio Alger to help me get started.
It'll be a 4-year secondary charter school for students showing high-aptitude, but more importantly, high-motivation from lower socio-economic status and backgrounds, mainly inner-city. We'll partner with a community and relocate the students from the City such as Chicago, New York or Miami to a small town outside of walking distance away, like Carthage, Ill.
I have ideas for the housing, such as having Faculty and their families live with students from a cohort to form a true residential learning community. We would live and teach in the cohort system, each cohort or peer group takes the same classes. What's more, we would be two-deep at every faculty level. Then, the faculty members would follow their cohort through all four years of their matriculation.
The school would worry less about test scores and more about the fact that we've never had a student drop out through lack of emotional or moral support. We would try to create an environment of cooperation among the students and not competition.
What's more, I'm very interested in progressive grading which is subject to inflation. That is, I am interested in de-emphasizing Letter Grades and instead pursuing the EverGreen State system of essay grades. For each class Joe or Josephine takes, in lieu of a letter, he or she will receive an essay of fitting length describing in-depth what parts of the course requirements Joe excelled at, fully grasped, and perhaps, needs further thought upon.
Also, while intramural sports or activities will be mandatory, athletics will be de-emphasized. This school's motives will stay pure. Everyone will participate in music courses of some sort.
As for how the school is funded. Obviously it'll be private and fully endowed. Greg suggested getting the money from a single donor and calling it the Oprah Winfrey Institute. Personally, I believe maybe some of my contacts might be more likely. So it could end up being the Wayne Huizenga School or Arthur C. Cioca High or perhaps even Le lycee d'Horatio Alger. I'm not picky. It doesn't even have to sound classy. (Nabisco's EZ Cheeze High?)
That's it as of right now. But I reserve the right to tweak any of these dreams as they are, in fact, mine.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
The Devil and General Mills
I'm sort of an analogy person. I love analogies. They help me, sometimes, to better understand what is happening, like the cross section page of Zoobooks magazine.
So here goes...
Right now in my life is like cereal.
I am a cereal eater who has been choosing from the variety pak his entire life. And I'm dying to settle down to one flavor. I'm sick and tired of only getting to appreciate a bowlful at a time.
Now, I thought I had my cereal -my Lucky Charms if you will. I had honestly thought I had the perfect cereal for me. But General Mills, in all of her Devilish mystery, has decided to stop production of that marshmallow and oats delicacy known as Lucky Charms and it sucks.
Yeah, perhaps General Mills will realize her mistake and start up her supply again, but something tells me waiting and hoping isn't the best use of my time. So, I'll send my letter of disappointment to the company's headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan and know I did less than I could, but only what I should. If I wait... well I guess man cannot live on cereal alone anyway.
So its back to the variety pak that I dislike so much. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure I'm even in the mood for cereal. (Not that I'm in the mood for sausage.... Okay, bad joke)
But here's the thing. Its morning and I'm freaking starving.
My wonderful friend Stacey (the girl upon whom I have a crush ;) ) told me that I shouldn't even go to the store hungry, because I'll only end up eating junk food.
Jordan (Blog write Boof), reminds me that the great thing about the variety pak is that its only a bowl at a time. Just enough to take off the edge. And if I should just so happen with a Cookie Crisp that's just a little too much sugar and not enough filling, I only have a bowl to soldier through, and not a whole box.
But then again I pause to consider my potential actions. I mean, what about the denizens of the variety pak? How could I use them so? I mean, yeah, sure, it's only a bowlful of commitment to me, but to them, its the whole thing. Its all they are. If I'm not looking at the variety pak with the intention of maybe buying the whole thing, am I fulfilling my gentleman's code?
I don't know about things sometimes, guys. Maybe I'll just have some oatmeal.
So here goes...
Right now in my life is like cereal.
I am a cereal eater who has been choosing from the variety pak his entire life. And I'm dying to settle down to one flavor. I'm sick and tired of only getting to appreciate a bowlful at a time.
Now, I thought I had my cereal -my Lucky Charms if you will. I had honestly thought I had the perfect cereal for me. But General Mills, in all of her Devilish mystery, has decided to stop production of that marshmallow and oats delicacy known as Lucky Charms and it sucks.
Yeah, perhaps General Mills will realize her mistake and start up her supply again, but something tells me waiting and hoping isn't the best use of my time. So, I'll send my letter of disappointment to the company's headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan and know I did less than I could, but only what I should. If I wait... well I guess man cannot live on cereal alone anyway.
So its back to the variety pak that I dislike so much. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure I'm even in the mood for cereal. (Not that I'm in the mood for sausage.... Okay, bad joke)
But here's the thing. Its morning and I'm freaking starving.
My wonderful friend Stacey (the girl upon whom I have a crush ;) ) told me that I shouldn't even go to the store hungry, because I'll only end up eating junk food.
Jordan (Blog write Boof), reminds me that the great thing about the variety pak is that its only a bowl at a time. Just enough to take off the edge. And if I should just so happen with a Cookie Crisp that's just a little too much sugar and not enough filling, I only have a bowl to soldier through, and not a whole box.
But then again I pause to consider my potential actions. I mean, what about the denizens of the variety pak? How could I use them so? I mean, yeah, sure, it's only a bowlful of commitment to me, but to them, its the whole thing. Its all they are. If I'm not looking at the variety pak with the intention of maybe buying the whole thing, am I fulfilling my gentleman's code?
I don't know about things sometimes, guys. Maybe I'll just have some oatmeal.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Comfort
I was fighting off a bit of lonliness last night and I decided to make a mental list of things that comfort me. Specifically, sensations that make me feel warm and happy. Y'know, the ones that touch the ticklish part of the heart.
I'll just list a few or four or five and please, feel free to add any you'd like.
There's the feeling you get when trying on a tuxedo and you look in the mirror and talk to yourself in the mirror using your best/worst Sean Connery. "Pushy-Galore" Or, [in a girly voice] "Oh James! I got you all wet!" [back to 007] "itsh okay, my martini's shtill dry... take off your pantish."
Cleaning out the lint-trap in the clothes dryer.
The few seconds where the sheets are cold in bed that makes you ball up right before you get warm.
The feeling you get as you turn to the second-to-the-last page of a really good book and you can see the silhouette of the last words through the page.
Wearing a hoodie straight out of the dryer.
Two words: "Ears" and "Q-tips."
Scratching the itch on your nose after you put down the really heavy box full of super-fragile stuff.
Hitting a baseball right in the sweet spot of the bat.
Running barefoot through wet, freshly cut, grass.
The way my mom smells.
Unwrapping a new DVD.
Having all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer... um, or so I've heard....
Sticking your tongue out at someone when they aren't looking...
Any more to add?
I'll just list a few or four or five and please, feel free to add any you'd like.
There's the feeling you get when trying on a tuxedo and you look in the mirror and talk to yourself in the mirror using your best/worst Sean Connery. "Pushy-Galore" Or, [in a girly voice] "Oh James! I got you all wet!" [back to 007] "itsh okay, my martini's shtill dry... take off your pantish."
Cleaning out the lint-trap in the clothes dryer.
The few seconds where the sheets are cold in bed that makes you ball up right before you get warm.
The feeling you get as you turn to the second-to-the-last page of a really good book and you can see the silhouette of the last words through the page.
Wearing a hoodie straight out of the dryer.
Two words: "Ears" and "Q-tips."
Scratching the itch on your nose after you put down the really heavy box full of super-fragile stuff.
Hitting a baseball right in the sweet spot of the bat.
Running barefoot through wet, freshly cut, grass.
The way my mom smells.
Unwrapping a new DVD.
Having all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer... um, or so I've heard....
Sticking your tongue out at someone when they aren't looking...
Any more to add?
Monday, January 10, 2005
A glimpse through the window....
I'm "brookshallprez" and my good friend an recent Baylor Alumni, Sam Ikonne is "SASEIKON." I don't know why I'm actually publishing this. Its not like I'm an especially whiney person. I guess this is just the closest thing I can give you into my mind-set right now.
brookshallprez: so how was SO CO?
SASEIKON: it was fun
SASEIKON: it was a good getaway
brookshallprez: yeah, no men in white robes?
brookshallprez: awesome
SASEIKON: plent of confederate flags
brookshallprez: no crap man
brookshallprez: lol
brookshallprez: i mean, i'm only a pollack and I felt self-conscious
brookshallprez: jk
brookshallprez: but seriously, i really liked it when i visited
brookshallprez: beautiful country!
brookshallprez: how's Kel? good i hope?
SASEIKON: she is going good
SASEIKON: just doing the same old, same old
brookshallprez: i'm honestly glad to hear it
brookshallprez: so, i'm well, than
SASEIKON: well over time things should be fine
brookshallprez: thank-you, "dear abbey"
brookshallprez: ;-)brookshallprez: any more cliche' advice to give?
brookshallprez: i'm actually joking
SASEIKON: well i mean what can i say other than the next time you enter into a relationship make sure it is for the right reasons and understand that nothing is for sure
brookshallprez: i think this time was for the "right reasons" but it just didn't work out
brookshallprez: and i think, honestly, that i should just stop torturing myself by wondering why i got dumped by just saying "she was a psycho who didn't value my state of mind enough to let me know why i got dumped" But I've tried that. And, it turns out, I don't think she's crazy at all. Just... just a mystery.
SASEIKON: Neil here is something helps me through those times, most girls dont know what they want
brookshallprez: now that's good advice
SASEIKON: especially at this age half the stuff they say they dont really believe and many of there relationship amoung themselves aren't that real
SASEIKON: so we as guys just have to be patient for the right girl that wants a geniune relationship
SASEIKON: cause most girls want to be love, but have never taken the time to be humble enough to actually learn to love someone eles
SASEIKON: they are in love with the idea instead of knowing what the reality is all about brookshallprez: dude, this is good stuff
brookshallprez: honestly
SASEIKON: yeah i only came to this conclusion after first examining myself and realizing i have those same problems
brookshallprez: oh damnit
SASEIKON: cause i mean if you read 1 Corinthians 13 and see what it says about love brookshallprez: i suppose you're telling me I'm as much to blame as well
SASEIKON: not necessarily i really dont know everything that happened
SASEIKON: but i mean i think it is healthy to look at yourself and examine possibly what you might have done wrong or why you did the things you did
SASEIKON: and take lessons from that
brookshallprez: yeah...brookshallprez: but this year has sort have been a case-study in "regret"
brookshallprez: end of the college career... "what could I have done better?"
brookshallprez: first semester of Grad school, immersed in people that are, for the first time i can honestly remember, for the most part, every bit as smart as I am
SASEIKON: yeah that is life the only thing really great about a person is that there is only one of all of us
brookshallprez: yeah, we're all unique... just like everyone else
SASEIKON: but i believe that is the great thing because God has just made one us and we are called to do something in a way that only we as unique individuals can do
brookshallprez: Way to go, Sam, completely ignore my cynicism
SASEIKON: yeah someone has to
brookshallprez: keep going, it completely adds to the effect that's going to come out when i publish this all as a blog
SASEIKON: cool i am going to be part of your blod
brookshallprez: yeah, also part of my "blog"
** a couple of minutes go by **
brookshallprez: get it? i was making fun of you just then
brookshallprez: y'know, you miss-spelled "blog"
brookshallprez: i corrected you...
brookshallprez: is this thing on? (taps mike)
SASEIKON: i have a cold so i am not as sharp as i usually am
brookshallprez: excuses, excuses
brookshallprez: long story-short
brookshallprez: thanks, Sam
SASEIKON: well i plan on coming to Baylor on Firday
brookshallprez: wicked
SASEIKON: no joke
brookshallprez: you can look me up
SASEIKON: yeah i will call you on Thursday
brookshallprez: do it
brookshallprez: hollar
SASEIKON: i will
SASEIKON: i might come in on thursday night it just depends
brookshallprez: if you need a place to stay...
brookshallprez: call Eric
SASEIKON: thats hot
brookshallprez: ;-)
SASEIKON: nah i'll call you instead
brookshallprez: word
SASEIKON: or Hassan
brookshallprez: seriously, though
brookshallprez: my casa
brookshallprez: es su-irish pub
SASEIKON: right, right
brookshallprez: so you can come over and not drink with me
SASEIKON: well i'll call before i come
brookshallprez: can't wait
brookshallprez: night bro
SASEIKON: night
brookshallprez: so how was SO CO?
SASEIKON: it was fun
SASEIKON: it was a good getaway
brookshallprez: yeah, no men in white robes?
brookshallprez: awesome
SASEIKON: plent of confederate flags
brookshallprez: no crap man
brookshallprez: lol
brookshallprez: i mean, i'm only a pollack and I felt self-conscious
brookshallprez: jk
brookshallprez: but seriously, i really liked it when i visited
brookshallprez: beautiful country!
brookshallprez: how's Kel? good i hope?
SASEIKON: she is going good
SASEIKON: just doing the same old, same old
brookshallprez: i'm honestly glad to hear it
brookshallprez: so, i'm well, than
brookshallprez: heart still different shades of being broken. -but thanks for asking
SASEIKON: well over time things should be fine
brookshallprez: thank-you, "dear abbey"
brookshallprez: ;-)brookshallprez: any more cliche' advice to give?
brookshallprez: i'm actually joking
SASEIKON: well i mean what can i say other than the next time you enter into a relationship make sure it is for the right reasons and understand that nothing is for sure
brookshallprez: i think this time was for the "right reasons" but it just didn't work out
brookshallprez: and i think, honestly, that i should just stop torturing myself by wondering why i got dumped by just saying "she was a psycho who didn't value my state of mind enough to let me know why i got dumped" But I've tried that. And, it turns out, I don't think she's crazy at all. Just... just a mystery.
SASEIKON: Neil here is something helps me through those times, most girls dont know what they want
brookshallprez: now that's good advice
SASEIKON: especially at this age half the stuff they say they dont really believe and many of there relationship amoung themselves aren't that real
SASEIKON: so we as guys just have to be patient for the right girl that wants a geniune relationship
SASEIKON: cause most girls want to be love, but have never taken the time to be humble enough to actually learn to love someone eles
SASEIKON: they are in love with the idea instead of knowing what the reality is all about brookshallprez: dude, this is good stuff
brookshallprez: honestly
SASEIKON: yeah i only came to this conclusion after first examining myself and realizing i have those same problems
brookshallprez: oh damnit
SASEIKON: cause i mean if you read 1 Corinthians 13 and see what it says about love brookshallprez: i suppose you're telling me I'm as much to blame as well
SASEIKON: not necessarily i really dont know everything that happened
SASEIKON: but i mean i think it is healthy to look at yourself and examine possibly what you might have done wrong or why you did the things you did
SASEIKON: and take lessons from that
brookshallprez: yeah...brookshallprez: but this year has sort have been a case-study in "regret"
brookshallprez: end of the college career... "what could I have done better?"
brookshallprez: first semester of Grad school, immersed in people that are, for the first time i can honestly remember, for the most part, every bit as smart as I am
SASEIKON: yeah that is life the only thing really great about a person is that there is only one of all of us
brookshallprez: yeah, we're all unique... just like everyone else
SASEIKON: but i believe that is the great thing because God has just made one us and we are called to do something in a way that only we as unique individuals can do
brookshallprez: Way to go, Sam, completely ignore my cynicism
SASEIKON: yeah someone has to
brookshallprez: keep going, it completely adds to the effect that's going to come out when i publish this all as a blog
SASEIKON: cool i am going to be part of your blod
brookshallprez: yeah, also part of my "blog"
** a couple of minutes go by **
brookshallprez: get it? i was making fun of you just then
brookshallprez: y'know, you miss-spelled "blog"
brookshallprez: i corrected you...
brookshallprez: is this thing on? (taps mike)
SASEIKON: i have a cold so i am not as sharp as i usually am
brookshallprez: excuses, excuses
brookshallprez: long story-short
brookshallprez: thanks, Sam
SASEIKON: well i plan on coming to Baylor on Firday
brookshallprez: wicked
SASEIKON: no joke
brookshallprez: you can look me up
SASEIKON: yeah i will call you on Thursday
brookshallprez: do it
brookshallprez: hollar
SASEIKON: i will
SASEIKON: i might come in on thursday night it just depends
brookshallprez: if you need a place to stay...
brookshallprez: call Eric
SASEIKON: thats hot
brookshallprez: ;-)
SASEIKON: nah i'll call you instead
brookshallprez: word
SASEIKON: or Hassan
brookshallprez: seriously, though
brookshallprez: my casa
brookshallprez: es su-irish pub
SASEIKON: right, right
brookshallprez: so you can come over and not drink with me
SASEIKON: well i'll call before i come
brookshallprez: can't wait
brookshallprez: night bro
SASEIKON: night
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