Back to School

After a great personal Christmas Holiday it was back to Roseville High School today. Besides a little extra grogginess due to our holiday extravaganza, I was looking forward to being back. The kids were actually a little off today. I expected a little bit of droopy eyes but also some rested smiles. This was not the case as I found a large number of saddened faces, due I discovered to largely unmet expectations and bitter disappointments from a Christmas season that holds so much promise for most of us. One of my students lost his sister due to a car accident, another got jumped, and another student's parents violently split from the sounds of her story. A fourth was excited to tell me how just today he was going to go shopping for his Christmas presents that were mysteriously absent the day of Christmas. We did a little goal setting with the start of the New Year where one student responded his 2007 aspirations as to not get shot. I think he made this comment for effect, but it still resonates. It is always eye-opening to see another part of students' lives and it makes you ever more thankful for the hand that you have been dealt. It also helps put the importance of factorization versus self esteem in perspective. The good news is they are getting back to a routine something they really desire and need out of school and we were able to crack a few smiles with a warm welcome back.