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>> ALL RIGHT.
OUT OF RESPECT TO ALL OF YOU AND YOUR TIME--
WE KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE BUSY
AND HAVE CERTAINLY OTHER CLASS COMMITMENTS
AND OTHER OUTSIDE OF WORK COMMITMENTS,
WE DO WANT TO START ON TIME AND END ON TIME,
AND I BELIEVE PROFESSOR SIEGEL-- YOU SAID WE HAD FOUR HOURS?
TO GET THE FULL EXTRA CREDIT, YOU HAD TO ACTUALLY BE HERE
TO SIGN OUT IN FOUR HOURS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
(audience laughing) I COULD DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
I DON'T YOU WANT ME TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
I AM KIDDING, OF COURSE.
PROFESSOR SIEGEL? >> REALLY QUICK-- I'M SO SORRY.
I'M LIKE THAT'S OKAY.
HI, GUYS-- WELCOME.
I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE FOR THE TEACHER EDUCATION SEMINAR.
I'M TRICIA SIEGEL, AND I PUT THESE SEMINARS ON,
SO IT'S NICE TO SEE STUDENTS HERE.
WHEN I SET UP THE SEMINAR, I WAS TRYING TO DO A SEMINAR
ABOUT FEELING GOOD ABOUT TEACHING EDUCATION,
BECAUSE WHEN YOU TAKE CLASSES, YOU HEAR SO MUCH NEGATIVE
AND YOU HEAR SO MUCH NEGATIVE IN THE MEDIA
THAT I WANTED TO HAVE ONE
THAT REALLY TOLD YOU WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.
WHY DO ALL OF US DO THIS JOB EVERY DAY?
SO, TODAY IS HOPEFULLY KIND OF A FEEL-GOOD SEMINAR FOR YOU.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SPEAKING TODAY.
THIS IS JOHN KRAJEWSKI.
HE'S THE PRINCIPLE AT BYRON CENTER WEST.
KEVIN MACINA AND DAN TAKENS, AND HE WILL TELL YOU
ABOUT THEIR JOBS IN JUST A MINUTE AND TELL YOU ALL OF THAT.
SO, COULD YOU GUYS ALL GIVE ME A WARM WELCOME
AND WE'LL LISTEN TO THESE GENTLEMEN.
(applause)
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PROFESSOR SIEGEL.
I HAVE TO ADMIT, WE ALL WONDERED HOW MANY PHONE CALLS
SHE HAD TO MAKE BEFORE SHE SETTLED ON THE THREE OF US.
(audience laughing) I'M KIDDING.
ALL RIGHT-- INTRODUCTIONS.
I'LL GO FIRST.
JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS JOHN KRAJEWSKI AND I'M CURRENTLY
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AT BYRON CENTER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND I LOVE WHAT I DO AND I FEEL VERY, VERY FORTUNATE,
VERY, VERY BLESSED TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO WORK IN EDUCATION.
BEFORE I WAS IN EDUCATION, I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE
AND THEN WOUND UP BEING A POLICE OFFICER IN GRAND RAPIDS.
SO, KIND OF AN INTERESTING CAREER DECISION FOR ME.
FIVE YEARS WITH THE GRAND RAPIDS POLICE DEPARTMENT,
AND I REALLY ENJOYED THAT, BUT AT THE TIME, FRANKLY,
I STARTED DATING MY NOW WIFE, WHO'S IN EDUCATION,
AND JUST SAW ALL OF THE GOOD THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO DO
IN THE CLASSROOM AND THROUGH COACHING ATHLETICS,
AND JUST REALLY SAW THE DRAW TO THE POSITIVITY
THAT CERTAINLY SURROUNDS ALL OF EDUCATION.
SO, THAT LED ME TO START TAKING SOME CLASSES,
MUCH LIKE ALL OF YOU SEATED HERE LISTENING TODAY
ARE STARTING TO DO.
AND THE MORE I HEARD AND THE MORE I LEARNED,
THE MORE I GOT REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN WORKING IN BYRON CENTER.
BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME.
I WAS VERY, VERY NERVOUS IN MY INTERVIEW.
I WASN'T SURE-- ER, WHEN I FINALLY LANDED A JOB
AND GOT MY OWN CLASSROOM, IT WAS JUST THE BEST THING EVER.
FIVE YEARS IN THE CLASSROOM, AND THEN I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY
TO DO SOME ADMINISTRATIVE WORK, AND JUST VERY, VERY THANKFUL
TO WORK WITH WONDERFUL PEOPLE LIKE MR. MACINA,
AND WITH AND FOR MY BOSS, WHO'S OUR SUPERINTENDENT,
MR. TAKENS.
SO, UP NEXT...
WILL BE MR. MACINA.
>> WELL, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS TODAY.
MY NAME IS KEVIN MACINA, AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT VENUE
TO DO THIS IN BECAUSE WHEN I WENT TO--
WHEN I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL
AND WENT TO MICHIGAN STATE,
I WENT IN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT,
AND THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE.
I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE A POLICE OFFICER
LIKE MR. KRAJEWSKI.
THEN, I SWITCH TO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE,
AND I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT.
THEN, I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE AN ATHLETIC TRAINER,
AND SO I WAS IN THAT PROGRAM FOR A LITTLE BIT.
AND THEN, I FINALLY WOUND UP IN EDUCATION,
AND IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE BEST THINGS
THAT'S EVER HAPPENED TO ME.
AND THE FUNNY THING, TOO,
IS THAT WHEN I STARTED OUT IN EDUCATION,
I WANTED TO BE A BIOLOGY TEACHER IN SECONDARY,
BUT I'VE BEEN IN ELEMENTARY EVER SINCE I GRADUATED,
AND I ENDED UP TEACHING ELEMENTARY PHYSICAL EDUCATION
IN PENNSYLVANIA, HAD A GREAT TIME DOING THAT,
AND THEN MOVED BACK TO MICHIGAN
AND ENDED UP TEACHING PHYSICAL EDUCATION
IN MICHIGAN IN BYRON CENTER.
AND THEN, ENDED UP IN A FOURTH-GRADE CLASSROOM,
AND THEN ENDED UP AS THE PRINCIPAL.
SO, YOU KIND OF NEVER KNOW WHERE YOUR PATH IS GOING TO TAKE YOU.
SO, I THINK THIS IS GREAT THAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE TODAY
AND THINKING ABOUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
I'VE TALKED TO A COUPLE PEOPLE BEFORE, AND THEY'RE LIKE,
"YEP, EARLY CHILDHOOD."
"HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH."
"ELEMENTARY."
SO, YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO END UP,
AND IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE RIDE.
SO, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER--
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR US TALK A LOT,
BUT I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. TAKENS,
AND HE'S GOING TO GO NEXT AND TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIMSELF.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MACINA.
THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE THIS AFTERNOON.
WHEN MR. KRAJEWSKI MENTIONED THIS OPPORTUNITY
AND WONDERED IF I'D BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE,
I SAID, "YOU BET," AND CHANGED MY SCHEDULE.
I ENJOY IT, AND THE REASON I DID THAT--
I LOVE BEING IN FRONT OF YOUNG PEOPLE, AND MISSED THAT.
WHEN I BECAME AN ADMINISTRATOR, I MISSED BEING IN THE CLASSROOM
AND COACHING AND BEING WITH KIDS.
SO, THIS IS GREAT WHEN I GET THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND JUST A FEW INTRODUCTIONS REGARDING MYSELF.
I GREW UP RIGHT IN GRAND RAPIDS, AND...
MY FAMILY-- ACTUALLY, MY FATHER IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES
FROM THE NETHERLANDS.
SO, I GREW UP IN A HOME WHERE ENGLISH WASN'T SPOKEN.
THEY SPOKE DUTCH.
NOBODY IN MY FAMILY HAD EVER GONE TO COLLEGE, EVER.
SO, WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WENT TO GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN.
MY TEACHERS, COACHES, AND SCHOOL COUNSELOR--
KIND OF THE CONVERSATION WE WERE HAVING EARLIER,
SAW IN ME THAT AS THEY WATCH ME INTERACT WITH OTHER KIDS
OR WITH MY CLASSMATES, THEY SAW, "HEY,
"YOU INTERACT WELL WITH OTHERS.
"YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK AT A CAREER IN TEACHING."
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY REALLY ENCOURAGED ME
TO THINK ABOUT GOING TO COLLEGE,
WHICH I WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT PRIOR TO THAT.
SO, WENT TO CALVIN COLLEGE, BUT ALSO TOOK CLASSES
AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND ENJOYED THAT.
IT USED TO BE JUNIOR COLLEGE THEN.
THE J.C. RAIDERS.
IS IT STILL THE RAIDERS HERE?
YEAH.
I ENJOYED THAT A LOT.
SO, I'M REALLY THANKFUL TO BE HERE TODAY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING A FEW THINGS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TITLE "WHAT I LOVE ABOUT TEACHING,"
AND THEN MORE SO ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE--
A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
LIKE MR. MACINA AND MR. KRAJEWSKI TALKED ABOUT--
WHERE I WAS DIFFERENT-- I ALWAYS KNEW I WANTED TO BE A TEACHER
OR COACH AND WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.
NEVER EVER HAD ANY ASPIRATIONS TO BE A PRINCIPAL,
LET ALONE A SUPERINTENDENT...
AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE CASE WITH BOTH OF YOU.
PEOPLE AROUND ME ENCOURAGED ME TO CONSIDER THAT, SO I LISTENED,
AND I ENJOY THE WORK THAT I DO.
BUT THIS IS REALLY EXCITING.
I LOOK AROUND THE ROOM AND I LOVE THE DIVERSITY,
EVERY WALK OF LIFE, AND THINKING, "BOY,
"THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FOLKS IN HERE
"THAT ARE CONSIDERING GOING INTO EDUCATION."
AND TRUST ME, I'LL TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT,
THERE'S NO JOB THAT YOU CAN MAKE A GREATER DIFFERENCE
IN PEOPLE'S LIVES THAN AS AN EDUCATOR...
IN A POSITIVE WAY.
BUT SOME OF YOU CAN PROBABLY THINK OF TEACHERS YOU'VE HAD
THAT MAYBE MADE YOU THINK JUST THE OPPOSITE--
THAT YOU DIDN'T LIKE YOUR SUBJECT
OR YOU DIDN'T LIKE SCHOOL BECAUSE OF A TEACHER NOT BEING A POSITIVE,
VERSUS SOMEONE WHO'S REALLY POSITIVE.
AND HOPEFULLY WHEN YOU SEE THOSE POSITIVE EXAMPLES,
THAT'S WHAT MAKES YOU STRIVE TO WANT TO BE THAT.
I SURE HAVE A LOT OF WONDERFUL ONES IN MY LIFE.
SO, GREAT TO BE HERE TODAY,
AND I THINK I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU,
AND THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH THAT.
SO, THANKS FOR HAVING ME. >> THANK YOU, SIR.
ALL RIGHT, MUCH LIKE WHEN YOU PLAN A LESSON,
WE'D LIKE TO KIND OF DRAW YOU IN AND MAKE THIS A LITTLE BIT INTERACTIVE--
GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE.
DID EVERYONE GET A PIECE OF PAPER OR A PEN?
IF YOU NEED A PAPER OR PEN,
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE WILL PROVIDE THAT FOR YOU.
PAPER AND PEN.
ALL RIGHT, SO OUR FIRST ACTIVITY--
OUR LAUNCH WITH GETTING YOU ENGAGED,
GETTING YOU THINKING ABOUT THE WONDERFUL
PROFESSION OF TEACHING, JUST TAKE A MOMENT--
IN YOUR OWN MIND-- THINK OF YOUR FAVORITE TEACHER...
YOUR FAVORITE TEACHER THAT YOU'VE HAD AS A STUDENT,
AND THINK OF THREE WORDS
THAT YOU FEEL BEST DESCRIBES THAT TEACHER.
SO, AGAIN, YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT FAVORITE TEACHER
AND YOU'RE GOING TO WRITE DOWN THREE WORDS
THAT DESCRIBE THAT TEACHER.
TAKE A MOMENT TO DO THAT.
ALL RIGHT, AS WE FINISH THIS UP,
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST RAISING YOUR HAND AND JUST SHARING ONE,
TWO, MAYBE ALL THREE OF THOSE WORDS.
WHO WOULD LIKE TO TELL US MAYBE SOME OF THOSE WORDS
THAT THEY USE TO DESCRIBE THEIR FAVORITE TEACHER?
YES, SIR? >> I PUT...
DO WE HAVE TO PUT OUR TEACHERS NAME, TOO?
>> SURE.
>> THIS YEAR, I'M TAKING AN EDUCATION CLASS
WITH ONE OF MY FAVORITE TEACHERS I'VE EVER TAKEN--
SHE'S VERY CARING TOWARD HER STUDENTS.
SHE TAKES A VERY PROACTIVE APPROACH.
SHE DOESN'T JUST TEACH HER LESSON AND SAY, "WELL, BYE."
SHE-- SOME OF THE STUDENTS THAT NEED HELP AFTER CLASS,
SHE SEES THAT DURING CLASS, AND SHE ALLOWS THEM
AND ENCOURAGES THEM TO STOP AFTER CLASS.
SO, I WOULD SAY CARING, PROACTIVE...
I HAVEN'T GOTTEN MY THIRD ONE YET.
VERY CARING AND PROACTIVE.
>> VERY CARING AND PROACTIVE, WONDERFUL-- THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE?
YES, THANK YOU, IN THE BACK.
>> MY FAVORITE TEACHER IS ACTUALLY MY SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER
BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND FOR MOST PEOPLE,
IT'S KIND OF DRAG...
BUT MY TEACHER-- HE WAS REALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE
ABOUT ALL ASPECTS OF SOCIAL STUDIES,
AND HE WAS REALLY CREATIVE IN THE WAY THAT HE TAUGHT IT,
SO HE MADE A VERY ENTERTAINING IN THE END.
>> KNOWLEDGEABLE, ENTERTAINING, CARING, PROACTIVE.
ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SHARE?
YES, MA'AM?
I APPARENTLY, ALSO, WANTED TO BE A GAME SHOW HOST.
I'M REALLY GETTING INTO THIS, MAYBE MORE THAN I SHOULD HAVE.
(audience laughing)
AND NOW, TELL US WHAT YOU'VE WON!
>> MINE'S ACTUALLY MY FOURTH GRADE MATH TEACHER.
I THINK THAT'S WHY I WANT TO BE A MATH TEACHER.
SHE WAS VERY MEMORABLE.
I STILL REMEMBER TO THIS DAY ALL THE JINGLES THAT WE LEARNED
FROM THE TIMES TABLES AND ALL THE LITTLE TRICKS
THAT SHE USED TO TEACH US.
SO, SHE'S VERY MEMORABLE.
>> WONDERFUL.
THIS IS GREAT, AND I THINK IT'S JUST A GOOD WAY, AGAIN,
TO GET YOU TO START THINKING ABOUT IN YOUR OWN MIND
"MAKE IT REAL, MAKE IT RELEVANT."
SO, WE'VE GOT SOMEONE WHO'S MAYBE USE IN PNEUMONIC DEVICES,
WHO'S HELPING US CONNECT THAT LEARNING TO SOMETHING
THAT MAKES SENSE TO US WHERE WE'RE AT.
WE HAVE A TEACHER WHO REALLY CARES,
AND WE CAN TELL THAT THAT'S GENUINE.
THEY'RE ACTIVELY DOING FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS,
KIND OF SEEING WHERE THE CLASS IS AT--
"HEY, IF YOU DIDN'T GET IT,
"YOU KNOW THIS ISN'T ABOUT ME PUSHING THROUGH
"TO THE NEXT APPOINTMENT.
"I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND.
"THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO YOU.
"LET'S WORK ON THAT."
I'M SO KNOWLEDGEABLE AND SO ENGAGING-- EVEN A HORRIBLE,
BORING SUBJECT LIKE HISTORY--
WHICH IRONICALLY, IS WHAT I TAUGHT-- I'M GONNA BRING THAT--
I'M GONNA BRING EVERYBODY INTO THAT CONVERSATION.
SO, THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT A GOOD TEACHER DOES,
AND WE KNOW THAT, AND WE'VE EXPERIENCED THAT.
I'LL START WITH JUST A QUICK WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS QUOTE,
"EDUCATION IS NOT THE FILLING OF A PAIL,
"BUT THE LIGHTING OF A FIRE."
AND I DO BELIEVE-- SOMETIMES, WE THINK EDUCATION
IS JUST LIKE BLUB-BLUB-BLUB, POURING THIS KNOWLEDGE,
"HERE'S THE INFORMATION, POUR IT INTO THE BUCKET,"
INTO THAT STUDENT'S BRAIN,
BUT WHAT IT REALLY IS IS THE EXCITEMENT.
IT'S GETTING PEOPLE TO BUY IN.
IT'S YOU, AS A FUTURE EDUCATOR,
HAVING THE ABILITY TO MAKE THAT LEARNING RELEVANT
AND EXCITING AND ENGAGING, TO DRAW PEOPLE IN.
IT IS TRULY THE LIGHTING OF A FIRE.
FOR ME, I SINCERELY MEAN THIS WHEN I SAY THIS--
TEACHING IS AN HONOR.
YOU KNOW, WE ALL NEED TO FIND WORK AND PAY BILLS,
BUT ISN'T IT A WONDERFUL THING, ISN'T IT TRULY A BLESSING
IF YOU CAN FIND MEANINGFUL WORK
THAT'S ALSO REALLY, IN SOME REGARDS, ALMOST A CALLING,
SOMETHING YOU FELT YOU WERE MEANT TO DO,
SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW-- WHEN SUPERINTENDENT TAKENS
AND MR. MACINA MENTIONED-- WHERE YOU'RE REALLY GIVING BACK,
WHERE YOU'RE REALLY BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN OTHER PEOPLE.
TEACHING IS THE ABILITY FOR ALL OF YOU--
JUST LIKE SOMEONE SAW THAT POTENTIAL IN YOU--
FOR YOU TO FIND THAT POTENTIAL IN SOMEBODY ELSE
AND SAY, "HEY, I'M GOING TO POSITIVELY INFLUENCE YOUR LIFE.
"IN YOU, I CAN SEE SOMEBODY WHO'S NURTURING AND CARING,
"AND I CAN TELL THAT YOU WORKED HARD TO BE A STUDENT
"AND YOU'RE GOING TO HELP ANOTHER STUDENT
"FINDS THEIR WAY WITH MATHEMATICS."
YOU KNOW?
MAYBE YOU DIDN'T LIKE MATHEMATICS OR YOU STRUGGLED THROUGH THAT
AND YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS TO BE A STRUGGLING LEARNER IN MATHEMATICS,
AND YOU CAN BRING THAT EXPERIENCE WITH YOU
INTO THE CLASSROOM AND HELP SOMEONE, FRANKLY,
WHO IS IN YOUR SEAT, SO TO SPEAK, SO MANY YEARS AGO.
THE ABILITY TO INSPIRE-- YOU JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH.
I THINK THAT WE REALLY DO TEACH WITH OUR OWN PERSONAL CONVICTIONS
AND PASSION AND THAT ABILITY TO INSPIRE THAT LEARNING IS SO KEY,
AND YOU WAKE UP EVERY DAY
AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THOSE THINGS.
FOR ME, AS AN I HOPE NOT BORING HISTORY TEACHER,
I REALLY LIKED THE CHARACTER EDUCATION PART
OF WORKING IN THE CLASSROOM.
PUBLIC EDUCATION IS A WONDERFUL THING,
BECAUSE PUBLIC EDUCATION IS JUST FOR THAT-- IT'S FOR EVERYBODY.
IT'S FOR EVERYBODY FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO COME TOGETHER,
JUST LIKE IN SOCIETY, AND THEN IT'S A CHANCE FOR YOU
TO HELP THEM-- HEY, MAYBE THESE TWO YOUNG LADIES
GET IN A FIGHT AND THEY ARE NOT HAVING A GOOD DAY,
AND SHE SMACKED HER, AND BLAH-BLAH-BLAH,
AND BEFORE WE SEND THEM DOWN TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE
TO TALK TO MR. MACINA,
YOU HAVE THAT ABILITY RIGHT THERE IN THAT MOMENT
TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT GOOD BEHAVIOR'S ALL ABOUT.
IT'S ABOUT MAKING GOOD CHOICES.
YOU KNOW, AS A SECOND GRADE TEACHER, YOU COULD SAY,
"HEY, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE GOLDEN RULE IS?
"OKAY, HOW WOULD THAT APPLY TO THIS SITUATION?
"HOW CAN WE HELP OUR FRIENDS OVER HERE MAKE GOOD CHOICES?"
YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE THAT KIND OF EFFECT ON PEOPLE
ALL THE TIME.
IT TRULY IS A WONDERFUL THING.
CORE DEMOCRATIC VALUES AS SET FORTH BY THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
AS A FORMER HISTORY TEACHER-- I LOVE THAT.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A GOOD CITIZEN?
WHAT IS RULE OF LAW?
HOW DOES THAT APPLY TO YOU?
HOW CAN YOU DO YOUR CIVIC DUTY?
COULD YOU VOLUNTEER?
WELL, WHAT KIND OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE?
SO, YOU HAVE ALL THESE RESOURCES,
ALL THESE OPPORTUNITIES, AND ALL THESE STUDENTS LOOKING,
LEARNING FROM YOU WHAT IT MEANS,
AND YOU CAN MODEL THIS BEST BEHAVIOR.
YOU CAN EXPLAIN TO THEM THE VALUE OF THE GIVING BACK,
THE VALUE OF VOLUNTEERISM.
YOU TRULY HAVE THE ABILITY, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU TEACH,
TO SHAPE SOCIETY.
IT'S A HEAVY, YOU KNOW, THING TO WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND,
BUT WHAT AN IMPORTANT CAREER.
I THINK, FOR ME-- AND IT'S PROBABLY IN MANY WAYS
MY OWN MIDDLE SCHOOL MINDSET--
I'M WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL--
7th GRADERS, 8th GRADERS ALL THE TIME--
AND I'LL SAY THIS CAREFULLY,
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE MISUNDERSTOOD.
I'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE FROM OTHER PEOPLE THAT I REALLY LIKE.
THE SAY THIS-- THEY'LL SAY--
THEY WON'T NECESSARILY REMEMBER WHAT WE TAUGHT THEM,
BUT THEY WILL REMEMBER HOW WE MADE THEM FEEL.
SO, IT'S-- AND AGAIN, I SAY THIS NERVOUSLY IN FRONT OF MY BOSS--
THEY DARN WELL BETTER REMEMBER WHAT WE TAUGHT THEM,
BECAUSE THESE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS WE'RE TEACHING THEM,
BUT I THINK THE SPIRIT OF WHAT THAT QUOTE IS ABOUT
IS IT'S THAT STUDENTS REMEMBER HOW YOU MAKE THEM FEEL.
THEY REALLY DO, AND YOU HAVE THAT GIFT--
THAT CONFIDENCE PIECE--
AND I CAN'T SPEAK TO YOU OR YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE,
BUT I HAD SOME REAL HIGHS,
SOME REAL LOWS AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL KID, AND I REMEMBER BOTH.
I REALLY DO.
I REMEMBER FEELING GREAT ACADEMICALLY,
MAYBE SOME THINGS THAT HAPPENED ATHLETICALLY,
AND THEN I REMEMBER THE BULLYING, THE CUTTING WORDS,
THE FEELING OF, "WHERE DO I FIT IN?
"WHO AM I?
"WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WHEN I GROW UP?"
ALL THOSE THOUGHTS, AND AS THE ADULT IN THAT EQUATION,
WHAT YOU CAN DO IS SO POWERFUL AND WILL CHANGE LIVES.
YOU HAVE THE ABILITY, AS AN EDUCATOR, TO CHANGE LIVES.
YOU CAN GIVE THAT SELF-CONFIDENCE TO THAT YOUNG PERSON,
TO THAT STUDENT.
SELF-IMAGE-- YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S YOUNG MEN, YOUNG WOMEN,
HOW THEY FEEL THEY LOOK AESTHETICALLY ON THE OUTSIDE,
HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THEIR OWN STRENGTHS ACADEMICALLY--
YOU HAVE THE ABILITY AS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY
TO EITHER AFFIRM OR SQUASH THAT.
AND I WANT TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE POSITIVE, BUT BOY,
I BET IF I FLIPPED THIS EXERCISE AROUND
AND WE FLIPPED THAT SCRIPT, "GIVE ME THREE WORDS
"AND TELL ME ABOUT A BAD TEACHER YOU HAD,"
YOU COULD DO THAT PRETTY QUICK, TOO,
AND THAT'S SAD.
WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE, TOO.
I HAD A SWIM COACH WHO TOLD ME I JUST WASN'T ANY GOOD.
AND ADULTS SAID THAT TO ME AS A KID.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
TO THIS DAY, I DON'T THINK I EVER SWAM AGAIN COMPETITIVELY.
YOU KNOW, BIG DEAL, I DON'T THINK I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE OLYMPICS,
BUT THE POINT IS, SOMEBODY SQUASHED THAT IN A KID.
YOU KNOW, "I CAN TELL, JOHN, YOU WON'T BE GOOD AT MATH."
REALLY?
YOU'RE GONNA SAY THAT TO A STUDENT?
BUT, KEEPING THIS POSITIVE, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY,
"I SEE IN YOU AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST.
"YOU COULD SWIM IN THE JUNIOR OLYMPICS
"IF YOU SET YOUR MIND TO IT.
"I SEE IN YOU A FUTURE ACCOUNTANT.
"YOU LOOK-- I CAN TELL BY THE WAY YOU INTERACT IN CLASS
"AND THE WAY YOU ARE HELPING YOUR SMALL GROUP HERE,
"YOU ARE SOMEBODY WHO COULD BE AN ACTUARIAN-- YOU'RE JUST--
"YOU'RE BRIGHT, AND I SEE THAT IN YOU."
YOU HAVE THAT ABILITY.
THAT CONFIDENCE, THAT ABILITY TO ACHIEVE WHAT YOU BELIEVE--
WHAT A WONDERFUL GIFT.
WHAT AN HONOR.
WHAT AN HONOR, AS AN EDUCATOR, TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THAT.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE LOVE OF LEARNING.
JUST YOUR APPROACH TO HOW YOU SOLVE PROBLEMS,
HOW YOU THINK CRITICALLY, REALLY IN A GREAT PART DOES COME DOWN
TO WHAT WAS MODELED FOR YOU.
AND EVERY DAY, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO IN
AND SAY TO STUDENTS, "HEY, LEARNING IS COOL,
"LEARNING IS FUN.
"WHEN YOU HIT A CHALLENGE,
"HERE ARE SOME WAYS WE CAN WORK THROUGH THAT,
"HERE ARE SOME WAYS YOU COULD FIND YOURSELF SUCCESSFUL
"IN EVERY DAY LIFE."
ALL RIGHT, I'LL STEP BACK
AND I'LL TALK ABOUT JUST THE CONTINUOUS LEARNING.
THIS HAS BEEN STUDENT FOCUSED, AND IT SHOULD,
BUT WHAT I LOVE ABOUT TEACHING-- AND MAYBE YOU GUYS
WILL ALL MAKE FUN OF ME BECAUSE I'M A BIG NERD,
BUT I MEAN THIS SINCERELY.
I TOOK PROFESSOR SIEGEL'S CHALLENGE SERIOUSLY.
I LOVE THE P.D., THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
EVEN TO THIS DAY, MR. TAKENS BRINGS IN ATTORNEYS,
HE BRINGS IN COLLEGE PROFESSORS,
HE BRINGS IN OTHER EXPERTS IN THE FIELD,
AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE MY LIFE IS RICHER
FOR SOME OF THE TRAININGS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO ME.
UH, SENT ME TO A "CAPTURING KIDS' HEARTS" TRAINING.
I KNOW THAT NOT ONLY HAS THAT INFLUENCED THE WAY
I DEAL WITH STUDENTS, WITH THE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS--
I KNOW IT'S INFLUENCED THE WAY I DEAL WITH OTHER ADULTS
AND, FRANKLY, WITH MY OWN CHILDREN,
WITH MY THREE LITTLE ONES.
JUST SOME OF THE THINGS I LEARNED,
SO THAT P.D. PIECE IS FUN.
BUT PREPARING-- I LOVED THAT PART
ABOUT BEING A BORING HISTORY TEACHER.
I FOUND MYSELF MAKING FRIENDS WHO ALSO LIKED REALLY BORING,
FINITE PIECES OF HISTORY-- SPECIFICALLY, PERHAPS CIVIL WAR--
AND THEN TRADING BOOKS.
"HEY, HAVE YOU READ 'KILLER ANGELS'?
"NO, YOU GOT TO READ 'KILLER ANGELS.'
"OKAY, THANKS, I'M GONNA GO CHECK THAT OUT."
AND THEN, "OH, MY GOODNESS, I LEARNED SO MUCH
"ABOUT THE FIRST MANASSAS, SECOND MANASSAS,
"BATTLE OF BULL RUN, SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN."
STUFF THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE LIKE, "WHAT?"
BUT YOU REALLY DO GET THE OPPORTUNITY--
AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY SELFISHLY BECAUSE, OF COURSE,
YOU'RE GIVING ALL THIS BACK--
BUT YOU DO HAVE A JOB WHERE IF YOU ARE TRULY STUDYING
SOMETHING YOU LOVE,
YOU CAN SPEND ALL KINDS OF TIME "WORKING"
AND FEELING REALLY GOOD ABOUT THAT.
I LEARNED ALL KINDS OF THINGS ABOUT HISTORY
THAT I REALLY FOUND FASCINATING,
AND I'D SAY TO MY POOR WIFE, "HEY, LOOK AT THIS ON THE HISTORY CHANNEL--
"THEY'VE GOT THIS--" AND SHE WAS LIKE, "WHATEVER."
BUT AS AN EDUCATOR, YOU WILL FIND OTHER PEOPLE LIKE YOUR EXAMPLE THAT--
MAN, YOU GO TO CONFERENCES AND YOU MEET THESE PEOPLE,
AND YOU WORK WITH THEM AND YOU HAVE OTHER COLLEAGUES,
WHO ARE AS EXCITED ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR AS YOU ARE,
AND I FOUND THAT VERY REASSURING AND A LOT OF FUN.
THE STUDENTS-- THE STUDENTS REALLY ARE A JOY,
AND I THINK THE CONTINUOUS LEARNING,
AND I PUT STUDENTS AS KIND OF THIS SUBSECTION TO THAT,
BECAUSE YOU LEARN SO MUCH.
YOU LEARN SO MUCH ABOUT LIFE AND LIVING AND ABOUT CULTURES
AND ABOUT ACCEPTANCE, AND ALL THESE WONDERFUL THINGS,
FROM YOUR STUDENTS.
YOU'RE GOING TO TEACH THEM, OF COURSE.
BUT YOU'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF THAT AS WELL.
AND THAT'S A REAL GIFT.
EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT.
ALL JOBS ARE IMPORTANT, AND SOMEBODY WORKING IN A FACTORY
OR DOING A MORE REPETITIOUS JOB--
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
BUT FOR ME, PERSONALLY, CAREERS THAT I'VE HAD--
THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT BEING A PRINCIPAL.
BOY, EVERY DAY SURE IS DIFFERENT.
AS A TEACHER, EVERY DAY CERTAINLY WAS DIFFERENT.
THAT CHALLENGE OF FINDING NEW WAYS TO LIGHT THAT FIRE--
NO, I WON'T SING-- REALLY IS SOMETHING THAT YOU GET TO CRAFT,
YOU GET TO BE CREATIVE, YOU GET TO ENGAGE IN THAT WAY.
COLLEAGUES-- WHEN PROFESSOR SIEGEL WANTED SOME SPEAKERS,
IT'S EASY.
I REALLY DO FEEL THAT,
NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE SITTING RIGHT HERE,
BUT YOU WORK WITH WONDERFUL, OUTSTANDING PEOPLE,
AND THAT'S A LOT OF FUN.
THE FRIENDSHIPS OUTSIDE OF THE WORK WORLD
AND THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM
TO POSITIVELY IMPACT STUDENTS--
SUCH A WONDERFUL THING.
JUST THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
MIDDLE SCHOOL-- I'LL GIVE A QUICK MIDDLE SCHOOL PLUG,
AND THEN I'LL WRAP IT UP.
I LOVE MIDDLE SCHOOL,
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T CONSIDERED MIDDLE SCHOOL,
THIS IS MY MIDDLE SCHOOL CHALLENGE...
BECAUSE NOBODY GOES IN-- WELL, THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE,
I SUPPOSE-- NOBODY WANTS TO TEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL.
REALLY, ON SOME LEVEL, I BELIEVE THAT TO BE TRUE.
"I WANT TO BE A HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER."
"OH, I'M SURE I WANT TO DO ELEMENTARY."
EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE ON TOP OF THE PILE
OR WITH THE REALLY WONDERFUL LITTLE ONES,
AND MIDDLE SCHOOL IS FULL OF A BUNCH OF AWKWARD,
POOR SIXTH, SEVENTH, AND EIGHTH GRADE KIDS,
BUT I'LL SAY THIS-- WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO WORK WITH THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT,
YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE IT.
SO, IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO DO SOME OBSERVATIONAL HOURS,
I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE GIVING US A CHANCE.
THEY'RE OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE VERY ADULT IDEAS AND THOUGHTS
AND OPINIONS ON THINGS, AND THAT CAN BE A LOT OF FUN,
BUT THEY'RE STILL YOUNG ENOUGH THAT THEY ARE NOT TOO COOL TO BE,
"YOU ARE MY FAVORITE, YOU KNOW, MRS. SO-AND-SO OR MR. SO-AND-SO
"OR MISS SO-AND-SO."
SO, AGAIN, IT'S A DIFFICULT TRANSITION FOR THEM COMING OUT
OF THIS LOVING ENVIRONMENT THAT IS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,
GETTING READY TO PLAY IN THE BIG LEAGUES,
THE FLAGSHIP THAT IS HIGH SCHOOL,
AND THAT BRIDGING OF THOSE TWO WORLDS--
I TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY AND FRANKLY, I ENJOY THAT CHALLENGE,
BUT I THINK YOU MIGHT AS WELL.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL,
THIS IS MY SHAMELESS MIDDLE SCHOOL PLUG.
JUST CONSIDER US.
CONNECTING WITH THE STUDENTS AND BEING ABLE TO BE
THAT POSITIVE INFLUENCE.
THE CHARACTER EDUCATION PIECE, AGAIN.
IT IS IMPORTANT WHAT WE TEACH,
AND THEN THE PROCESSES AROUND HOW WE TEACH.
HOW DO WE CRITICALLY ANALYZE SOMETHING,
HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A GOOD RATIONAL DECISION,
BOTH IN A PROBLEM ON A TEST AND OUT IN THE REAL WORLD.
BUT THEN, AGAIN, THAT SOCIETAL PIECE--
HOW TO LIVE JUST A GOOD LIFE, HOW TO BE A GOOD PERSON,
TO MAKE GOOD ETHICAL DECISIONS.
MR. MACINA, SIR.
>> WELL, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU-- I HAD TO DO ELEMENTARY OTHERWISE
I WOULD HAVE NO FRIENDS, SO I NEEDED THOSE LITTLE KIDS
TO COME UP TO ME AND SAY, "HEY, MR. MACINA,
"HEY, MR. MACINA." (audience laughing)
OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
A FEW THINGS AND IT'S GOING TO REALLY PIGGYBACK
ON WHAT JOHN SAID TODAY.
HERE'S SOME THINGS I LOVE ABOUT TEACHING.
THE FIRST ONE IS LIFELONG LEARNING.
IF YOU GO INTO IT WITH A BIOLOGY HEART,
WITH A PHYSICAL EDUCATION HEART, WITH A MATH HEART,
WITH A PSYCHOLOGY HEART, THE GREAT PART ABOUT THAT
IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE GIVING THAT BACK TO KIDS,
BUT YOU HAVE LEARN THAT
AND KEEP UP ON YOUR LEARNING AS YOU GO THROUGH.
SO, I THINK THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT
IS THAT I NEVER STOP LEARNING.
SO, EVEN THOUGH I'M THE TEACHER,
I HAVE TO LEARN AS MUCH AS THE KIDS DO
SO THAT I CAN GET IT ACROSS TO THEM.
AND SO, HAVE A PASSION FOR IT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE LEARNING THAT
THROUGHOUT THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
AND FOR THE REST OF YOUR CAREER.
I'M GONNA PUT SOME PEOPLE ON THE SPOT HERE.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME RIGHT HERE IN THE STRIPES?
KENDRA, OKAY.
I'M GOING TO HAVE KENDRA READ WHAT SHE WROTE--
I WAS PEEKING ON HER PAPER--
THAT'S HOW I GOT THROUGH COLLEGE,
BUT THAT'S A WHOLE ANOTHER SEMINAR.
(audience laughing)
OKAY, BUT KENDRA IS THIS GOING TO READ WHAT SHE WROTE DOWN.
JOHN HAD ASKED YOU TO WRITE DOWN THE THREE QUALITIES--
CAN YOU TELL US THAT? >> I WROTE PASSIONATE,
UNDERSTANDING, AND ENTERTAINING, AND A FEW OTHERS, TOO.
>> PASSIONATE, UNDERSTANDING, AND ENTERTAINING.
I'M GONNA PICK ON YOU-- WHAT DID YOU WRITE DOWN?
>> FUN, ENGAGING, ENCOURAGING. >> OKAY, GREAT.
I'M GONNA PICK ON YOU-- WHAT DID YOU WRITE DOWN?
>> CARING, A STORYTELLER, AND FUN.
>> OKAY, AND IT'S ALL JUST PICK ON ONE MORE RANDOM PERSON.
I'LL PICK ON YOU.
>> I SAID INTELLIGENT, FAIR, AND UNDERSTANDING.
>> OKAY, WHAT I LOVE ABOUT TEACHING--
IF YOU THINK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT THEY SAID,
NOT ONE OF THEM WERE "MATH."
NOT ONE OF THEM WERE "READING."
NOT ONE OF THEM WAS, "UM, YOU TAUGHT ME HOW TO MULTIPLY FRACTIONS,"
RIGHT? (audience laughing)
IT WAS NONE OF THAT.
IT WAS UNDERSTANDING, CARING, PASSIONATE, FUNNY.
I MEAN, THAT IS WHAT MATTERS.
THAT IS WHAT I LOVE ABOUT TEACHING,
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU ARE GOING TO INFLUENCE--
JOHN TALKED ABOUT THAT-- YOU ARE GOING TO INFLUENCE EVERYBODY
FROM A LITTLE PRESCHOOLER-- WE TALKED ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD--
ALL THE WAY TO A KID WHO'S TRYING TO DECIDE
WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IN THEIR LIFE.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE STRUGGLING AT HOME,
THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING--
THAT'S THE STUFF THAT MATTERS, AND I LOVE THAT,
AND THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT OUR PROFESSION.
MY WIFE IS AN ENGINEER.
SHE DOESN'T COME HOME AND TALK ABOUT, "WHOA,
"I MADE THIS AWESOME BOX TODAY, AND IT WAS SQUARE
"AND THE CORNERS CAME TO A PERFECT POINT!"
BUT I COME IN AND I SAY, "OH, I HAD THIS KID IN MY OFFICE,
"AND HE WAS REALLY STRUGGLING, AND MAN,
"WE REALLY MADE SOME HEADWAY AND WE GOT HIM BACK IN THE CLASS."
THAT'S THE STUFF THAT MATTERS, AND THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT--
AND THAT'S JUST RANDOM PEOPLE THAT I PICKED.
SO, DON'T EVER FORGET THAT AS YOU START TO LOOK AT CLASSES
AND YOU THINK ABOUT, "WHY DO I WANT TO BE A TEACHER?"
CREATIVITY-- YOU GET TO DO IT ANY WAY THAT YOU WANT TO DO IT.
YEAH, THERE'S CONSTRAINTS AND YES, THERE IS LEGISLATION,
AND YES, THERE'S EVALUATIONS, AND ALL THAT SCARY STUFF
YOU HEAR IN THE PAPER NOW, BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT CREATIVITY.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR CLASSROOM--
YOU GET THE KIND OF BE THE BOSS OF YOUR CLASSROOM.
YOU GET TO BE THE C.E.O. OF WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN MR. MACINA'S ROOM,
AND THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT EDUCATION.
AND THE BEST PART IS KIDS.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE KIDS, DON'T GO INTO EDUCATION, OKAY?
(audience laughing) I DON'T KNOW
IF ANYBODY'S WRITTEN A BOOK ABOUT THAT,
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO LIKE KIDS IF YOU WANT TO BE IN EDUCATION,
AND YOU'VE GOT TO LIKE THEM WHEN THEY'RE NOT VERY NICE TO YOU
AND YOU GOT TO LIKE 'EM WHEN THEY'RE LOVING ON YOU,
SO YOU'VE GOT TO LIKE ALL OF THAT.
SO, THOSE ARE SOME OF MY KEY POINTS TO THAT.
A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT EDUCATION--
I LOVE TEAMWORK, I LOVE WORKING WITH OTHER PEOPLE,
I LOVE TALKING TO PEOPLE, I LOVE INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE.
WHAT I'D NEVER REALLY REALIZED WHEN I WAS IN YOUR SHOES,
WAS THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE KIDS,
BUT YOU HAVE PARENTS-- YOU'RE DEALING WITH PARENTS.
SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TELL OTHER PEOPLE HOW TO BE A PARENT.
YOU GET TO BRING THAT.
YOU GET TO BRING YOUR EXPERIENCE THAT YOU'VE HAD AS A KID
TO OTHER PARENTS, TO OTHER KIDS.
AND I LOVE THAT I GET TO WORK WITH COLLEAGUES,
I GET TO WORK WITH DAN AND JOHN ALL THE TIME,
AND I LOVE THAT PART.
AND I THINK, "OH, THIS IS A REALLY GOOD IDEA,"
AND I SIT DOWN WITH JOHN AND DAN AND THEY'RE LIKE,
"HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT THIS WAY?"
"NO, BUT THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, TOO."
SO, I LOVE THAT PART.
SO, MAKE SURE YOU LIKE WORKING AS A TEAM,
MAKE SURE YOU LIKE BEING AROUND OTHER PEOPLE, OKAY?
IT'S A PEOPLE PROFESSION.
SO, IF YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO LIKES TO SIT IN A CUBICLE
AND CRUNCH NUMBERS ALL DAY--
RIGHT, WHEN YOU'RE SITTING IN FRONT OF A PROFESSOR,
YOU KINDA GET THE PROFESSOR WHOSE MAILING IN, RIGHT?
AND THEY'RE JUST THERE, AND THEY ARE JUST KIND OF WAITING
AS YOU'RE WAITING FOR THE CLASS TO BE OVER.
BUT IF SOMEONE IS TRULY THERE AND THEY'RE INVESTED IN IT,
THEN IT'S GOING TO GO FAST, IT'S GOING TOO FAST FOR YOU,
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN A LOT ALONG THE WAY.
SO, DON'T EVER FORGET THAT.
UNDERSTANDING-- YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE.
THE BEST PART ABOUT EDUCATION IS WELL...
WE'RE KIND OF ALL EXPERTS, RIGHT?
WE'VE ALL WENT THROUGH SCHOOL.
WE'VE ALL DONE IT.
SO, NOW WE ALL KIND OF GET WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE
AND WHAT IT CAN BE LIKE.
SO, YOU HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING-- JOHN TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT IT--
YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GO THROUGH A REALLY BAD TEACHER
OR A REALLY BAD COACH, OKAY?
BUT YOU ALSO UNDERSTAND THE FLIPSIDE OF THAT--
YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S A TEACHER OUT THERE
WHO REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR YOU.
HONESTLY, MR. FRENCH-- HE TAUGHT ME MATH.
I KNOW IT SOUNDS ODD, BUT MR. FRENCH TAUGHT ME MATH...
(audience laughing) HE WAS MY BEST TEACHER,
AND I GOT A C+ IN HIS CLASS.
I NEVER COULD GET HIGHER THAN A C+, BUT HE WORKED WITH ME,
HE CHALLENGED ME, HE TUTORED ME AFTER SCHOOL,
AND HE WAS JUST THERE FOR ME.
AND I STILL STRUGGLED IN THAT SUBJECT.
NEVER WAS ABLE TO REALLY GRASP IT, BUT HE NEVER GAVE UP ON ME,
AND THAT'S MADE A LIFELONG DIFFERENCE
IN WHERE I'M AT TODAY.
YOU CAN BE THE CHANGE.
IF YOU WENT THROUGH, AND LET'S SAY YOU'RE UP TO THIS POINT
AND YOU'RE LIKE, "I'VE NEVER HAD A GOOD TEACHER,"
THEN YOU CAN BE THE CHANGE TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOU ARE GOOD TEACHER.
SO, DON'T EVER FORGET THAT.
THAT'S THE BEST PART ABOUT EDUCATION
IS YOU GET TO MAKE A LOT OF CHOICES ON THAT.
THERE IS A GREAT BOOK-- THERE IS A GREAT BOOK.
IT'S CALLED "ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN,"
AND IT'S EVERYTHING FROM HOW YOU WANT TO BE TREATED
TO HOW PEOPLE SHOULD TREAT YOU.
CHECK IT OUT-- EVEN JUST GO GOOGLE IT
AND IT'LL JUST HAVE A WHOLE LIST ON THERE,
AND YOU'LL SAY, "OH, MY GOSH,
"MAYBE I DON'T NEED TO GO TO GRCC."
(audience laughing)
BUT IT IS AN ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS BOOK,
AND THE REASON WHY I'LL PUT IN FOR THOSE OF YOU
WHO ARE THINKING ELEMENTARY--
AND YOU GOTTA REMEMBER I WAS THINKING
I WAS A SECONDARY PERSON.
I WAS THINKING I WAS GOING TO BE A HIGH SCHOOL COACH
AND I WAS GOING TO TEACH BIOLOGY.
BUT THE REASON I ABSOLUTELY LOVE ELEMENTARY
AND LOVE BEING WHERE I'M AT IS ONE, IS FOUNDATION.
YOU GET THESE KIDS WITH JUST BRIGHT EYES AND OPEN MINDS
AND THEY'RE CLINGING TO YOUR LEG FOR NO OTHER REASON
THAN YOU'RE MR. MACINA AND YOU'RE THEIR TEACHER,
AND THAT IS JUST A GREAT FEELING.
AND SO, YOU JUST GET TO HELP CREATE THAT FOUNDATION
AND CREATE THAT BASE.
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
THEY LOVE YOU.
THEY LOVE YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE THEIR TEACHER.
I MEAN, THINK ABOUT HOW POWERFUL THAT IS.
THAT MY WIFE-- SHE DOESN'T WALK INTO WORK
AND IS LIKE, "OH, THE ENGINEERS HERE-- OOH, OKAY--
"HERE SHE COMES."
BUT WHEN I COME IN AS A TEACHER, THEY'RE LIKE,
"HERE COMES MR. MACINA.
"ALL RIGHT!"
AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW ME,
SO THEY'RE GIVING ME THIS HUGE PEDESTAL EVEN BEFORE
THEY GET TO KNOW WHO I AM.
SO, I'VE GOT THEM ALREADY.
THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT ELEMENTARY.
A LITTLE HARDER AS YOU GO UP, TO BE HONEST.
A LITTLE HARDER AS YOU GET INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL--
NOT SO MUCH.
BUT THEN, YOU GET TO WIN THEM OVER.
I LIKE READING, I LIKE BOOKS,
I LIKE WHAT COMES THROUGH READING,
I LIKE THE EXPERIENCES THAT YOU CAN HAVE
BY READING SOMETHING AND PUTTING A MENTAL IMAGE TO IT,
AND THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN WATCHING A KID
LEARN HOW TO READ FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AND JOHN HAD KIND OF MENTIONED IT--
YOU'LL HAVE CHANCES AS YOU GO THROUGH
TO GO INTO A SECONDARY SETTING AND WATCH
AND AN ELEMENTARY SETTING AND WATCH.
GO TO IT ALL.
CHECK IT ALL OUT, EVEN IF YOU THINK,
"I'M A HIGH SCHOOL GUY AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO--
"COACH FOOTBALL-- THAT'S WHAT I MEANT TO DO.
"I'M GONNA COACH."
JUST GO SEE AN EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL
AND JUST SEE WHAT THAT'S LIKE.
IT'S GOING TO BE A COUPLE HOURS-- JUST GO CHECK IT OUT
AND JUST KIND OF SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE, OKAY?
THIS USUALLY HAPPENS IN MY CLASS.
USUALLY PEOPLE GET UP AND WALK RIGHT ON OUT,
SO I'M KIND OF USED TO THAT.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT ELEMENTARY, TOO,
IS JUST REALLY THE JOY OF LEARNING.
THEY JUST HAVE A JOY OF LEARNING.
THEY ARE LITTLE SPONGES IN ELEMENTARY,
AND I LOVE TO SOAK IT ALL UP,
AND THEY GET ALL BACK TO YOU IN SO MANY WAYS.
AND SO, THAT IS REALLY KIND OF--
MY SYNOPSIS OF ELEMENTARY IS YOU GET THEM WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG,
YOU GET TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE,
A BIG IMPRESSION, AND REALLY SET THEM UP FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL
AND HIGH SCHOOL AND GET THEM WITH THAT NICE FOUNDATION
THAT THEY HAVE.
MY BIGGEST THING THAT I REALLY WANT TO WALK AWAY
BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO DAN IS IF IT'S YOUR PASSION,
THEN GO FOR IT.
AND IF IT'S NOT IN YOUR HEART, THEN FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO,
BECAUSE THERE'S PLENTY OF THINGS TO DO IN LIFE.
AND WHAT I REALLY LOVE TO SEE WITH ANY TEACHER
IS SOMEBODY WHO'S HAD THAT PASSION
AND CONTINUES TO HAVE THAT PASSION.
SO, JUST MAKE SURE IT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO.
EXPLORE IT, CHECK IT OUT ON ALL LEVELS,
MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING IN YOUR HEART THAT YOU WANT TO DO,
BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE,
IN YOUR CAREER, AND REALLY THE VOCATION THAT YOU PICK.
SO, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. TAKENS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
YOU CAN TELL HE'S VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT HE DOES.
SO IS JOHN.
JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO IMPRESS UPON ALL OF YOU
AS YOU'RE CONSIDERING A CAREER IN EDUCATION.
IT'S GOOD YOU'RE HERE, AND I WISH I WOULD'VE HAD
MORE OPPORTUNITIES WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL
OR EVEN IN COLLEGE TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS,
WHERE I COULD INTERACT WITH PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS.
I'M SURE MOST OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY HAVE THOUGHT
ABOUT DIFFERENT CAREERS.
YOU KNOW, YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT, KEVIN,
AND THEN REALLY LANDED ON WHAT YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT.
SO, THIS IS GOOD.
YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLE POWER TO IMPACT PEOPLE IN A POSITIVE WAY
AS THEIR EDUCATOR, THEIR TEACHER, THEIR COACH.
AND IT TOOK THOSE FOUR WORDS...
TO HEAR THAT FROM A TEACHER AND A COACH,
TO FINALLY CAUSE ME TO BELIEVE IN MYSELF.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, I GREW UP IN A HOME WHERE MY FATHER
WAS AN ALCOHOLIC, HE WASN'T AROUND VERY MUCH.
MY MOTHER WAS VERY BUSY
WITH JUST TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AT HOME.
SHE WORKED, AND SO I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF THAT GOING ON,
AND "I BELIEVE IN YOU," AND "YOU'RE GOING TO BE OKAY.
"YOU CAN MAKE IT.
"I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE YOU."
SO, THAT WAS TOO BAD.
THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE THAT AT HOME, THANK YOUR PARENTS,
YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YOUR UNCLES AND AUNTS,
YOUR CHURCH--
WHEREVER THOSE SIGNIFICANT OTHERS ARE IN YOUR LIFE,
AND THANK THEM.
I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY IF I DIDN'T HAVE THAT IN MY LIFE,
AND BECAUSE MY TEACHERS AND COACHES BELIEVED IN ME,
"YOU CAN DO IT, WE'RE GOING TO GUIDE YOU,"
I MADE A PROMISE ONE DAY THAT IF I GET AN OPPORTUNITY
TO GO TO COLLEGE, AND FIGURED OUT A WAY TO PAY FOR IT,
AND I GET TO BECOME AN EDUCATOR AND IMPACT PEOPLE'S LIVES
IN A POSITIVE WAY,
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I COULD GIVE BACK,
JUST LIKE I'M DOING TODAY, LIKE THESE PEOPLE DID FOR ME.
SO, I BELIEVE IN YOU,
AND IT'S NOT OFTEN NOT WHAT WE SAY, IS IT?
BECAUSE ACTIONS SPEAK MUCH LOUDER THAN WORDS.
I CAN SAY THAT, BUT AFTER YOU SPEND A WEEK WITH ME
AS A TEACHER, YOUR STUDENTS WILL KNOW,
PEOPLE YOU INTERACT WITH WILL KNOW IF YOU'RE BEING FAKE OR NOT.
KIDS HAVE AN INCREDIBLE GIFT FOR THAT.
THEY KNOW WHEN YOU'RE BEING SERIOUS OR NOT,
AT THIS AGE GROUP, TOO.
MY DAUGHTER WHO'S A SENIOR IS CONSIDERING COMING TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE NEXT YEAR.
WE VISITED WITH YOU AND YOU SHOWED US AROUND THE SCHOOL,
AND SO I KNOW WHAT 18 YEAR OLDS THINK, AND SHE GOES,
"DON'T GIVE ME THAT, DAD."
SHE GOES, "YOU'RE NOT REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT IT."
SHE KNOWS WHEN I BELIEVE IN HER.
A COUPLE OF THINGS ALONG WITH THAT.
WHO KNOWS WHAT "CARPE DIEM" MEANS?
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
"SEIZE THE DAY."
AND IT'S THE TYPE OF JOB THAT WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING,
I'M JUST THANKFUL BECAUSE OF ALL THE ROUGH TIMES
I'VE BEEN THROUGH IN MY LIFE AND HAVEN'T HAD AN EASY UPBRINGING,
AND DIFFICULT THINGS IN MY ADULT LIFE,
AND WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, IT'S LIKE, "MAN!
"I GET ANOTHER DAY.
"I'M GONNA SEIZE THIS DAY AND MAKE THE MOST OF IT."
AND I'M IN CONTROL OF THAT.
THEN, YOU THINK AS A TEACHER YOUR IMPACT ON A LOT OF FOLKS
MAY BE THAT GREW UP IN THE MORNING AND DIDN'T--
WOKE UP IN THE MORNING AND DIDN'T FEEL THAT WAY.
BECAUSE OF THE HOUR THEY SPEND WITH YOU OR ALL DAY,
THEN YOU CHANGE THEIR OUTLOOK.
"MAN, THIS IS POSSIBLE.
"SOMEONE BELIEVES IN ME.
"I CAN DO THIS."
AND WHAT YOU'LL GET IN RETURN--
WHEN I KNOW I HAVE THAT SORT OF IMPACT ON OTHERS, BOY,
THAT SURE INSPIRES ME.
SO, SEIZE THE DAY.
THIS SIGNIFICANT IMPACT THAT YOU CAN HAVE.
JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS-- IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING EDUCATION,
WHICH SOUNDS LIKE MOST OF YOU ARE,
I REALLY ENJOY THE CREATIVITY PART OF IT.
IN ESSENCE, I HAVE A CURRICULUM TO TEACH, A SUBJECT TO TEACH,
BUT WHEN I WALK THROUGH THAT DOOR,
I CAN TEACH THAT SUBJECT DIFFERENT WAYS.
I CAN BE CREATIVE ABOUT THAT, DO WHAT I ENJOY DOING.
AND WHAT'S FUN, EVEN AS I WALK AROUND THE ROOM NOW,
AND WHEN I SEE A CHILD WHO MAYBE DIDN'T FEEL REAL GOOD
ABOUT THE SUBJECT MATTER, WHEN I SEE THEM ENJOY IT MORE,
THEN IT HELPS ME BE MORE CREATIVE.
AND A LOT OF THAT CREATIVITY COMES FROM MY STUDENTS,
ASKING THEM, YOU KNOW, "WHAT IS IT THAT CAUSES THE SPARK
"TO GO ON FOR YOU?
"HELP ME BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT."
AND I LOVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
BACK TO THE BOOK THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT-- THE KINDERGARTEN BOOK--
YOU KNOW WHAT HELPS ME TO MAKE MY DECISIONS
WHEN I HAVE TO RECOMMEND MAJOR DECISIONS
TO THE COMMUNITY IS WHAT THE KIDS TELL ME.
IT'S NOT WHAT THE ADULTS DO WITH THE BIG COLLEGE EDUCATIONS
AND ALL THAT.
IT'S WHAT THE STUDENTS TELL ME.
"HERE'S WHAT MAKES SENSE, MR. T.," THEY CALL ME--
ALTHOUGH YOU KNOW MR. T.
I'M NOT REALLY A MR. T., BUT...
(audience laughing) I'D LIKE TO THINK, BUT...
(audience laughing) THEY'D ALWAYS CALL ME MR. T.
AND I LOVE THAT, I LOVE LISTENING TO YOU
AND WHAT WOULD MAKE THIS SCHOOL BETTER AND ENJOY THAT PIECE.
SO, I LOVE THE CREATIVE PART.
THANK GOODNESS FOR MR. MACINA'S WIFE--
WE NEED SOMEONE TO ENGINEER AND DESIGN THOSE BOXES
AND TO BUILD THINGS.
SHE DOES A GREAT JOB OF THAT.
EDUCATION, THOUGH, YOU'VE GOT TO LOVE THE VARIETY.
VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE.
NO DAY IS EVER THE SAME.
I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A.D.D.,
AND I WOULD BE BORED
IF MY JOB WAS JUST A SPECIFIC TASK.
THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE JOB,
BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS DIFFERENT, AND IT'S A LOT OF FUN.
NOT MANY PEOPLE AT YOUR AGE-- I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT
WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE THAT I WOULD WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL
TO BE A PRINCIPAL OR SUPERINTENDENT,
BUT THAT SAME IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE ON YOUR CLASSROOM,
PEOPLE AROUND ME ENCOURAGED--
BOY, THAT YOU COULD HAVE THAT IMPACT AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY,
AND I REALLY ENJOY THAT PIECE, SEEING GREAT PROGRAMS
THAT OUR KIDS CAN BENEFIT FROM AND THEY CAN GO OUT IN THE WORLD
AND NOT JUST COMPETE BUT KICK IT OUT OF THE BALLPARK.
I MEAN, LEAD.
I REALLY ENJOY THAT PIECE.
AS AN EDUCATOR, IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT THAT THOSE THINGS
ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU.
A COUPLE OTHER THINGS-- YOU SAW THE PASSION.
THEY CALL IT THE "ART OF TEACHING"--
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THAT PHRASE BEFORE?
THE ART OF TEACHING.
ACTUALLY, MY MASTER'S DEGREE IS AN M.A.T.--
"MASTERS IN THE ART OF TEACHING."
AND TEACHING IS LIKE ART.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THE QUOTE, "POETRY IN MOTION"?
YOU CAN SEE IT, AND IN GREAT TEACHERS, IT'S AN ART FORM.
THEY ARE REALLY GOOD AT IT.
AND SO, THAT PASSIONATE PART IS DEFINITELY ABOUT THAT.
AND BEING A TEACHER, YOU'RE ALMOST LIKE AN ARTIST, IN THAT.
IF YOU DON'T VALUE RELATIONSHIPS,
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE NOT A GOOD PERSON,
BUT YOU REALLY HAVE TO ENJOY INTERACTING WITH OTHERS.
BOTH OF YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT.
I LOVE THAT, IN A GIVEN DAY.
IF I HAD A COUPLE HOURS OF YOU,
I WOULD ENJOY VERY MUCH SPENDING TIME.
I'M A VERY INQUISITIVE PERSON.
I'D LOVE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOU OR WHAT MAKES YOU TICK
OR WHAT UPSETS YOU...
SO YOU HAVE THAT EVERY DAY.
ONE OF YOU MENTIONED
WHAT REALLY STOOD OUT ABOUT ONE OF YOUR PROFESSORS WHO HAD
WAS THAT TIME YOU SPEND WITH THE PROFESSOR
BEFORE CLASS OR AFTER CLASS, OR THE ENCOURAGEMENT PIECE.
IF YOU ENJOY THAT, IT'S A GREAT JOB.
IF YOU LIKE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE, IT'S WONDERFUL.
ENJOY THAT PART REALLY MUCH.
JUST A COUPLE THINGS, TO WRAP UP--
I'LL TELL A COUPLE STORIES HERE A MINUTE.
ONE OF YOU MENTIONED STORYTELLING,
AND SOME OF MY FAVORITE TEACHERS WERE GOOD STORYTELLERS.
AND I HAD MY GRANDFATHER WHO COULDN'T SPEAK MUCH ENGLISH,
AND MY DAD NOT SO MUCH EITHER, BUT I USED TO LOVE THE STORIES
THAT THEY WOULD TELL ME.
AND I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT LIFE THROUGH THE STORIES THEY TOLD.
SO, IF YOU LIKE STORIES, HEARING STORIES,
OR IF YOU LIKE TELLING STORIES, IT IS A GREAT WAY
TO MAKE TEACHING EXCITING, IF YOU WILL.
BUT I'M IN IT FOR THE STUDENTS.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU ABOUT STORY ABOUT JIMMY.
AND JIMMY WAS A STUDENT OF MINE
WHEN I TAUGHT AT VALLEYWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL
IN THE KENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND PRIOR TO THAT, I HAD DONE MY STUDENT TEACHING
AT OTTAWA HILLS HIGH SCHOOL, AND I HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO--
I FELT LIKE YOU WERE MAKING FUN OF ME,
BUT I WANTED TO BE A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AND COACH FOOTBALL.
(audience laughing) AND I STUDENT TAUGHT
AT OTTAWA HILLS
AND REALLY FELL IN LOVE WITH THAT AGE GROUP,
BUT WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR A JOB,
I COULDN'T FIND A JOB IN A HIGH SCHOOL,
AND GOT HIRED AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER IN KENTWOOD.
YOU'RE RIGHT-- I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO WORK WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SO, THAT GROUP IS...
INTERESTING, BUT THAT'S WHERE THE JOB WAS,
AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND JUST A QUICK STORY-- I BUMPED INTO JIMMY NOT LONG AGO,
BUT WHEN I WAS COACHING JIMMY BACK--
REMEMBER WHEN I SAID, "I BELIEVE IN YOU"?
JIMMY FREEMAN-- I'LL MENTION HIS LAST NAME--
QUITE A WELL-KNOWN ATHLETE THAT CAME OUT OF KENTWOOD
AND WENT TO GRAND VALLEY,
BUT IN EIGHTH GRADE, THERE WAS A HIGH JUMP RECORD--
I THINK IT WAS SIX FOOT.
AND JIMMY JUST DIDN'T BELIEVE HE COULD GET OVER THAT HURDLE.
AND THE HURDLE MAY BE A STUDENT IN YOUR CLASSROOMS
THAT DOESN'T THINK THEY CAN UNDERSTAND PHOTOSYNTHESIS
OR ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING IN WRITING.
WHATEVER THAT HURDLE MAY BE-- I USE THAT JUST AS AN EXAMPLE--
BUT I KEPT BELIEVING IN JIMMY
BUT HE DIDN'T BELIEVE IN HIMSELF.
I SAID, "JIMMY, YOU CAN DO THAT.
"YOU HAVE THE TALENT TO DO THAT."
"NO, I CAN'T, MR. T.-- NO I CAN'T."
I SAID, "YES, YOU CAN."
AND WE WOULD HAVE THE TRACK MEETS AND HE'D GO 5'9", 5'10",
EASILY CLEARING 6 FOOT, AND VISUALLY WHEN I COULD SEE IT.
BUT AS SOON AS THAT BAR WENT TO 6 FOOT, SCHOOL RECORD,
EVERY TIME HE'D HIT IT.
MENTAL-- MIND OVER MATTER.
I SAID, "YOU CAN DO IT, JIMMY, YOU CAN DO IT."
"NO, I CAN'T."
SO, I LIED TO HIM... (audience laughing)
AND I CAN STILL REMEMBER IT WAS A RAINY, RAINY DAY
AND WE HAD TO MOVE PRACTICE INTO THE GYM,
SO WE HAD THE HIGH JUMP SET UP IN THE GYM.
THERE WAS ABOUT 100 KIDS ON THE TRACK TEAM,
SO AT THE END OF PRACTICE TO MAKE IT FUN,
I SAID, "HEY, LET'S HAVE A HIGH JUMP CONTEST."
AND KIDS TRIED HIGH JUMP THAT HADN'T DONE IT BEFORE,
AND YOU KNOW, IT WAS 4'8", 5-FOOT, AND WE WERE MOVING UP,
AND JIMMY WAS EASILY GOING OVER IT.
I WENT AHEAD AND MEASURED IT AND I ACTUALLY PUT 6'1" ON THERE,
BUT I TOLD JIMMY IT WAS 5'10".
AND HE HAD DONE 5'10" LIKE CLOCKWORK.
HE WENT UP THERE, "AW, THAT'S NOTHING, MR. T."
WENT RIGHT OVER IT.
HE GOT OVER HIS HURDLE, WHATEVER THAT HURDLE IS.
I SAID, "GO MEASURE THAT, JIMMY."
AND I STILL REMEMBER IT, AND IT WAS 20-SOME YEARS AGO--
HE GOT ONE OF HIS BUDDIES AND HE MEASURED IT AND HE GOES,
"YOU LIED TO ME, MR. TAKENS." (audience laughing)
I SAID, "I DID, BUT LOOK WHAT YOU DID, BABY."
AND HE DID.
IT WAS 6'1", AND 20-SOME YEARS LATER,
WHEN I THINK OF ALL THE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE IN EDUCATION,
AND THINGS THAT SUPPOSEDLY ARE BIG SHOT STUFF SUPERINTENDENTS DO,
NOTHING COMPARES TO KNOWING WHEN I TRULY GOT THAT STUDENT
TO BELIEVE IN HIMSELF WHAT HE COULD DO.
IT'S AN AMAZING FEELING WITH IT.
AND JIMMY WOULD ACTUALLY BE THAT PERSON,
SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT THAT STORY,
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT THAT'S THE SORT OF IMPACT
YOU CAN HAVE ON PEOPLE'S LIVES.
AND I MEAN IT-- WHEN I GET MY PAYCHECK, SURE, THAT'S GREAT.
BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE NEAR THE VALUE THAT IT DOES WHEN I KNOW
MAYBE IN A WAY I'M BEING A BIG BROTHER TO THESE TWO GUYS
AND HELPING THEM TO BE BETTER PRINCIPLES,
TO CARE MORE ABOUT PEOPLE.
IT REALLY IS ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS
AT THE END OF THE DAY.
SO, THE REWARD YOU'LL GET IF YOU GO INTO EDUCATION
AND HELPING OTHERS GET OVER THEIR GOALS,
THEIR HURDLES...
YOU CAN'T PUT A PRICE TAG ON THAT.
I'LL WRAP UP WITH TWO WEEKS AGO-- MY DAUGHTER,
WHO ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAVE CAR PROBLEMS AND I'M HER BEST FRIEND
WHEN THE CAR IS NOT WORKING-- IF WE EVER WANT TO TALK--
WHAT'S GOING-- "YOU ASK TOO MANY QUESTIONS, DAD.
"WHY DO YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT?
"YOU'RE ANNOYING ME, DAD."
I'M GOING, "I JUST WANT TO TALK TO YOU, HON'.
"I LOVE YOU."
BUT SHE NEEDS GAS MONEY OR SHE SAYS, "DAD, THE CAR WON'T START,
"THE CAR WON'T START."
"I THINK WE NEED A NEW BATTERY BUT YOU'RE COMING WITH ME."
SO, WE GO TO A PARTS STORE ON DIVISION AND 68th STREET,
AND WE GO IN THERE AND THE PERSON BEHIND THE COUNTER THERE
GOES, "MR. TAKENS?"
I'M THINKING, "UH-OH, WHAT'S HE UPSET WITH ME ABOUT?"
BUT HE SAID, "IS THAT YOU?"
I SAID, "YEAH, IT IS."
"WERE YOU MY MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER?"
I SAID, "I'M NOT SURE, WHAT'S YOUR NAME?"
AND THEN HE SHARED WITH ME WHAT HIS NAME WAS--
DARYN URBANOSKI WAS HIS NAME.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW HE SAID TO ME?
AND THIS GETS ME EMOTIONAL BECAUSE THIS IS THE IMPACT
YOU CAN HAVE.
HE GOES, "THANK YOU FOR NEVER QUITTING ON ME.
"I KNOW I WAS REALLY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
"HE DIDN'T QUIT ON ME, AND YOU BELIEVED IN ME."
HE WENT AHEAD AND PULLED OUT HIS WALLET AND SHOWED ME A PICTURE
OF HIS GIRLFRIEND AND HIS CHILDREN,
AND THAT HE HADN'T MADE IT THROUGH COLLEGE
BUT HE HAD A GOOD JOB.
HE WAS TAKING CARE OF HIS FAMILY.
AND HE JUST SAID, "THANK YOU FOR NOT QUITTING ON ME.
"THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN ME."
AND I'M LIKE, "WOW."
IT WAS SO NEAT BECAUSE THEN MY 18-YEAR-OLD WAS STANDING NEXT TO ME,
AND SHE'S WONDERING ABOUT A CAREER TO GO INTO.
WHAT DO YOU THINK WE TALKED ABOUT ON THE WAY BACK?
(audience laughing)
SHE GOES, "DO YOU THINK I COULD HAVE THAT SORT OF IMPACT ON PEOPLE?"
I GO, "I THINK SO, HON'.
"I REALLY THINK SO."
SO, THINK LONG AND HARD ABOUT YOUR CAREER,
AND IF YOU DO GO INTO EDUCATION, TAKE IT REALLY SERIOUSLY.
THAT'S WHERE IF I'M EVER A REALLY TOUGH BOSS,
IS WHEN I SEE AN ADULT
WHO ISN'T HAVING THAT SORT OF INFLUENCE ON A CHILD'S LIFE,
AND IF THEY'RE HAVING THE OPPOSITE INFLUENCE,
THAN I GET A LITTLE BRISTLY.
AND I SAY, "MAN, YOU ARE BLOWING OPPORTUNITIES
"TO MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN KIDS' LIVES,
"AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT."
THANKFULLY, MOST OF MY TEACHERS WERE REALLY GOOD,
AND GREAT INFLUENCES IN MY LIFE.
SO, A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
I HOPE YOU CAN DO THAT FOR A JIMMY SOMEDAY,
AND THAT STORY I SHARED WITH YOU AT THE END.
IT'S IN GIVING THAT YOU RECEIVE,
AND THERE IS NOTHING GREATER THAT HAS OCCURRED TO ME
KNOWING THAT I'VE HAD THAT SORT OF DIFFERENCE
ON SOMEONE'S LIFE.
SO, THANK YOU.
JOHN, I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU AND LET YOU WRAP UP.
>> ALL RIGHT, AT BYRON CENTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DAN DOES A GOOD JOB
TEACHING HIS PRINCIPALS IS MODELING.
YOU SHOULD START WITH SOMETHING THAT ENGAGES YOU.
WE SHOULD TRY AND PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH, IF YOU WILL.
SO, ALL OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW WHAT I THINK-PAIR-SHARE IS,
BUT YOU TURN TO SOMEONE NEAR YOU OR COUPLE PEOPLE NEAR YOU
AND YOU JUST HAVE A QUICK, CASUAL CONVERSATION.
SO, IF YOU'LL JUST PAIR YOURSELVES OFF.
OF COURSE, WE'RE ALL ADULTS HERE SO THIS WILL BE EASY,
AND JUST HAVE A QUICK DIALOGUE--
WHAT ARE YOU ENJOYED LEARNING ABOUT TODAY?
SO, WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED LEARNING ABOUT TODAY?
AND THEN, PART TWO, WHAT WONDERINGS OR QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE?
I BELIEVE ALL THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON.
ALL OF YOU CAME HERE-- PROBABLY FOR THE EXTRA CREDIT,
AND I APPLAUD THAT, GOOD FOR YOU.
NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT-- (audience laughing)
DON'T BE ASHAMED OF EXTRA CREDIT PIECE.
(audience laughing) AND THE TREATS, YES.
AND I HEARD THEY'RE HANDED OUT GIFT CARDS LATER.
(audience laughing) NO, I MADE THAT PART UP.
PLEASE.
BUT IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS,
YOU HAVE SOME WONDERFUL RESOURCES HERE.
CERTAINLY YOUR PROFESSOR, PROFESSOR KRAJEWSKI, MR. MACINA,
SUPERINTENDENT TAKENS.
ANYONE WOULD BE HONORED TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
SO, IF THERE ARE THINGS YOU'RE WONDERING ABOUT
OR YOU HAD QUESTIONS,
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT FOR YOU ABOUT THE PROFESSION.
ANY QUESTIONS?
YES, MA'AM?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. TAKENS IF HE LOOKS AT PORTFOLIOS
WHEN HE'S HIRING ONLINE, OR IF HE LIKES THE HARD COPY.
BECAUSE FERRIS STATE HAS US USE A PROGRAM CALLED "LIVETEXT,"
AND I'M WONDERING IF IT'S IMPORTANT.
>> YEAH, GREAT QUESTION.
TEACHING IS A VERY POPULAR PROFESSION,
AND FOR ONE TEACHING POSITION SOMETIMES WE'LL HAVE 300 OR 400
APPLICATIONS FOR IT.
SO, WHAT DOES A BUSY PRINCIPLES DO,
OR WHAT IS A BUSY SUPERINTENDENT DO?
I WOULD SAY NOW, WITH TECHNOLOGY--
UTILIZE THE TECHNOLOGY.
AND I CAN DO THAT WHILE I'M SITTING AT THE COUCH AT NIGHT,
OR I WAS AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE YESTERDAY
WAITING FOR MY DAUGHTER'S APPOINTMENT,
AND I GO THROUGH THAT.
THE HARD COPY, WHEN YOU COME IN-- BRING THAT ALONG WITH YOU.
DEFINITELY BRING THAT ALONG,
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT?
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU PUT ON IT THAT SETS YOU APART--
AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY YOUR GRADE POINT AVERAGE--
BUT SOMETHING THAT WILL SET YOU APART,
SHARE A BRIEF STORY IN THERE.
IF YOU MAKE IT INTO THE INTERVIEW,
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT-- STAND UP, MRS. KRAJEWSKI--
I'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE COME INTO INTERVIEWS
AND THEY DO THIS...
JUST KINDA...
THEY DON'T GIVE ME A FIRM HANDSHAKE,
THEY DON'T LOOK ME IN THE EYE.
NICE TO MEET YOU, I'LL LOOK AT YOUR RESUME,
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOU TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> YOU BET.
A SENSE OF HUMOR-- ONCE YOU GET IN,
HAVING A SENSE OF HUMOR IS GOOD
BECAUSE YOU'RE WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND PARENTS.
HAVING A GOOD PERSPECTIVE--
SOMETIMES, A TEACHER OR PRINCIPAL WILL SAY,
"THESE PARENTS ARE DRIVING ME NUTS."
AND I'LL GO, "WHY?"
"WELL, THEY'RE JUST COMPLAINING TO ME ABOUT THEIR KIDS
"AND THEY WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THEIR KIDS."
WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE A PARENT SOMEDAY--
YOUR MOST PRECIOUS COMMODITY IS YOUR CHILD.
SO, I TAKE IT AS A PRIVILEGE WHEN THE PARENTS JUST LIKE BEATING ME DOWN
AND I'M GOING, "YOU BET SHE'S FIGHTING FOR IT.
"IT'S HER KID!"
I DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY.
UTILIZE THE TECHNOLOGY.
ACTUALLY, IT WAS YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT TO USE THE PROGRAM
WE USE NOW, APPLE TRACKS, WHICH YOU CAN UPLOAD.
AND THEN WHAT I CAN DO IS KEY INTO,
"HEY, I'M LOOKING FOR A BIOLOGY MAJOR,
"I'M LOOKING FOR THESE THINGS."
BUT THEN, ONCE YOU COME IN, IT IS NICE TO HAVE
THAT SHORT AND SWEET-- AND THAT COPY.
OTHER QUESTIONS AT ALL, OR COMMENTS, TIPS?
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> RIGHT, RIGHT.
DO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA?
YOU BET.
YOU KNOW, THE INTERVIEW-- IF YOU GET AN INTERVIEW
AND YOU GET IN FOR 15 MINUTES, THAT'S GREAT,
BUT WHEN I GET DONE STUDENT TEACHING,
I COULDN'T FIND A TEACHING JOB RIGHT AWAY.
I STARTED TO SUBSTITUTE TEACH THROUGHOUT WEST MICHIGAN,
BECAUSE I'M THINKING, "I GET A DAY-LONG INTERVIEW."
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I DID WAS WHEN I WOULD SUB,
I WOULD GO ABOVE AND BEYOND.
I MADE SURE THAT WHEN I LEFT, THE DESK WAS NEAT,
I'D WRITE OUT A NOTE TO THE TEACHER,
I WOULD TRY TO DO AS MUCH AS I COULD.
AND THEN SHE WOULD SAY, "BOY, IF YOU CAN GET THIS MR. TAKENS AGAIN."
GO INTO THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE, GO SEE THE PRINCIPAL,
OFFER TO HELP OUT ON THE PLAYGROUND.
BUT SUBBING IS A WONDERFUL WAY TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR,
OR BEEN A PARA-PRO, OR LUNCHROOM.
ONE OF OUR BEST TEACHERS IN BYRON CENTER IS ALISON ABBOTT.
SHE TEACHES FOURTH GRADE.
WHEN I WAS PRINCIPAL IN KENTWOOD,
SHE BEGGED ME FOR A JOB.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A JOB.
HER FIRST JOB WAS CROSSING GUARD AND COPY MAKER.
AND NOW, SHE'S ONE OF OUR BEST TEACHERS,
AND IT TOOK HER A COUPLE YEARS, BUT SHE JUST SAID,
"BOY, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU HOW GOOD OF A CROSSING GUARD."
AND IT WAS HER PERSONALITY, GETTING ALONG WITH PEOPLE.
I'D SEE HER OUT THERE HOOTING IT UP WITH THE PARENTS,
AND THEY LOVED HER OUT THERE.
SHE'D BRING ME HOT CHOCOLATE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.
BUT THAT IS A GOOD WAY TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR--
THROUGH SUBBING.
PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES WORKS, TOO.
(audience laughing) VOLUNTEERING.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE IS A SCHOOL NEARBY--
VOLUNTEERING, OFFERING TO DO TUTORING,
THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
AND THEN, THEY'RE GOING TO GET TO KNOW YOU AND SAY,
"BOY, NOT ONLY IS HE A FINE YOUNG MAN,
"BUT I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW HIS PERSONALITY,
"AND I'VE LOOKED THEM IN THE EYES AND I SAID 'MAN,
"'THERE SOMETHING ABOUT HIM.'
"I'D LIKE HIM IN OUR SCHOOL TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON KIDS."
THAT'S HOW YOU GET THE JOBS.
ANY OTHER TIPS OR COMMENTS?
YES, SIR?
WHAT'S YOUR NAME AGAIN?
L.C. COOPER-- GOOD NAME.
GO AHEAD.
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> THAT DOESN'T SAY "HOPE COLLEGE," DOES IT?
BECAUSE I'M A CALVIN COLLEGE GRADUATE,
AND WE HAVE THESE ISSUES WITH THE HOPE...
(audience laughing) GO AHEAD--
WHAT'S YOUR COMMENT OR THOUGHT OR QUESTION?
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
IF YOU DIDN'T HEAR THAT, YOU'RE THINKING OF HIGH SCHOOL.
IF WE HAD TIME FOR A CUP OF COFFEE,
MAYBE I CAN COME BACK AND DO THAT SOMETIME WITH YOU,
BUT THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY JOB.
I'M THINKING, "MAYBE TODAY THIS CONVERSATION."
TEN YEARS FROM NOW, WHEN I WALK INTO KENTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL,
AND YOU SAID, "REMEMBER WHEN YOU CAME?
"I'M A TEACHER HERE NOW."
AND YOU-- LIKE, WOW!
I GET TO HAVE THAT IMPACT, BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY LEAN TOWARDS
WHAT YOUR HEART IS TELLING YOU, BUT THEN BE OPEN TO CHANGE,
BECAUSE I TOTALLY WANTED HIGH SCHOOL, TOTALLY,
AND THEN MIDDLE SCHOOL KIND OF CAME.
ALL RIGHT, OBVIOUSLY I WANTED THE JOB.
THEN, I BECAME AN ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLE,
AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THAT, SO IF YOU'RE REALLY GOOD AT THIS,
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOUR KINDERGARTEN, 11th GRADE,
BUT TO MARKET YOURSELF.
IF YOU BECOME AN ELEMENTARY TEACHER BECAUSE YOU'RE A MALE--
JUST LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, I THINK YOUR BOYFRIEND'S
GOING TO BE A NURSE-- MALE NURSES--
WHEN WE INTERVIEW FOR ELEMENTARY POSITIONS,
WE LIKE TO HAVE A FEW MALES ON STAFF,
BECAUSE IT'S GOOD FOR THE KIDS WITH THAT.
JUST LIKE FEMALE-- I KNOW A LOT OF YOU CONSIDER ELEMENTARY,
BUT I LOOK LONG AND HARD FOR SECONDARY FEMALE MATH
AND SCIENCE TEACHERS.
OUR YOUNG LADIES NEED THOSE EXAMPLES--
YOUR MOTHER TEACHES SCIENCE.
MY DAUGHTER, WHEN SHE'S HAD A FEMALE MATH OR SCIENCE TEACHER,
SAYS, "I CAN DO IT.
"FEMALES CAN DO THIS."
SO, YOU WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO AND IT WILL WORK OUT FOR YOU,
BUT ELEMENTARY-- I WORKED AT ALL THE LEVELS,
I THINK I LIKED ELEMENTARY THE BEST.
THOSE KIDS DO LOVE YOU IN A WAY THAT'S--
I DON'T GET THAT ROCKSTAR STATUS WHEN I GO HOME.
THEY LOVE YOU, MAN!
(audience laughing) YEAH, EXACTLY.
YEAH, BUT JUST INTERACTING WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT,
I COULD SEE YOU WOULD BE GOOD AT BOTH LEVELS,
BUT MAYBE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND CONSIDER ELEMENTARY,
AND THEY LOVE YOU.
YOU'D BE A GREAT ROLE MODEL, YEAH.
YEAH, WELL THEY WOULD LOVE YOU.
GO AHEAD.
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> SURE. >> (indistinct speaking).
>> SURE. >> (indistinct speaking).
>> SURE-- YEAH, GREAT QUESTION.
YOU WOULD, TO A DEGREE.
YOU WOULD HAVE YOUR BASICS TAKEN CARE OF--
YOUR EDUCATION, YOUR DEGREE--
BUT YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO TAKE SOME ADDITIONAL COURSE WORK
TO BE ELIGIBLE TO TEACH HIGH SCHOOL.
SO, IF YOU STARTED OUT IN ELEMENTARY,
BUT YOU STARTED TO TAKE YOUR GRADUATE CLASSES
OR YOUR CONTINUING ED CLASSES,
JUST DON'T TAKE IT IN ANYTHING,
TAKE IT SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY USE LATER ON.
THAT WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR.
YOU MAY FALL IN LOVE WITH IT, BUT THERE MAY BE PART OF YOU,
"I'D LOVE TO BE A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER."
SO, THEN YOU CAN GO BACK AND DO THAT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH, THEN.
YOUNG LADY, WHAT ARE YOU CONSIDERING WITH EDUCATION?
>> PRESCHOOL. >> PRESCHOOL.
AND I DON'T MEAN TO JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER,
BUT JUST WATCHING THE GROUP A LITTLE BIT,
IF I HAD MORE TIME I'D KINDA SAY,
"YOU REMIND ME OF SOME OF OUR PRESCHOOL TEACHERS."
AND YOU DO REMIND ME VERY MUCH OF MY DAUGHTER,
AND SHE'S CONSIDERING EARLY CHILDHOOD,
BUT JUST YOUR MANNERISMS, YOUR SMILE, THE THINGS THAT--
I COULD SEE KIDS FEELING REALLY COMFORTABLE.
AND YOU GOTTA REMEMBER, WHEN THESE PARENTS
DROP THEIR KIDS OFF, THAT'S THEIR KID!
IF THEY WALK IN AND THEY'RE THINKING,
"SHE DOESN'T LOOK VERY NICE, OR SHE DOESN'T LOOK VERY--"
(audience laughing) IT'S A FACT OF LIFE.
I REMEMBER WHEN I PUT MY FIVE-YEAR-OLD ON THE BUS,
AND SHE WAS ALL MINE FOR FIVE YEARS,
AND I TOOK THE MORNING OFF FROM WORK
AND I CAME HOME EARLY THAT DAY--
BECAUSE WE LIVED IN ZEELAND--
AND I WAS THINKING, "OH, MY GOSH,
"I'M PUTTING HER ON THIS BUS."
SHE'S GONE AND SHE'S GONNA GO BE WITH SOMEONE ELSE,
AND I'M GLAD SHE KNOWS HOW TO TEACH,
BUT I NEEDED TO KNOW THAT SHE WAS GONNA BE KIND OF LIKE HER MOM--
SHE WAS GONNA BE NURTURING,
SHE WAS GOING TO LOVE MY KID.
SO, I WAS THINKING PRESCHOOL OR EARLY--
THAT'S AN GREAT AGE GROUP.
YEAH, YOU'LL LOVE IT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
YOU LOOK LIKE A MIDDLE SCHOOL GUY TO ME.
ELEMENTARY?
FIFTH OR SIXTH, I COULD SEE YOU DOING.
LIKE A MIDDLE SCHOOL GUY.
UH, HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELOR.
PARDON ME?
HEAD START OR KINDERGARTEN.
IS THAT A MICHIGAN SHIRT YOU HAVE ON THERE?
YOU WENT TO SCHOOL IN MICHIGAN STATE?
YEAH... (audience laughing)
THAT WOULD BE THE IF YOU WERE INTERVIEWING WITH ME,
BECAUSE I WENT TO CALVIN,
IF YOU HAD A HOPE SWEATSHIRT ON, I MIGHT GO, "MMM, NOT SO MUCH."
ANY-- >> (indistinct speaking).
(audience laughing)
>> ANYBODY CONSIDERING SPECIAL EDUCATION?
THAT IS A PHENOMENAL-- YEAH.
THANK YOU, WHY YOU CONSIDERING THAT?
>> (indistinct speaking). >> YES, YES.
>> (indistinct speaking). >> SURE, YEAH.
WHERE DO YOU GO TO HIGH SCHOOL?
>> (indistinct speaking). >> OH SURE.
THAT IS A REALLY NEAT CAREER.
OUR SPECIAL ED DIRECTOR-- I WAS MEETING WITH HER THIS MORNING,
AND HER BROTHER HAS A SPEECH IMPEDIMENT,
AND THEN SHE WATCHED HOW MUCH HE STRUGGLED GROWING UP.
AND SHE SAID, "BOY, I REALLY WANT TO BE A SPECIAL ED TEACHER
"TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT."
SO, THAT'S A GREAT CAREER TO CONSIDER, TOO.
ANYBODY ELSE-- WHAT ARE YOU CONSIDERING?
>> (indistinct speaking). >> SURE.
>> (indistinct speaking). >> I HEAR YOU.
WHAT WAS THAT MOVIE... "DANGEROUS MINDS."
YEAH, RIGHT THERE-- THAT COULD BE YOU.
(audience laughing) IF YOU GO IN THERE--
AND WHAT YOU JUST SAID--
WHETHER YOU'RE IN A CATHOLIC SCHOOL, A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL,
AN INNER-CITY SCHOOL, OR A SUBURBAN SCHOOL,
OR A COUNTRY SCHOOL, KNOW YOU CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE
IN KID'S LIVES, BUT WE DO NEED OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST
IN SOME AREAS WHERE UNFORTUNATELY THOSE KIDS DON'T COME TO SCHOOL.
MOM AND DAD MAY BE WORKING TWO OR THREE JOBS,
MAYBE HAVEN'T BEEN READ TO, MAYBE HAVEN'T BEEN--
THAT'S WHERE WE REALLY DO NEED OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST.
SO, I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT SETTINGS
THAT THOSE KIDS NEED YOU MORE THAN JUST A TEACHER.
I THINK SHE'S GOT THE PROFILE OF THE...
ANYBODY ELSE?
WHAT GRADE GROUP ARE YOU CONSIDERING, ALLIE?
THIRD GRADE?
AND THEN, YOUR MOTHER IS A HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER, SO...
>> (indistinct speaking). (audience laughing)
>> YEAH, AND I WOULD THROUGH YOUR TEACHERS, TOO--
DON'T TAKE WHAT I SAID TODAY.
WORK OUT, CALL A SCHOOL, OPEN UP SOME CONTACTS,
AND GO AND VISIT A FIRST GRADE CLASSROOM FOR A DAY.
THAT WILL REALLY HELP YOU WITH THAT, YEAH.
WHY ARE YOU CONSIDERING KINDERGARTEN?
THAT AGE GROUP-- WAS THERE SOMEBODY WHO HAD AN INFLUENCE ON YOU,
OR WHAT'S YOUR PURPOSE FOR THAT?
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> WHO WAS YOUR-- OH, SHE-- >> (indistinct speaking).
>> YEAH, I WAS GONNA SAY!
WHAT'S SCHOOL WAS THAT AT?
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> REALLY?
AND SO, I SUSPECT BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME REAL--
I'M GOING TO EMBARRASS HER--
BUT THERE MUST'VE BEEN SOME THINGS THAT YOU SAID,
"WOW, LOOK AT THE IMPACT THAT SHE IS HAVING ON MY FLESH AND BLOOD."
TO THIS DAY, JUST A FEW YEARS AGO I'M SURE.
SO, LOOK AT THAT.
I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE TO GO, AND THEN I'LL BE DONE,
BUT WHAT SHE JUST SHARED WITH HER,
I'M CAN GUARANTEE YOU GOING TO GO TO BED TONIGHT
WITH A HUGE SMILE ON YOUR FACE, WOW.
YEAH, BUT KNOWING YOU HAD THAT SORT OF IMPACT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF JOB YOU CAN HAVE THAT CAN DO THAT,
SO NOW SHE WANTS TO DO IT.
YOU JUST KEEP PAYING IT FORWARD.
THAT'S COOL.
WHAT GRADE ARE YOU CONSIDERING?
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> EXCELLENT.
WHAT SORT OF SETTING WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK IN?
>> (indistinct speaking). >> SURE.
WELL, I WAS GONNA SAY THAT, BUT YOUR T-SHIRT IS A GIVEAWAY--
"THE GREAT GATSBY."
I'M THINKING, "YEAH, HE'D PROBABLY--"
WHERE DID YOU GO TO HIGH SCHOOL?
OKAY, DID ANYBODY GO TO BYRON CENTER HIGH SCHOOL IN HERE
OTHER THAN ALLIE?
HOW ABOUT-- YOU SAID YOU WENT TO ZEELAND EAST OR WEST?
ARE THEY THE DUCKS OR THE CHICKS?
CHICKS, YEAH-- GOOD.
WHERE DID YOU GO TO HIGH SCHOOL?
WEST OTTAWA?
OKAY.
HOW ABOUT YOURSELF-- WHERE DID YOU GO TO HIGH SCHOOL?
CENTRAL?
WHEN I WENT TO GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN,
THAT WAS OUR BIG RIVALRY-- THE RAMS.
BUT THAT'S NOT A SCHOOL ANYMORE, IS IT?
IS IT-- OKAY, OKAY.
JOSEPH APPLEWHITE-- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU RECOGNIZE THE LAST NAME,
BUT HE WAS MY BIG--
HE WAS THE GUY I COMPETED AGAINST IN SPORTS THERE.
GOOD, I THINK WE'LL WRAP UP.
I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO PROFESSOR SIEGEL,
AND HAVE YOU COME-- WHAT A NICE STORY THOUGH.
YEAH, THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
YOU GET THAT FROM THE COLLEGE KIDS AT ALL?
DO YOU GET THAT-- >> (indistinct speaking).
>> WELL, BEFORE YOU KNOW IT,
MR. KRAJEWSKI WAS TELLING ME THE OTHER DAY,
HE HAD THE GRANDKID OF A STUDENT HE HAD NOT TOO LONG AGO...
(audience laughing) >> (indistinct speaking).
>> YEAH, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
(applause)
THANKS, GUYS, I APPRECIATE IT.
I'M GLAD YOU WERE HERE.
IF YOU NEEDED A SLIP FOR EXTRA CREDIT, GO AHEAD AND GET ONE.
IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A SNACK WITH YOU,
IF THERE'S ANY LEFT, GO AHEAD.
AND MAKE SURE YOU SIGNED IN.
ALL WE DO WITH YOUR EMAIL IS SEND YOU NOTIFICATIONS
OF OTHER THINGS COMING UP IN THIS DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S ALL WE DO.
I'M GLAD YOU WERE HERE-- I'LL SEE YOU AT THE NEXT SEMINAR.
HAVE A GOOD ONE!
(applause)