Are the Presidential Candidates a Role Model for our Children?

These past few weeks I have had this topic on my mind, and it is hard to not have it on to my mind due to the chaos of our country right now. It has been bothering me from a teaching standpoint and just as a person in general. I am usually one to keep my mouth shut about politics unless I am comfortable with the person that I am talking to. This isn’t about which presidential candidate is better suited for the job. This is about the effect of these candidates on our children. As I watch the presidential debates I have to admit they are quite humorous to watch, but it really is not. If we think about it, why is it funny? We have grown men and women acting like three year olds on a stage talking about what they think is best for our country. They talk over each other and insult each other like their mothers did not teach them how to play nice and be respectful to people. What was that saying that everyone learned as they were growing up? If you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say it at all. Well with the candidate bashing I find myself scolding men and women that are double and even triple my age. When did our society become a society where to get a word in you have to talk over each other and make jokes that could be harmful to the person in question. Bullying is a thing in school and as the candidates have repeatedly showed it is a problem in our society. I am disgusted with the way the candidates treat each other. We are all on the same side, but they constantly tear each other down. I am not singling anyone out here, but they are supposed to be role models. One of them is going to be the leader of our country and they need to start acting like it. Whoever reads this and looks at me like I am naive well I don’t care. You know its true and how am I supposed to teach and watch children grow up when they constantly see someone on TV who breaks the rules, talk over each other, and downright disrespect other people. When I was growing up my parents and teachers told me that I could be president if I wanted to. Well you know what, when my children grow up I don’t want them to go into politics if their role models are people who cannot even follow the values and morals that we were all given as we were growing up. Being president is supposed to be something that someone aspires to be as child, but that dream has ended for me. If I ever wanted to be president that is over now. Now, I know that the job isn’t the problem. It’s the people. I have also noticed that you are not noticed as a presidential candidate unless you are aggressive. Since when did president=aggression. Being a leader and being aggressive is not the same thing. I feel bad for the children that are growing up in this society right now. I’m only 21 and I may not know what I am talking about, but I am in that transition zone between a child and an adult. I don't like this. Do you? 

Dead week and finals won't break me.

I don't know why I am writing this. I should be sitting at my computer and doing the homework that is due in the next week, but I had something on my mind. This next week is dead week and I feel like I am drowning in a sea of stress. I have two finals in the next week and I have to finish four assignments and I am panicking. I do this every year and I still do not have a handle on it. I don't think that I ever will have a handle on it. Dead week is literally dead week. I am tired and I need this semester to be over. I am taking 8 classes this semester. It is a total of 18 hours and I don't know why I did that. Why did I push myself to the breaking point? I know why. I knew I could do it. Deep down I know that I can finish this semester out strong. I am strong. I am smart. We can all do anything that we set our minds to as long as we have the ambition and strive to do it. Yes, I am stressed, but I am going to take that stress and turn it into motivation for me to do well in these next two weeks, because I can.

-Teacher in training

The Bad and the Ugly

As it gets closer and closer to Thanksgiving I have begun to really notice what I am thankful for. I know that I should be thinking about it year around, but sometimes we get so caught up in the bad situations in our life that we don't realize the good events and situations. I have a lot of problems with this. I have a great life and sometimes I get caught up in all the stress of school that I forget about the amazing people in my life and how great I have it. I honestly think that the news and even Facebook has contributed to why I think in the way that I do. We see news stories all day long about the hateful and hurtful comments and actions that people make, but I rarely see the good stories. I'm tired. If it wasn't for my family and friends I would have gotten rid of Facebook a long time ago. The good posts are the ones that make me smile, but the bad posts are always the ones that are "trending" on Twitter and Facebook. Why? Why can't we focus on the good? A lot of bad events are happening in the world and I understand that they need to be talked about, but we need something to keep us going. I don't want to live in a world where all I hear about is the bad and the ugly. I know that the world isn't all sunshine and rainbows, but I want to hear about the great acts of kindness and love out there. It still exists, but people ignore it. Slow down and think about the good in your life. I guarantee you it is there. Don't take people for granted either. Here is a challenge for you today. There is two parts. The first is: Stop and think about the good in your life. Do not get caught up in the bad. It will consume you. The second is: Tell someone thank you and show them that you don't take them for granted. I guarantee you that your life would be different without your family and friends in it. 

- Teacher in Training

I am not going to be perfect.

As it is halfway through the semester I have come to realize one thing. I am not perfect. I am killing myself over the fact that I AM NOT PERFECT. As a junior in college it kills me that I do not know everything that I need to know. It irritates me to no end that I cannot walk into the classroom and automatically know everything that I need to know. It frustrates me that I cannot be perfect. I am not going to be perfect right away, but I do know one thing. I can strive to be perfect. I can spend my whole life to get to where I need and want to be: Educating the minds of young children. As a future teacher I am constantly learning everyday. I learn what to do, what not to do, how to change something. My mind is going a mile a minute and it is a thrill to me. I know that everyday is not going to be the same. Everything is not going to go PERFECT, but learning from it is the true reward.  

- Teacher in Training