Writer's Diary #9
Fun work, really good coffee, and sacred simplicity
These days I’m getting a lot out of my job as a high school teacher — it really is a lot of fun. My classes have been great for the most part (I’m especially enjoying my AP class this year), but besides that there are additional reasons for having fun. I’ve been helping a lot of students with their college essays (a.k.a. personal statements), and it’s a blast. I’ve known most of these students for over two years and got to teach them during both their sophomore and junior years, and walking with them through one of the last major labors they have as high schoolers is meaningful, not least of all because they’re writing about themselves — where they’ve come from, who they are, and who they’re becoming — and I get a front row seat to the entire thing. It’s mad fun, and it’s made me consider tutoring in the future because of the individualized and personal guidance that can be offered through tutorship.
In addition to college essays, I’m now helping students out as a co-coach for the school’s new Academic Chess Club (and to think I still didn’t even play chess two years ago!). I have played many of the students a lot of times over the past few years, but now I get to coach and teach them, not just play — especially the newbies that have all the passion for the game but little to no experience. I love helping out, and I realized the other night that it’s because I get to combine two of my favorite things: teaching and chess. Incredible!
From the Church Calendar
Thursday after XVII Sunday after Pentecost St. Raphael the Archangel 2024 A.D.
From My Reading
Some still remember what an education is supposed to look like — and realize that only remnants remain in our current universities (and high schools too?)
Some Thoughts & Stories
I try to remind students: It’s okay to be average. It’s not okay to be mediocre. The first speaks to knowledge and performance that is sufficient and akin to the majority of other students. The latter speaks to a deficiency in quality (in other words, “you can do better”).
I met a chess grandmaster this week when he stopped by our school’s Chess Club. I’ll just leave that there.
Last week I ordered some John Brown (coffee beans) from PT’s Coffee, a roaster located in Topeka, Kansas. It’s one of my favorite coffees, and when I made myself a pour over on Saturday morning and drank that first sip, I felt like I could’ve cried because of how much it gladdened my heart.
A prayer before drinking coffee (one of my favorites): Blessed art thou, O Holy Ghost, who renewest the face of the earth and impartest grace on all who partake of its fruits with thanksgiving.
Writing Updates
I’m compiling some poetry that I will begin to publish soon(ish). It’s one of the additions to my Substack that I’m most pleased with, and I look forward to adding those poems to the repertoire of writing that goes on around here.
In addition to the poetry, I’ve been trying to finalize a significant piece of writing over the past two months. But man is it hard to write draft after draft when family and work keeps you busy from when you wake up until you fall asleep unknowingly on the floor of your kids’ bedroom when you’re putting them to sleep.
Closing Out
It seems that with every month that passes, my love for teaching and mentorship only grows more and more exponentially. I find myself constantly asking what that might mean for my future (practically speaking). Am I supposed to keep teaching at this high school? A different one? Should I leave behind the dilemmas, disagreements, and frustrations I have with teaching at a high school and instead tutor students? Am I supposed to look for a career outside of education that allows me the chance to use the same skills and passion for teaching and mentorship? These kinds of questions fill my mind every hour, and they’re pressing questions: I need to think about how to provide for my growing family, how to prepare myself financially to move out-of-state like my wife and I have wanted to for years, how to prepare myself for the possibility of going to seminary in the next 3-5 years. I even need to consider what career opportunities I’m making available for myself in 10-15 years since I might need to work a second job while a priest (if, Lord-willing, I am ordained a priest).
All I know right now is that I love (parts) of my job as a teacher. I get the humbling opportunity to fill young adults with hope, love, joy, and meaning on a daily basis and help them find their way in this life. How could I not love that…??
I am reminded of some advice I was once given by my professor in college when I was uncertain about what would happen next in my life. He told me that we never know for certain what the future holds. So, instead of becoming anxious about figuring out the future, I should just ask a simple question: What’s right in front of me, and how can I do that well? He reminded me that whatever the future holds is in the hands of God and will become clear in due. What was required of me at the moment, though, was to simply be present and faithful to what was right in front of me. He called this ‘sacred simplicity.’
So, I guess I’ll get back to what’s right in front of me. If you’ll excuse me, I have a cup of John Brown to make for myself and for a student that I made a promise to. And I have some teaching to do.
Auspice, Maria.
