This past weekend my husband and I were in Ohio at college hockey games. We are alums of the school we follow for hockey and are fortunate enough to have seats right behind the glass at the home team bench. This weekend I got to watch some of the great "theater" of hockey.
The coach of our team is very energetic and volatile, especially when the calls from the referee are not going the way the coach believes they should go. For this game the referee was a guy who has been referee for the league for several years. Although he is experienced he seemed to be missing many of the penalties done by the other team. Isn't that just the way it always seems when your favorite team is playing? Rarely does someone say, "wow, the ref really gave us the game by missing all of our illegal plays." Usually it seems the ref always catches your team doing something wrong but misses the other team when it does something wrong.
On this occasion the ref missed a call against the opposing team. Our coach was very angry and started motioning the ref over for a "chat." Now in hockey the head coach of the team can ask to talk to the ref, which usually happens when there is a question about a play.
The coach was excitedly motioning the ref over and the ref stood on the other side of the rink and shook his head "No." The coach continued to motion demanding the ref come to the bench. Finally the ref agreed to come to our bench but he would only talk to the assistant coach who seemed much less animated about what had happened on the ice. The ref motioned the head coach away and as he stepped away the ref skated over the talked to the assistant coach.
We had a perfect view of this exchange between the three actors in this little drama. I commented on the fact that all three seemed to be playing out parts in a drama. Most of the crowd did not have the advantage we had to see this little act as part of the larger "theater" of the game that evening.
Our team ended up winning in sudden death overtime. The crowd was elated and we had a wonderful evening.
It seems sometimes we get caught up in the emotion of a moment, whether it is a sporting event, or our everyday lives, and we miss the little nuances of the "theater" that happens all around us. Whether it is the exchange between a hockey coach and a referee in the midst of a highly contested game, or the "dance" of attraction by two college students who happen to meet in the library, we all are too engaged in the excitement (or focused on our phones) to quietly watch and enjoy what is happening around us.
So my suggestion to you is take some time and watch the "theater" of life as it takes place all around you. Sometimes you can learn something from this observation. Other times it is just fun to watch others play out their parts. Overall it helps us connect with the world in which we live.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Will They Like Me?
As I mentioned in my profile I am a college professor. In addition to my full time job, as well as being a student, I teach one college level class a semester. This semester I am teaching an Introduction to Psychology class at 8:00 in the morning.
Since I am also a student stepping into the professor's role for a class is a paradigm shift for me. I always worry, "will they like me" or "will I do a good job" Each class begins with trepidation and worry but as I ease into the role of "professor" I find that it is something that I can embrace and enjoy. It was really quite an awakening for me to realize that I am the one leading this class. Once I had realized that I was able to relax and let the class happen.
I have found that a great class is energizing and fun. When we being our time together as a group sometimes magic happens and it is one of the most exciting experiences I have. Yet when we have a bad day as a group or something does not fit together well the time can be interminable. I prefer the magic days to the days where it seems I am plodding through the material.
So today I started with a new class of students. We meet at 8:00 AM so most of them are just waking up, or getting off a job where they worked all night. This group seems receptive and open to discussion so that is a positive. They laughed at my jokes and answered when I asked questions of the group. So far we are doing well. I hope this is a great journey of discovery with this group of students.
But, I still will wonder - "Will they like me?"
Since I am also a student stepping into the professor's role for a class is a paradigm shift for me. I always worry, "will they like me" or "will I do a good job" Each class begins with trepidation and worry but as I ease into the role of "professor" I find that it is something that I can embrace and enjoy. It was really quite an awakening for me to realize that I am the one leading this class. Once I had realized that I was able to relax and let the class happen.
I have found that a great class is energizing and fun. When we being our time together as a group sometimes magic happens and it is one of the most exciting experiences I have. Yet when we have a bad day as a group or something does not fit together well the time can be interminable. I prefer the magic days to the days where it seems I am plodding through the material.
So today I started with a new class of students. We meet at 8:00 AM so most of them are just waking up, or getting off a job where they worked all night. This group seems receptive and open to discussion so that is a positive. They laughed at my jokes and answered when I asked questions of the group. So far we are doing well. I hope this is a great journey of discovery with this group of students.
But, I still will wonder - "Will they like me?"
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Countdown to Election
One of my frustrations right now is all the political junk on Facebook. Many of my friends are politically active and seem to believe that we all want to know who they support, who is their choice and who says what.
Right now I am so grateful I live in Indiana and not one of the battleground states such as Ohio. My family is Ohio is being inundated with presidential political ads as well as receiving phone calls and getting stacks of mail about the election.
As one person mentioned on Facebook, I wish there was a button I could push to stop anything that mentions candidates, the election and politics.
My views do not mean that I am not involved with this election. I plan to vote and will make every effort to choose wisely with my vote. It is important to me as a citizen and I am still enough of an activist that I want my voice to be heard.
It just seems that right now with all the technology and social media available we cannot get away from this. If it is not commercials, candidates and PAC's voicing their opinions it is my friends either re-posting items on Facebook or forwarding emails. I am so glad I do not do Twitter!
As I tell the students in the classes I teach, it is important to vote. There have been instances where a small group of individuals voting together have changed the course of history. As citizens of this country it is our responsibility to make our voices heard and to do that on election day. I'm just weary of all the "stuff" that is sent our way.
There are three weeks left until election day. Be prepared, we will be more inundated as the date gets closer. Whatever you do, take time that day to vote!
Right now I am so grateful I live in Indiana and not one of the battleground states such as Ohio. My family is Ohio is being inundated with presidential political ads as well as receiving phone calls and getting stacks of mail about the election.
As one person mentioned on Facebook, I wish there was a button I could push to stop anything that mentions candidates, the election and politics.
My views do not mean that I am not involved with this election. I plan to vote and will make every effort to choose wisely with my vote. It is important to me as a citizen and I am still enough of an activist that I want my voice to be heard.
It just seems that right now with all the technology and social media available we cannot get away from this. If it is not commercials, candidates and PAC's voicing their opinions it is my friends either re-posting items on Facebook or forwarding emails. I am so glad I do not do Twitter!
As I tell the students in the classes I teach, it is important to vote. There have been instances where a small group of individuals voting together have changed the course of history. As citizens of this country it is our responsibility to make our voices heard and to do that on election day. I'm just weary of all the "stuff" that is sent our way.
There are three weeks left until election day. Be prepared, we will be more inundated as the date gets closer. Whatever you do, take time that day to vote!
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Dissertation Proposal!
As I have mentioned in my profile I am a graduate student working on a doctorate in education. This has been a journey I have been on for five years. Many people ask me what I plan to do once I have completed my degree and I tell them not much different from what I am doing now. I'll have more time to read things other than academic journals and textbooks. I also won't be traveling to my college which is 50 miles away from my house, each way.
So right now I am working on the proposal for my dissertation. Throughout this academic journey I am amazed at the changes that have taken place since I was in college (undergraduate and graduate) years ago. I am able to take classes with people from all over the country through online learning. I also have not stepped into a college bookstore during my tenure working on this degree (but I know Amazon very well - thank goodness for Amazon Student!).
As I am doing the work on the literature review for my dissertation I have not had to visit the library at my school. I am spending many hours on the virtual library and finding much of what I need. There may be a need for me to look at actual documents rather than documents online but so far I have managed to find everything I need online. I remember as an undergrad, many years ago, spending untold hours in the stacks at the library at my college looking up articles and sources for research papers.
I love the convenience of doing my searches online and having the resources available to me whenever I have a little bit of time to work. Yet it seems like something is missing. The library, in addition to being a source of knowledge, was also a source of connection and community when I was in college. Visiting the library allowed you to catch up with friends and spend time together.
This is not a whine about the "good old days." Trust me I would not give up my Kindle Fire and the ability to download books immediately from Amazon or the library. I love the convenience of technology and the immediacy of it, in terms of access. Yet I can still remember spending hours in the stacks, hearing the hum of the white noise in the library and trying to stay awake while doing research. Then after my work was completed I would walk back to my dorm on a cold, or snowy night bundled up and carrying books and the fruits of my labor.
We have gained so much with the advances in technology but maybe lost a little also. Think about that when you are connecting at your next WIFI Hot Spot.
So right now I am working on the proposal for my dissertation. Throughout this academic journey I am amazed at the changes that have taken place since I was in college (undergraduate and graduate) years ago. I am able to take classes with people from all over the country through online learning. I also have not stepped into a college bookstore during my tenure working on this degree (but I know Amazon very well - thank goodness for Amazon Student!).
As I am doing the work on the literature review for my dissertation I have not had to visit the library at my school. I am spending many hours on the virtual library and finding much of what I need. There may be a need for me to look at actual documents rather than documents online but so far I have managed to find everything I need online. I remember as an undergrad, many years ago, spending untold hours in the stacks at the library at my college looking up articles and sources for research papers.
I love the convenience of doing my searches online and having the resources available to me whenever I have a little bit of time to work. Yet it seems like something is missing. The library, in addition to being a source of knowledge, was also a source of connection and community when I was in college. Visiting the library allowed you to catch up with friends and spend time together.
This is not a whine about the "good old days." Trust me I would not give up my Kindle Fire and the ability to download books immediately from Amazon or the library. I love the convenience of technology and the immediacy of it, in terms of access. Yet I can still remember spending hours in the stacks, hearing the hum of the white noise in the library and trying to stay awake while doing research. Then after my work was completed I would walk back to my dorm on a cold, or snowy night bundled up and carrying books and the fruits of my labor.
We have gained so much with the advances in technology but maybe lost a little also. Think about that when you are connecting at your next WIFI Hot Spot.
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