And Bye Bye

Barry, you inspire me!


Thought of the Day: Half-Day
Song of the Day: Best Of DJ Premier Vol 1

Happy Fools Day

Wise men say only fools rush in.


Thought of the Day: HBO Go Chrome
Song of the Day: Elvis-Can't Help Falling In Love

Support the Cause!

Thought of the Day: Sorry To Bother You
Song of the Day: The Hubbards-Just Touch

Music and Videos

I don't know too many people who still buy cds, but it is one of the things I still enjoy collecting. I think one reason for my purchases is that my taste in music can change, which means I can appreciate songs I didn't care for before. For instance, I bought The Killers' Hot Fuss back in college only because I liked Mr. Brightside and Somebody Told Me. I completely ignored all of the other songs all these years...until this year. It turns out that this debut album had all these hidden gems I was never aware of.

In more recent days...I think watching these videos will suffice my case.

Is that the best intro or what? Once Upon a Time in the West harmonica for those of you who didn't notice the significance. Even their music video is lots of fun!

I'm glad I bought this album too! And would you believe it? The Killers AND Muse will be playing at The Forum next month! But since we're on the topic of music and videos, I also wanted to share that I just got an email from a former student of mine in Korea who was deleting her old emails and stumbled upon an email I had written her 10 years ago. Turns out she ended up becoming the singer she said she'd always become.

I can't tell which one she is in this video, but Naver confirms her identity. I doubt I'll be buying their album though.

Thought of the Day: Finals Week

Song of the Day: Muse-The Dark Side

Roached

I've been living in Koreatown for nearly four years and have gotten used to many of its challenges. Driving and parking. Loud drunk people late at night (and early in the morning). Thrown out furniture. Landmines of dog crap. LAPD and LAFD. The smell of weed. The music of ice cream trucks way past ice cream hours. It's all part of the Koreatown residency.

Unfortunately, the one challenge I have not been able to get used to is cockroaches. I see them ALL THE TIME. On the streets. In my school restrooms. In my classroom. Apparently, my brother found a dead one last week in my car! I can honestly tolerate all of this roach business everywhere I go, but the one place I cannot tolerate it is in my home.

We've been finding them dead and alive in our bathrooms, closets, and living room. But their favorite place to greet us is the kitchen. I don't have enough fingers or toes to count how many cockroaches I have had to take care of in the past year. Turning on our kitchen light is always stressful. Pulling up the shower curtains is always stressful. There is definitely real trauma I have experienced, and pest control does not seem to have a solution.

Our annual lease is coming to an end, so my brother and I have been looking for potential places to move to. With the rent and parking being so bad throughout LA, it's really hard to find some place that will meet all of our needs at an affordable price. We even had our moments of deep discouragement and started to consider just staying another year. But one night after my brother turned on the kitchen light that revealed the biggest live roach I have ever seen, I knew we could stay here no longer.

So, as of today, I am happy to announce that in approximately two months, we will finally end our relationship with Koreatown...and hopefully with cockroaches forevermore. 벌래 shekis!


Thought of the Day: Gomtang
Song of the Day: Green Day-Wake Me Up When September Ends

Magicians Wanted

I signed up for some online courses that have turned out to be much more work than I had anticipated. Every time I sign in to do the next module, I try to find some shortcuts that will help me to finish everything sooner than later. In the end, I'm gonna need a magician to complete these courses before the summer ends.

Or I just need to get off Youtube and Blogger and start the next module. Greatest regret of 2018.

Thought of the Day: CAD
Song of the Day: J-Cole-Stir of Echoes

3! 4!

My mom told me she remembers how beautiful the weather was when I was born. It's been beautiful almost every year for as long as I can remember. Sunny sky in the 70s. Usually right around spring break, if not during.

My friends usually feel sad on their birthday as they turn a year older. For me, apart from the free drink from Starbucks and a nice meal with friends, I feel happy because it's a reminder of how good God has been to me all these years. My life is VERY good with so much to be thankful for. If only my life reflected more of that gratitude.

Thought of the Day: Kaiser
Song of the Day: The Cranberries-Linger (Acoustic Version)

Korean American Pride

I don't recall ever seeing any Korean Americans compete in the Olympics before. It's really exciting to see someone who looks like you on the outside but has many similar experiences on the inside go out in front of the whole world and show some amazing talent. Only 17 years old. Same age as the students I teach. Go, Chloe!


Thought of the Day: MLK
Song of the Day: 한희정-내일

Any plans for winter break?

Catch up on Youtube!








Thought of the Day: Burgers
Song of the Day: Wu-Tang Clan-People Say

Indebted

I've never suffered from credit card debt before. I spent a couple of hours yesterday calculating how long it would take for me to pay off all my debt. Credit card debt, that is, not my student loans. Student loans are like a faithful companion; they will never, ever, leave me. Anyway, let's just say that I am really looking forward to 2018. I will finally have my car paid off and my salary should see a slight raise as well.

This morning, I read an article on a 42-year-old millionaire and his advice on spending and saving. My biggest takeaway from his wisdom was making a spreadsheet of your finances. I had done this when I first moved back to the states but stopped keeping up with it because my spending and earning patterns were fairly consistent. But now that I am in debt, I figured tracking my money again would help me restart my journey towards becoming a millionaire high school teacher.

I must say that the past month did not look too pretty. But I guess when you're at the bottom, you can only go up, right?


Right?


Thought of the Day: Soup Plantation
Song of the Day: Matthew Heath & Grady Griggs-Slow Down

Nobody Knows

but Jesus.

Thought of the Day: Salary Points
Song of the Day: Sam Cooke-Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen

Devotionals for the Undevoted

I recently found out that Banner of Truth posts a free daily devotional from The Valley of Vision, a book of Puritan prayers and devotions. I recall my passionate days of promoting reformed theology and even giving a copy of The Valley of Vision to those who were remotely interested. The irony is that I never read the book myself except for a handful of prayers that sounded like they were reserved for the lips of holy people.

I've been going through the Psalms in my personal devotions, but my prayers have felt repetitive, dry, and pointless for a while now. Like one of my small group members once shared, it often looks something like "God, you know, you know, you know, thank you, thank you, thank you. Amen." I suppose that is one of the many reasons why the author of The Valley of Vision researched and wrote those amazing prayers. The Holy Spirit groans our heart, but it is nice to also have guided carefully chosen words that we can ponder upon and express to the Father who listens.

If you are struggling with conversing with God, I would recommend these accessible Puritan prayers as an addition, not substitution, to your prayers. They are definitely for UNholy people. Like me.


Thought of the Day: Amazon Prime Day
Song of the Day: A Flock of Seagulls-I Ran

Man With the Master Plan(s)

Summer School Plans
Plan A: Take Math course and add Spanish course at city college.
Plan B: Test out of Math course early and add Spanish course at city college.
Plan C: Test out of Math course early at city college and take Spanish course next summer.

Summer Vacation Plans
Plan A: Parents visit us this summer.
Plan B: Visit Snugs in NY.
Plan C: Visit Enoch in NC and his sister in DC and visit Snugs and Brian in NY.
Plan D (TBD): Plan C + Sam in NJ.


Proverbs 16:9 - The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.


Thought of the Day: East Coast
Song of the Day: Childish Gambino-Redbone

This Math T-Shirt is Funny

and true!

Thought of the Day: Hollywood
Song of the Day: Eminem Piano Medley

Math is Funny

I usually give an extra credit opportunity for my students whenever they take a quiz. All they have to do is answer a reflection question on something they learned, something that was helpful, or something that could improve their learning.

This week, my reflection question was: This year, do you think you have improved, stayed the same, or become worse as a math student? Why?

I get all kinds of answers ranging from not understanding anything to Mr. Chung is the best, but one of my students wrote: "improved because with a happy mindset and a golden heart, anything can be accomplished."

I can't tell if the student is being sincere or not, but either way I had a good laugh. I recently heard from another teacher that she had students who would write things like JESUS IS THE ANSWER for her math problems. Haha. Kids are funny.


Thought of the Day: Valentine's Day
Song of the Day: Dead Prez- Hip Hop

Rookie Mistake

Ms. Brie is a first year English teacher at my school. Since we're both rookies to LAUSD, I make a slightly more intentional effort to greet her or ask how she is doing whenever we pass each other in the hallways. But every time we speak, she doesn't quite show the same smile she gives to everyone else. I start wondering if my subtle efforts to be nice and relational are coming off the wrong way.

Then one day during winter break, I'm browsing through IMDB and look through the celebrity birthdays. The actress, Alison Brie, was born 34 years ago on December 29th. To my horror I realize that I somehow mixed up Alison Brie with the English teacher whose name is also Alison. In other words, there IS NO "Ms. Brie" at my school and I've been calling this English teacher the wrong name for an entire semester. In fact, now I'm not even sure that her name is Alison!

I wonder how many times she's told her story of how the new math teacher keeps calling her "Ms. Brie" for some reason. Why didn't you ever correct me, Ms. Brie???


Thought of the Day: Packers
Song of the Day: Tupac feat. Skylar Grey-Better Days/Words Remix

Where Is My Mind?

I feel like I'm losing my mind sometimes, but this soothing cover helps me to stay relatively sane.


This cover of "Black Hole Sun" ain't so bad neither.

Thought of the Day: Burning Out
Song of the Day: The Notorious B.I.G. - Can I Get Witcha (Paxel Remix)

So Far

I just read an article from Business Insider entitled Teachers share 19 things they'd love to tell their students but can't. Here is one part of the article that really resonated with me:

"You may not realize how important it is to do well in school. You grew up in a tiny apartment in a horrible neighborhood, your parents aren't educated, you're working 18 hour-days, and your neighbors are selling drugs — and maybe you think this is all normal, but it's not, and you have a chance to get out of this."

I finished my first month of teaching and I've really enjoyed it...so far. I always knew that teachers had to have the gift of flexibility, but adapting to SO many unexpected changes very suddenly has really opened my eyes to the challenges of working in a public school. Ranging from handling 40 enrolled student classes to getting creative with solely Spanish-speaking classes, I've learned that a teacher education program can only prepare you for so much.

But like I said, I really enjoy teaching. At my school. With the students that I have. Alongside my partnering staff members. So far.

Thought of the Day: Nate

Thankful > Excited

I have about two free weeks left before the teaching career really begins. It has not been easy trying to imagine what my classes will be like and how I should prepare lessons or activities for them. It doesn't help knowing the universal fact that the first year of teaching is the most difficult year.

I tried to get myself inspired by watching movies like Freedom Writers and Stand and Deliver, but all they seem to do is fast-forward to all of the successful outcomes of their struggles. Jaime Escalante apparently didn't even have any struggles. Orale! here and the students all do their homework, and Orale! there and the students are finding derivatives right after Algebra I.

Well, at least I got a job in the district that's really close to where I live. I guess I'm more thankful than excited for my first year of teaching. Buy bigger pizzas everyone!



Thought of the Day: Heat Wave
Song of the Day: Eric B. & Rakim-Paid in Full

My Genesis and Exodus

On May 6, Phil got his CSET results. Did not pass. He was devastated.

On May 11, Phil sent out his resume and cover letter to his first school.

On May 12, Phil retook the CSET for the third time. The test was nearly identical to the first one he had taken in November. He guessed on 9 out of 30 questions.

During this time, Phil was reading through Genesis and observed that Joseph went through numerous misfortunes. The misfortunes were often accompanied by the words, But God was with Joseph, which also meant But God was with Phil.

On May 13, Phil applied to two more schools.

On May 19, Phil met with one of the principals on his campus to drop off his resume, cover letter, and recommendation letter. The principal said he would let him know when he could interview for the following week.

On May 20, the principal never responded.

On May 24, Phil wrote to the principal to confirm a potential interview. The principal never responded. Phil applied to two schools.

On May 25, Phil met with his own principal after a fire drill to drop off his resume, cover, letter, and recommendation letters. The principal said he could not interview anyone that was not cleared for hire yet. Phil interviewed at a middle school in South LA and received a job offer. He asked for two days to think about it. Phil applied to another school.

On May 26, Phil discussed the job opportunity with colleagues and family members but still had no clear answer.

On May 27, Phil declined the offer and took the risk of missing out on a district job. Phil applied to another school.

On May 28, Phil applied to Los Angeles High School. Yes, that's the name of the school.

On May 31, the vice principal asked to come in for an interview.

On June 1, Phil interviewed at LA High and was told he would be contacted by the next day. On the drive home, the vice principal called to offer the job. Phil accepted the job and informed the vice principal that he would inform her of his CSET results that would come out in two days. He looked up test dates for the next opportunity to retake the test as was his custom, but there were none that would allow time for the district to process him in time for the upcoming school year. The applications, emails for references, and interviews would mean nothing with another Did not pass.

During this time, Phil was reading through Exodus and observed that God repeatedly used sentences that started with I will... God told Moses
I will bring you out
I will deliver
I will also redeem you
I will take you for My people
I will be your God
I will bring you to the land
That last sentence stuck with Phil during these anxious times. His personal version was I will bring you to the school.

By the way, the first principal Phil had met with emailed asking to come in for an interview that day or the next if Phil had not accepted a position yet. Phil chose not to respond.

On June 3, Phil got his CSET results.

Phil shared his gospel with family and friends and opened up a wine bottle that was reserved for a special occasion. Here is the picture my supportive classmates sent me of them celebrating my victory.

I looked back on my journey with the third CSET and imagined what could have happened if I had passed either on the first or second try. I am certain I would have approached my school applications very differently. Because I was so busy and focused on studying for the test, I did not apply to two specific schools early on, which resulted in their positions getting filled. The first school was a pilot school. The other was a REED school. Both types of schools are very demanding and not exactly favorable for first year teachers like myself. I am confident I would have accepted their offers.

But because I had applied to schools (and even took the chance of turning one down) after all of my classmates had secured jobs, I discovered the opening for LA High, Southern California's oldest public school, just 10 minutes away from where I live with only Algebra I to focus on, which happens to be what I taught this year.

When Phil was all alone studying for those tests multiple times, God was with him because God was bringing Phil to his school. And Phil thanked the Lord.

Thought of the Day: Credential