Alas, MIA-ing,

for time is a luxury, per the following sample daily schedule:

5:00am - Wake up and get ready
6:00am - Breakfast
6:40am - Bus departs to summer school site
7:00am - Campus meeting
7:30am - Assist in students' arrival/Prepare classroom for teaching
8:00am - Lead teach/differentiated time
9:30am - Academic Intervention
10:30am - Nutrition
10:45am - Lead teach/differentiated time
12:15pm - Lunch/student dismissal/supervise lunch
1:00pm - Professional development sessions
4:30pm - Bus returns to LMU
5:00pm - Work out
6:00pm - Dinner
7:00pm - Meet with Corps Member Advisor
7:45pm - Workshops/Institute Learning Teams/Regional meetings
10:00pm - Meet with Collab/Lesson plan/Prepare and practice lessons
by 2:00am - SleepAll to legitimately earn the following titleas we daily battle and persevere for the "one day [that] all children in this nation will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education." Yessirs and madams, I've been successfully indoctrinated by TFA.
But hey, at least I'm not the only one.

In deadpan seriousness, 'tis been an overwhelmingly thrilling journey thus far, and I've still a long and tortuous way to go. As the days literally flash by, I'm incessantly inspired and subsequently increasingly invested with amassing amounts of "sopo," or sense of possibility, for what our homey globe could look like with a closing achievement gap. I've the privilege to meet some of the most amazing people I have ever come across here, and as I glance at the 2010 corps members (that's what they call us) around me, I can scarcely believe God granted so much abounding grace for me to bask in the midst of these amazing individuals, each with our own stories and experiences, but all united by a singular mission.

But more importantly, I am floored by the opportunity to meet our soon-to-be students - children facing extra challenges due to the national injustice called the achievement gap. Kiddos with limitless potential to achieve and succeed beyond everyone's expectations if only they're bestowed the opportunity. The initial meet-and-greet shall transpire whence we visit our summer school sites in a few hours time. I shall be teaching 8th grade English at ICEF View Park Preparatory Accelerated Charter Middle School this summertide (Why do charter schools adopt such exhaustive names?)!!! I am so humbled by this thoroughly exciting yet blatantly daunting task. Though I am learning how to teach for the following five weeks, I've a hankering my students will end up teaching me more than I am going to teach them.

"...For all things are possible with God." - Mark 10:27

I've so very much to learn. And, so, let the learning commence!

Gone camping

Though I've just returned to La La Land from a southern soiree, I'm bon voyaging again upon finishing this post for the impending insanity dubbed Induction and Institute, better known as Teach For America's summer boot camp.I've tarried the few frenzied days post-bidding the former nine-to-six farewell and pre-Atlanta-ing strategically observing a plethora of muy excellente and inspiring TFA classrooms, hustling to finish pre-Institute work, prepping and packing haphazardly, and, of course, amassing a robust reservoir of anecdotes on the magnitude of work that encompasses Institute.

INT. 7th GRADE HUMANITIES CLASSROOM - MORNING

I have just observed a TFA teacher's class period. She and I chat about Institute.

HELEN

How much sleep did you get a night during training?

TFA TEACHER

2 hours a night.

HELEN

What?!

TFA TEACHER
But I was anal. Don't worry. Most people get 4.

I don't exactly know what to expect, except that the objective of the following 6 weeks is to mold us into teacher-leaders of the well-oiled TFA-indoctrinated type. I'll be residing at LMU, so ya know, please feel free to sublet the LAbode from me 'til August (please (contact me for deets!)???). I know not how much time I'll have to blog and such, so do forgive me if my posts sparsify. I shall attempt to update about ATL, and subsequently, TFA boot camp (and what God is teaching me through it). Please pray for me if it e'er crosses your mind. Mine heart's pitter pattering with nervousness and excitement. Jeepers, here goes!

Dearest Daddy-o,

You are the most amazing, hard-working, sacrificial, understanding, endearing, hippest leather jacket sportin' - basically, the very BEST, man I know.Happy Father's Day. I love you so!!!

So proud to be your daughter,
Helen

Hope your weekend projections incorporate

hefty heaps ofHappy Friday, gents and gals! I'm returning from southern submersion upon tomorrow evening's end, so kindly anticipate Atlantan anecdotes next week. Cheers cheers cheers, m'dears!

Periodic playdates,

whether in the form of a chitter-chatter imbued potluck,or along audaciously swankified Tinseltownian thoroughfaresin the sundry shape of shimmy-shakin' shenanigans,always prove sublime, thanks to cherished chums' presence,especially whence the refined eveningtide wanes witha classy danger(ously decadent yet high-caloric hot) dog.

Moseying

through patches of unbashed wilderness is a traipse-worthy trip, particularly whence 'tis of the glee-inducting impromptu variety.
Here's to hoping I'm chancing upon wondrous pockets of uncultivated magnificence in Atlanta right about now!

Congradulatory exclamatory bliss

transpired in anticipated ballyhoo this weekend priorfor the Class of 2010 as they staunchly marched towards the commencement of a new era of their livelihood;
in particular, from the alma mater for a dearest friend, Shaina,
of whom I am so incredibly proud
to have witnessed bucketloads of growth in grace and formative maturity throughout the years manifested in palpable excellence permeated throughout all facets of her life. Yes'm, I mine eyes got watery from 8 years of joy. Love you so much, dear friend, and I'm beyond thrilled for what is to come for you!
And, of course, for a loveliest sister-friend,
the one and only Amy,
who is forging pathways to greater and grander destinations. I'm thoroughly proud of you, mon Ami, to see how God has worked eerthang in your life for good as you continue to persevere and trust in His promises. I cannot wait to see what is in store for you. Love you mucho grande nachoes!

Sauntering down south

to the luscious land of prolific peach trees today!
Life has been a frazzling flurry of late, and it'll only intensify tenfold upon my return to La La Land. Here's to hoping a week of slower-paced old-fashioned Southern charm shall serve my sanity well. As I unabashedly adopt the Atlantan attitude for the following days, stay tuned for habitual near-daily posts!

I'm irresistibly inclined

towards composing whimsy-emanating baked goodie pouches and accompanying par avion letters -fitting farewell mementos, methinks.

Onward-bound

Might you recall from the previous post the early-20s propensity to grapple onto a clear-cut vocational foothold? Of course 'twas a grand scheme to foreshadow the following revelation.

Today marked the end of the nine-to-six era.

As much as I fancied my job and the blog-worthy anecdotes that ensued, I felt certain o'er time that a career in entertainment would not persevere. Even if I initially presumed we would be in a committed relationship (After all, I dated Tinseltownian internships throughout college.), 'twas, in actuality, a capricious fling. As peachy as babysitting middle-aged executives has been for the past year and 8 months, I realized that if I were to baby-sit, it'd be more fulfilling to do so for human being young'ns (who actually need it).

But in all seriousness, I dove into the entertainment biz with starry-eyed dreams of revolutionizing the mass media and vanquishing perpetuated stereotypes. Thence corporate studio bureaucracy and mediocrity catapulted me to earth, convincing me that a more fitting means to such an end would be to educate our young'ns in media literacy. However, I grasped the frivolity of such a venture when confronted with educational inequity. The audacity of me to entertain the luxury of media education when there're children reading, writing, and doing arithmetic 2-3 years behind grade level!

This conviction, coupled with the fervent yearning for God to use me elsewhere to more directly and tangibly make an impact for His kingdom led me to apply for Teach For America, "the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates who commit to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunity."By God's mercy and grace, I emerged out of the shark-infested waters known as the TFA application process as an accepted 2010 corps member placed to teach middle or high school English in the City of Angels! Lovely chums have been inquiring as to why I haven't broadcasted the tidbit of news here, 'cause apparently, it ain't official till it's publicized on this monoblog.

Though I received the decision in mid-March, I'm still daily floored by God's exceeding kindness in enabling this marvelous opportunity, and for answering prayers to be placed in Los Angeles so that I need not mosey too far from homey home. Though 'tis a proposal not to be passed up, I've tarried the last few months at the nine-to-six dwelling upon the blessing it's been to work for one of the most influential media entities on the globe, but particularly learning from my bosses who, though they've a kooky and scatterbrained flair, are the most caring, generous, and supportive characters this side of Tinseltown.

INT. BOSS 1'S OFFICE - 3 MONTHS AGO

I've just imparted to them my decision to accept Teach For America's offer.

BOSS 2

Why are you leaving us? Are you unhappy here?

BOSS 1

What can we do to convince you to stay?

But after I divulged my intentions for moving on, they granted me their maximal support. Which lasted for a couple of weeks.

INT. OFFICE - MORNING

BOSS 1

(makes a beeline for my cubicle)

Helen, I changed my mind.

HELEN

What?

BOSS 1

(shaking his head)

You can't leave.

HELEN

(stares at him)

BOSS 1

I really don't know what I'm going to do without you.

HELEN

Boss 1, you'll be fine.

BOSS 1

Helen, you don't understand. I woke up today in a panic.

Thence came the endearingly persuasive tactics.

INT. OFFICE - EVENING

ASSISTANT 1

So what exactly are you going to be doing at your new job?

HELEN

Teaching.

ASSISTANT 1

Underprivileged kids? Special education?

HELEN

Yep. Inner-city kids.

ASSISTANT 1

Oh, so they’re just kids with social and economic challenges?

HELEN

Yeah...?

ASSISTANT 1

'Cause I was going to say, if you're going to be doing special education, we have special kids around here (motions to my bosses' offices). You don’t have to leave to do that. Just take care of the ones we have here.

And more kindness-laced undertakings that elicited a firestorm of emotions, specifically, a classroom-themed surprise farewell gala yesterday afternoontide that radiated kindness, thoughtfulness, creativity, time, and effort in decorating, setting up, baking, and cooking in order to piece together an office-wide bash that brought me to a teary mess.
Golly molly, thence came a barrage of farewells that assaulted my emotional stability even further.

INT. BOSS 1's OFFICE - AFTERNOON

BOSS 1

You know, Helen, I have one regret about you.

HELEN

Oh! What is it? I can take it.

BOSS 1

I regret that I never got to meet your parents. I know I got to meet some of your family and friends who've come by to visit you here, but I wish I could have met your mom and dad so I can tell them how proud they should be of you. You are a blessing. Just know that you bring a lot to the table. Wherever you go in life, you will be great. You know, I have daughters - I love them and they're great, but I do hope they grow up to be like you.

Yessiree, that was when I discovered my superhuman ability to turn an office into a puddly pond with my tear ducts. All of the aforementioned account snippets are traces of God's goodness through the nine-to-six; I am so undeserving. I am overwhelmed by everyone's kindness and I pray God used me in some form for His cause. It truly has been an amazing niche with warm-hearted people to commence the post-college phase of life. I've learned bushels through this stepping stone that shall serve me at the next. Which is all part of God's perfect plans.Yes, it shall be odd not looking after the bossmen anymore. But I'm gratified to know that thanks to this lovely lady, they'll be in good hands.

Am I excited for this spankin'-new season of my life? Indubitably. Am I nervous? Incredibly. This shall be the most challenging endeavor I've e'er embraced, but I rest in the hope that by God's grace, it shall be a grand adventure. Cheers to this impending journey - I do hope you'll tag along vicariously as I chronicle boss stories no longer, but teaching tales instead!