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
July 21, 2016
June 7, 2016
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
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.
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
May 8, 2016
April 25, 2016
Textbook Bridge is Falling Down
On Friday, my classmates and I had an engineering task of making a bridge out of paper, tape, straw, and paper clips. The objective was to make a bridge that could hold as many textbooks as possible. My team came up with this design that was able to sustain a whopping 18 textbooks before collapsing. Who knew paper and straw could be so dense and resilient!
I like this picture because it symbolizes to me the workload and pressure that everyone in my cohort carries every day. Spring quarter is a tricky quarter since we're trying to finish the school year, academic and student teaching, while trying to find our first teaching job for next year. In fact, 6 out of 16 students were away for interviews on that Friday. Two have already accepted offers. I have yet to get started.
I think I'm burnt out. I'm sick of "holding up so many textbooks" in the midst of so much uncertainty. I still have a bunch of work to do and I don't even know if I've passed my CSET, if LAUSD will inform us about the rumored hiring freeze, or if I'll get hired at a decent school. As I told my small group last week, uncertainty is uncomfortable, and I feel like I've been uncomfortable for quite some time now.
But discomfort keeps you close to God. You're pushed to constantly ask for help. And so you pray. And we know that He listens.
Even if the bridge collapses, it'll all work out somehow.
Thought of the Day: Science Practices
Song of the Day: Maxence Cyrin-Where Is My Mind
March 25, 2016
Spring Break Broken
Today is Good Friday, but it happens to be a good Friday for two reasons. The first being that this is the day the Church commemorates the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. The second being that I make my second attempt at passing the third CSET to be fully qualified to teach all levels of secondary math.
Unfortunately, the second reason is playing a bigger role in my mind because I have dreadfully studied calculus for the past month during one of the most academically challenging quarters of my life. I actually thought it would be impossible to study so much with so little time that I threw away all of my previous practice test questions and returned the textbooks that got lost somewhere. So I took an oath to never see that horrible CSET again.
Then representatives from LAUSD dropped us a visit and informed us that all three CSETs had to be passed in order to be eligible for hire. So after that bomb dropped, I had to improvise. I finished EDTPA a month early just so that I can have more time to study. I canceled road trip plans just so that I can have more time to study. I scheduled this test all the way back to Friday this week just so that I can have more time to study. In fact, three of my classmates had to postpone their test because they felt like they did not have sufficient time to study. In other words, I worked really hard and sacrificed a whole lot just so that I can have more time to study.
Finishing this test means that my spring break officially starts today at 5 PM, a week later than the rest of my cohort colleagues. One of my classmates texted us after finishing his EDTPA saying that he was going to down 12 Smirnoff Ices to start off his break. I don't think I would go that far, but I can finally watch my Warrior games and drink my beer with no guilt for the next three and a half days. I may not get to see Antelope Canyon this spring, but I can confidently say that I did my best given my situation.
I just hope my best is good enough so that I don't have to break another oath to never see this horrible CSET again.
Thought of the Day: CSET
Song of the Day: 2Ge+her (2GETHER)-U + Me = Us (Calculus)
Unfortunately, the second reason is playing a bigger role in my mind because I have dreadfully studied calculus for the past month during one of the most academically challenging quarters of my life. I actually thought it would be impossible to study so much with so little time that I threw away all of my previous practice test questions and returned the textbooks that got lost somewhere. So I took an oath to never see that horrible CSET again.
Then representatives from LAUSD dropped us a visit and informed us that all three CSETs had to be passed in order to be eligible for hire. So after that bomb dropped, I had to improvise. I finished EDTPA a month early just so that I can have more time to study. I canceled road trip plans just so that I can have more time to study. I scheduled this test all the way back to Friday this week just so that I can have more time to study. In fact, three of my classmates had to postpone their test because they felt like they did not have sufficient time to study. In other words, I worked really hard and sacrificed a whole lot just so that I can have more time to study.
Finishing this test means that my spring break officially starts today at 5 PM, a week later than the rest of my cohort colleagues. One of my classmates texted us after finishing his EDTPA saying that he was going to down 12 Smirnoff Ices to start off his break. I don't think I would go that far, but I can finally watch my Warrior games and drink my beer with no guilt for the next three and a half days. I may not get to see Antelope Canyon this spring, but I can confidently say that I did my best given my situation.
I just hope my best is good enough so that I don't have to break another oath to never see this horrible CSET again.
Thought of the Day: CSET
Song of the Day: 2Ge+her (2GETHER)-U + Me = Us (Calculus)
October 20, 2015
Back to the Future Day
Tomorrow is Back to the Future Day, October 21, 2015. These days, I wish I could go back in time to this past spring and summer where I had more time and freedom to study for the third math CSET without the current workload I'm suffering from. I'm scheduled to take my test exactly a month from today, but it doesn't look likely that I will remember all of my calculus by then. Looks like Thanksgiving and Christmas won't look so merry this year.
Where's a DeLorean when you need one?
Thought of the Day: Point Slope
Song of the Day: Pryda-Neon
September 27, 2015
Psalm 94:19
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.
I love the NASB translation of this verse, especially during a time when my heart is multiplying anxieties at exponential rates. I feel overwhelmed right now. So much to read, write, prepare, and study in so little time. The IMPACT program at UCLA is really good but very intense. Even after I get my credentials and masters, it's still going to be an uphill battle. Teaching is no joke. I never knew it would be this demanding. What have I gotten myself into?
Where are Your soul-delighting consolations?
Thought of the Day: Carpool
Song of the Day: Ed Sheeran & Rudimental-Bloodstream (Arty Club Remix)
I love the NASB translation of this verse, especially during a time when my heart is multiplying anxieties at exponential rates. I feel overwhelmed right now. So much to read, write, prepare, and study in so little time. The IMPACT program at UCLA is really good but very intense. Even after I get my credentials and masters, it's still going to be an uphill battle. Teaching is no joke. I never knew it would be this demanding. What have I gotten myself into?
Where are Your soul-delighting consolations?
Thought of the Day: Carpool
Song of the Day: Ed Sheeran & Rudimental-Bloodstream (Arty Club Remix)
August 1, 2015
Learning to Fly while Being Unemployed
I had my last day of class yesterday and my male Italian student messaged me to let me know he was sorry he couldn't make it to say goodbye. Just a week ago, we had talked about how big the Foo Fighters were in Italy, but I had no idea to what extent he was talking about. See for yourself.
I start school in two days!
Thought of the Day: Santa Barbara
Song of the Day: Foo Fighters-Learn to Fly
I start school in two days!
Thought of the Day: Santa Barbara
Song of the Day: Foo Fighters-Learn to Fly
July 17, 2015
Let's GO~
As my brother and I are playing these days, there are more than a few times where I make a very careless decision and end up losing the game. I have the perfect opportunity to put down the right card or call it quits when I have the chance, but one negligent move tumbles me down to multiple consecutive losses. It's one thing to lose when the situation is out of your control, and it's another thing to throw away a win because you didn't realize what you were holding in your hand. I guess that's what I'm afraid of happening in real life.
I hate the idea of wasting time or being behind because of poor decisions that I made. But now that I have a spouse as a life partner, I feel more burdened to be more careful with what we choose to do in the present so that our future will not hold any regrets. I don't want either of us to say that we should have done A, B, and C or kick ourselves for having done D, E, and F. I don't want us to have consecutive multiple losses because of my unwise choices.
But we're in this real-life Go/Stop game, and I have to realize that if my $22 turns into $2.40, it can also just as easily go from $2.40 to $22. The Psalm I read this morning reminded me that God tells us "know that I am God." That means I have to remind myself over and over again that He controls the deck despite my imperfect strategies. I can't lose!
I gotta increase Simon's debt.
Thought of the Day: CSULA
Song of the Day: Coldplay-A Sky Full of Stars
February 24, 2015
Anteater vs. Bruin
But I don't hear back from UCLA for about another month.
Thought of the Day: Mice
Song of the Day: Bingo Players-Knock You Out
February 18, 2015
Let Me Serenade the Streets of L.A.
Living in Los Angeles has been interesting. Contrary to popular belief, New York does not have the worst traffic in the country; L.A. does. In fact, San Francisco and San Jose turn out to have heavier traffic congestion than the City of the Big Apple. I always knew I should "never be on the 405 at 4:05," but I now have a deeper respect (and pity) for those who have 1+ hour commutes to work every day. That can add up to a lot of unhappy hours.
I thought living in an urban area would mean having more parks with basketball courts where I can play with strangers and forget about my stress of the day. Residing in the city actually entails risking your safety in scary parks with drug dealers and homeless people or overcrowded courts with high school kids who can ball me up. I don't see my current basketball shoes getting worn out any time soon.
Koreatown is supposed to be dirty and polluted with immigrants and idiot gangsters who aren't really gangsters. I was expecting people always being drunk and acting like fools in front of food trucks. It turns out that people are a lot more civilized and the area is much cleaner than many of the parts I've seen in Seoul. Living in this weird ethnic enclave actually ain't so bad. It isn't even that weird anymore. I can totally see why my brother chose this area for our new home.
L.A. is not what I had expected, but it's good. L.A. is now my new home. Even with the relentless firetrucks and potheads.
Thought of the Day: Happy New Year
Song of the Day: John Legend-All of Me
November 29, 2014
D-14
I spent this past week hanging out a lot with my old co-worker, Brian. In our first meeting, we had coffee and went to go watch Fury. I really enjoyed this war movie and, as always, looked up all the trivia afterward on IMDB. Apparently, Shia Lebeouf became a Christian while filming Fury and had a very inspirational way of sharing about his experience. This is what it says on IMDB:
It has been reported that Shia LaBoeuf became a Christian while filming 'Fury'. LaBoeuf's actual words were, "I found God during Fury. I became a Christian man, and not in a f___ing bulls__t way - in a very real way. I could have just said the prayers that were on the page, but [...] it's a full-blown exchange of heart, a surrender of control." He commented that talking with Brad Pitt, who grew up in a conservative Christian home but rejected Christianity, and with David Ayers, the Christian director of 'Fury', helped crystallise his thinking.
Upon reading that quote, I looked up some of his recent interviews and loved the way he recounted his arrest story:
The second time I met up with Brian, we went to the DMZ and even got to enter JSA since we're American citizens. It was the one foreigner touristy thing I never got to do. DMZ was so-so, but JSA was pretty cool.
I'm actually technically standing in North Korea in that picture. I had one last meeting with him and a bunch of his friends for my last Thanksgiving in Korea with spicy pork ribs.
After finishing up my GRE and finally sending out my grad school apps, I've been having some serious senioritis as my departure for L.A. has been approaching rather quickly. My mind is on overload as I'm packing up, meeting a million people, and still trying to squeeze in some math while I have some time. I don't know how I'm going to pass my CSETs.
That new Star Wars teaser looks crazy.
Thought of the Day: 민속촌
Song of the Day: Yoon Do Hyun Band-나는 나비
November 21, 2014
Homeland from the Motherland
As the show centers on a POW who's been gone for the past eight years, I couldn't help but imagine that the show foreshadows a bit of what I might go through real soon. I, too, have been gone for eight years being tortured and brainwashed in the dungeons of Seoul. Just kidding. There was no brainwashing involved, but I suspect some of my American family and friends might believe that I've "turned." I'm prepared for all your FOB taunts and mockeries.
I just finished the first season, and I think the show's alright but not great. However, I thought this short parody was great.
Thought of the Day: Fulbright Building
Song of the Day: The Byrds-Turn! Turn! Turn! (to Everything There Is a Season)
November 11, 2014
To Live and Die in L.A.
I've been studying at Starbucks several times a week for the past couple of months. They've been playing Christmas music since late October, so I've gotten a head start on the holiday spirit this year. Ironically, Starbucks in Korea is the only place that feels Christmasy in the country. I'm really looking forward to spending it elsewhere soon. But before that happens, I need a place to live first.
My brother has been house hunting for a while now, constantly asking me about living conditions, budgets, and all sorts of preferences and priorities we might have. I've never actually lived in the city of Los Angeles before, so it's been really tricky trying to give him an idea of what we would like. Some place cheap, perhaps? Not Compton or Inglewood. Not too much traffic. You can see why we're having trouble figuring out if such a place even exists in L.A.
But that is why we've adjusted our focus from West L.A. to Koreatown. Just when I thought I was finally escaping the world of Koreans, I find myself going to its distant cousin. However, I am optimistic about a couple of prospects that I've seen online so far. Besides, this area might even absorb some of the inevitable culture shock we're bound to face. It's also comforting to see my brother's positive reaction with our sights at K-town. It'll be so cool to have a pool again, too!
I never really liked this song until today.
Last Peppero Day, which means about a month to go!
Thought of the Day: Hampshire Place
Song of the Day: Otis Redding-Merry Christmas Baby
My brother has been house hunting for a while now, constantly asking me about living conditions, budgets, and all sorts of preferences and priorities we might have. I've never actually lived in the city of Los Angeles before, so it's been really tricky trying to give him an idea of what we would like. Some place cheap, perhaps? Not Compton or Inglewood. Not too much traffic. You can see why we're having trouble figuring out if such a place even exists in L.A.
But that is why we've adjusted our focus from West L.A. to Koreatown. Just when I thought I was finally escaping the world of Koreans, I find myself going to its distant cousin. However, I am optimistic about a couple of prospects that I've seen online so far. Besides, this area might even absorb some of the inevitable culture shock we're bound to face. It's also comforting to see my brother's positive reaction with our sights at K-town. It'll be so cool to have a pool again, too!
I never really liked this song until today.
Last Peppero Day, which means about a month to go!
Thought of the Day: Hampshire Place
Song of the Day: Otis Redding-Merry Christmas Baby
October 29, 2014
Mad Bum
Thought of the Day: Augury
Song of the Day: Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz-Deja Vu (Bay Area Remix)
October 20, 2014
12 모기s
Thought of the Day: Desktop
Song of the Day: 장미여관-오래된 연인
October 14, 2014
Nate the Great
I've been gearing up for the NBA by watching some preseason highlights and was surprised to hear that Nate Robinson had recently returned from ACL surgery. I have a bigger heart for basketball players who go through any major injury especially after spraining my ankle during a game yesterday.
Sprains can heal relatively fast, but tears and fractures are a different monster. All these injuries just remind me that we're all getting old and youth doesn't last forever. Remember when Nate Robinson used to be able to fly?
Man, I never knew Iguodala was able to jump and dunk like that.
I may have to retire from my basketball career...in Korea.
Thought of the Day: Deliveries
Song of the Day: Boardwalk Empire Theme
Sprains can heal relatively fast, but tears and fractures are a different monster. All these injuries just remind me that we're all getting old and youth doesn't last forever. Remember when Nate Robinson used to be able to fly?
Man, I never knew Iguodala was able to jump and dunk like that.
I may have to retire from my basketball career...in Korea.
Thought of the Day: Deliveries
Song of the Day: Boardwalk Empire Theme
October 8, 2014
Videos
They say SF has the loudest fans in MLB. Gotta love the resilient Giants...even if it's only during the postseason.
웃찾사 > 개콘
Thought of the Day: GIANTS!
Song of the Day: Weezer-Ain't Got Nobody
September 30, 2014
August 28, 2014
Bye, Bye, Bye
I've been saying goodbyes to my classes one surprise at a time with lots of mixed reactions from students. Indifference. Anger. Sadness. Joy? Yesterday, I had one student come up to hug me with a bunch of students lining up behind him to shake my hand. I think the box of candy I was holding might have had something to do with that though. But I was really moved when an older student came by my room after school to apologize for his bad attitude and behavior for the past couple of years. A very humble gesture from a very arrogant adolescent. I never saw that coming.
As I went to my last rush hour subway this morning, I reminisced on many of the good times I had at this school. I definitely won't miss certain classes or the writing assessments I had to grade every semester, and I most certainly will not miss my subway adversaries like Mr. Sneeze and Mr. Phlegm. But like a nightmare come true, guess who just happened to want to say goodbye on my last commute to work?
Freaking nasty Mr. Phlegm. :(
Thought of the Day: 10x-20>180
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)