Blog post #12 - due April 26

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be and why?

I think the one thing that I would want to change the most is to have people be tolerant of other people. You don't have to like them; you don't have to agree with them, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Should people stand up for what they believe in? Absolutely, but that doesn't give them the right to put other people down.

If you think about it, a lot of our world's problems could be taken care of if people would simply tolerate other opinions and people different from themselves.

Blog Post #11 - due Friday April 19

What is your legacy? What are you leaving behind for others? (or what do you hope you are leaving behind for others)  Another way to think of this question: how do you want to be remembered by future students? Or do they want to remembered at all? If not, why not?

While I'm obviously at a very different point in my life than you guys are, I'm going to answer this as what do I hope students remember about me once they graduate.

My hope is that I challenged you.  Not necessarily in the coursework you completed or my expectations in class (although of course I hope you learned something and are leaving prepared for college), but as a whole person.  I hope I made you think - about who you are, what you want to do, and how you can leave this world a better place.  I also hope you know that I cared.  Even if I "gave" you a bad grade, even if at some point you got in trouble, my hope is that you know that I wanted the best for you and that I wish you the best as you leave high school.  I hope I pushed you - to be your best, to go beyond your comfort zone, to find yourself in something.

As speech coach, I hope those of you I worked with remember all the laughter, the memories, and the fact that you will forever hold a place in my life. 

Writing prompt #10 - due Friday April 12

What are your five favorite songs at this point in time?  Why?

1.  "I Will Rise" by Chris Tomlin - I'm addicted to this song right now because of its haunting beauty.  I first heard about it on Facebook.  A friend's daughter died from brain cancer three years ago - she wasn't even three years old.  This song was played at her funeral.

2. "Somewhere in Neverland" by All Time Low - This is pretty much the furthest from "I Will Rise" as   I can get.  I'm not exactly sure why I'm hooked on this song, except it has a strong beat and it's easy to walk to (which is what I'm focusing on now that speech is over and I have time to exercise).

3. "Payphone" by Maroon 5 - This is also very different from the first song, but again, it's easy to exercise to.  Plus, I love Adam Levine (and Blake Shelton - but I don't like country music much) on The Voice.

4. "Some Nights" by Fun. - Besides the first song I've listed, most of the music I'm listening to right now has a beat because I'm using them to exercise to.  I guess this song is just catchy.

5. "Air and Simple Gifts" by Yo-Yo Ma, Anthony McGill, Gabriela Montero & Itzhak Perlman - This is obviously a classical piece.  While I don't listen to much classical music, this one struck me ever since I heard it.  I played clarinet in high school and college and I absolutely love the clarinet part in this song.

I could have added pretty much any song by The Piano Guys, as well.  I don't know if they're considered "classical" music - most are instrumental - but I love their versions of popular songs and their playful takes on well-known classics.