Are the two really mutually exclusive?
Sunday, April 27, 2008
or is it Mexican?
I just overheard -- and probably misunderstood -- a snippet of conversation. As I passed a doorway, I heard a mother inside asking her adult son, "Is it Christian, or is it Mexican?"
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Graduation!!!
Graduation letter:
To my friends and family,
Thank you!
I cannot let graduation pass without thanking everyone who has seen me through my past 23 years. I’m sending you this letter because of the effect you have had on me, helping and encouraging me as I pursued my degree at the University of Georgia, and I want to let you know what is coming up next in my life.
As you may know, I majored in Psychology (yes, I tend to diagnose everybody–but not you, of course!) and looked into a few counseling jobs, some grad programs, thought about a job with an insurance company for about 14 seconds, and applied to two different teaching fellowships. Some of my residents in the dorm requested I fail my finals and be their RA again next year – I’m not considering that offer. After a lot of prayer and thinking, I chose to accept an offer from a very cool program, Teach For America, which will take me to Phoenix, AZ, for the next two years, beginning on June 8th. I am very excited about TFA, and want to ask for your thoughts and prayers as I head west. While in Phoenix, I’ll teach elementary school Special Education in the Roosevelt School District (just south of the city) by day and pursue a Masters of Education in Special Education at Arizona State University by night.
Now, for a side note. In keeping with tradition, Arizona State has renamed me. UGA started this mysterious trend when they turned me from “Williams, James Joseph” into “Williams, James José.” I liked that, actually, especially when teachers attempted correct pronunciation. Arizona State University named me “James Christopher Williams.” This was a little too different, and has been fixed, the only remainder being a “c” in the middle of my email address. My friend Jonathan Woodlief told me years ago he had been praying people would misspell his name. I thought he was crazy. He told me it’s the best reminder to maintain humility, a reminder that our identity lies in much deeper places than what people call us. It’s been a good reminder, especially in a period of my life where there is such a push to define individual identity using titles, degrees, salary, etc. It’s freeing to realize that I can trust God to take care of me; people can call me whatever they want – God knows who I am. I feel like God has given me a peace in my heart about the decision to go to Phoenix, and a friend reminded me of something important the other night: when God brings you to a new place, remember the reality of the situation – if He has brought you to a new place, it is for a reason, in every situation and with every new person you encounter. I trust He has placed me in Phoenix to have an influence in the lives of my students and whoever else I may meet, just as you have had an influence in my life, and I only hope I can live up to the example set by people who have helped me through these past few years.
OK, well, enough of that…
I would love to stay in contact with you, but do not know much about my contact information once I leave. Here’s what I know so far:
Thank you again so much for helping me along, and really – please stay in touch!
To my friends and family,
Thank you!
I cannot let graduation pass without thanking everyone who has seen me through my past 23 years. I’m sending you this letter because of the effect you have had on me, helping and encouraging me as I pursued my degree at the University of Georgia, and I want to let you know what is coming up next in my life.
As you may know, I majored in Psychology (yes, I tend to diagnose everybody–but not you, of course!) and looked into a few counseling jobs, some grad programs, thought about a job with an insurance company for about 14 seconds, and applied to two different teaching fellowships. Some of my residents in the dorm requested I fail my finals and be their RA again next year – I’m not considering that offer. After a lot of prayer and thinking, I chose to accept an offer from a very cool program, Teach For America, which will take me to Phoenix, AZ, for the next two years, beginning on June 8th. I am very excited about TFA, and want to ask for your thoughts and prayers as I head west. While in Phoenix, I’ll teach elementary school Special Education in the Roosevelt School District (just south of the city) by day and pursue a Masters of Education in Special Education at Arizona State University by night.
Now, for a side note. In keeping with tradition, Arizona State has renamed me. UGA started this mysterious trend when they turned me from “Williams, James Joseph” into “Williams, James José.” I liked that, actually, especially when teachers attempted correct pronunciation. Arizona State University named me “James Christopher Williams.” This was a little too different, and has been fixed, the only remainder being a “c” in the middle of my email address. My friend Jonathan Woodlief told me years ago he had been praying people would misspell his name. I thought he was crazy. He told me it’s the best reminder to maintain humility, a reminder that our identity lies in much deeper places than what people call us. It’s been a good reminder, especially in a period of my life where there is such a push to define individual identity using titles, degrees, salary, etc. It’s freeing to realize that I can trust God to take care of me; people can call me whatever they want – God knows who I am. I feel like God has given me a peace in my heart about the decision to go to Phoenix, and a friend reminded me of something important the other night: when God brings you to a new place, remember the reality of the situation – if He has brought you to a new place, it is for a reason, in every situation and with every new person you encounter. I trust He has placed me in Phoenix to have an influence in the lives of my students and whoever else I may meet, just as you have had an influence in my life, and I only hope I can live up to the example set by people who have helped me through these past few years.
OK, well, enough of that…
I would love to stay in contact with you, but do not know much about my contact information once I leave. Here’s what I know so far:
- Between now and May 10th, I'm living in Rutherford Hall at UGA.
- May 10th to June 8th, I'll be at my parents' house.
- June 8th I'm moving to Phoenix, AZ.
Thank you again so much for helping me along, and really – please stay in touch!
"I kinda have mixed feelings about that," I explained in this strangely acceptable non-explanatory phrase.
One of my residents pointed out: "You have mixed feelings on a lot of things."I'm not exactly sure what I think about that, but, as an RA, I respect his opinion.
I'm ready to graduate, ready to move on, and yet I'd be happy here. I'm content in a lot of places, but discontent -- or disconnected? -- just enough to be OK with change. Extreme change.
Is it the adventure that draws me?
The exploring of new places and new things?
The escape from the old? Getting rid of the familiar?
Do I get some thrill from reinvention? Test-driving myself in a new place, checking out how I function in new environments? Right now, I'm feeling like this is the best explanation.
Like I said, I'm not completely certain what I think about a lot of things. I'm noncommittal when it comes to judging or deciding, even things about myself. I've seen too many inconsistencies to commit to one interpretation of anything, but, you know... I don't know.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
...still studying
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Dyscalculia
Dyslexia
Down's Syndrome
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Cerebral Palsy
Multiple Sclerosis
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Mild Mental Retardation
Moderate Mental Retardation
Severe Mental Retardation
Profound Mental Retardation
Hearing Impairment
Blindness
Accommodation
Modification
Individual Education Plan
Functional Behavioral Assessment
10 Days to Notify for Changes or Respond to a Lawsuit
15 Days to Notify the State of a Challenge to a Lawsuit
30 Days to Implement IEP Plans
Letter in Parents' Native Language
Translator
Advocate
Manifestation Determination
Due Process
Americans with Disabilities Act
General Education Teacher
Special Education Teacher
Resource Room
Inclusion
Least Restrictive Environment
Present Level of Academic and Functional Performance
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