Need help relating to middle school aged kids

At our school, we have a summer youth program where high school students from around the state come to learn about various topics. This year, one of the graduate students asked if I would give a talk on sustainability. I'm not really qualified to talk about sustainability in construction, so we ended up talking about how society affects changes.

This weeks group is y0unger - 7th - 9th grade.

SO - I need some examples of cultural changes they have experiences. Good and bad things they understand. How can I present this information in terms they know?

Previously, I've used two ways to convey this during my 45 minutes. One by having the students try to build a structure working together - except they have been assigned what I call a barrier personality. These are people who can make working together as a team hard (such as the person who won't listen to anyone else's ideas but insists that their ideas are the only right way).

The other way is to talk about how things that are good have negative issues and so we, as a society, must decide if the good outweighs the bad. For example, Amazon will make suggestions to us about books we might enjoy based on previous purchases. That can be useful. But, if they sell that information to say, the republican party, the republican party can filter it with all of the other information they compile to predict the individuals voting tendencies (Applebees America).

So, now that I've given you examples of what I've done in the past, I'd love some ideas for what I can do in the future.

And now I wait. . .

If I don't get the job, it won't be because I didn't prove I was capable, understood the issues, and demonstrated experience in 95% of all items. In fact, the one area that I didn't have direct experience, I was able to describe the university resources, policies, possible models, and disadvantage the School will have in utilizing part of the model (as well as the faculty resistance)..

They did tell me that I'd have to give up teaching for the job - but I told them that I can't work full time and teach and that I recognized that it was an either or situation that I had come to terms with when I applied for the job.

The hope to either make a decision out of today's interviews or hold second interviews next week. They want a quick start date.

I do really want to say more (esp before I forget), but I'm too tired. I hope I don't forget by tomorrow.

Sarah has a friend spending the night tonight, so I may be awake for a bit.

I did come to a realization. I'm not sure if I"m opposed to working full time, or if I'm opposed to working full time if it's going to be at a job that is not at my capability. Maybe if I'm actually doing what I could be, working at my respected level rather than just working at my level in a job that isn't - maybe I won't be so frustrated by in.

In the past 10 years, I've had no real potential at any of my jobs. I came close to my level for 3 mos. This is the closest I've come.

The best part, I know that I'm not going to be stuck forever! When asked if I was available quickly, I said that I'd already thought about my exit strategy. I didn't tell them that it was because I was exiting no matter what.

I did send my email thank you note tonight. I prefer snail mail for thank yous, but I did email because the turn around is fast and I needed to send them a references contact information. (I didn't bring it on purpose so I would have something to contact back with.)

Notes for interview printed, black folio found, suit cleaned, makeup bag found.

Going to get ready now that I've had some coffee (no coffee or food once I put on my suit).

Interview in 90s minutes. I'll update you on the flip side.

Life is better

I feel better. I had my temper tantrum, I got some sleep last night, and I emailed someone at the meeting to see what I should have done.

And, it's OK for now, but I know I'm getting out soon.

Tuesday, while I was emailing a friend of mine that I needed to check on the status of the job I applied for, I got a call from the department to set up an interview. So, first thing Friday morning I go in for an interview for a job I want - except it's full time.

So, I've been doing my research to try to piece together views of the new Dean. I also obtained some information that gave me a couple of good info. They are trying to fill the position quickly - they want the person in by Sept 2nd when classes start.

My suit is dry cleaned. I printed an analysis I did on our website. Tomorrow, I'll go through the job description and line up my experience with the expected job duties. I'm also talking with someone from the dept tomorrow to find out what I can about the direction the Dean wants to take the school and the plan for the programs.

I also ended up talking with the person who does recruitment/marketing for the Grad school. I told him that I was interviewing for the job and he was very encouraging. We've been working together a bit on activities for the projects I work on. He also agreed to be a reference and said he was looking forward to working with the person (and I get to market that I already have experience working with this guy!).

I've decided that even though I'm not sure if I want to work full time, I'm putting everything into the job (you never know what might happen) and I'll just wait until I have something to decide before I make any decisions. BUT, I'm having a tough time trying to not get caught up in the excitement. Up here, Director level jobs RARELY open up.

In the "most embarrassing moment of the day" I give you this story. On July 1, we got a new Department Chair. It was someone who I've known more socially and chatted with here and there over the past few years. I was standing in my friend's office and told her about my interview, doing my happy dance. I noticed behind me "DC" in the doorway. He told us that it was OK, happy dances where ok. "S" said she wasn't dancing. "DC" observed that she doth protest too much and I added "and the other one just blushes." He agreed it was a pretty impressive blush.

Then again, "DC" did see me successfully dance with 3 inch heels at a party one night. LOL.

Maybe I can sleep soon.

I knew my 2:00 meeting would be tough. I was going to confront my boss about something in a meeting so I would have support. It went as well as I expected. I walked out of the room after the meeting and was leaning against the wall waiting for the elevator and one of the attendees patted me on the shoulder. I mumbled something about him not being able to tell me I was wrong and she agreed, very sincerely, that I wasn't (course, none of them said anything to support me, just left it to me to argue the point).

Later I was chatting with my unofficial boss to tell her what happened (CYA ya know) and mentioned a few other things that she missed while out of town. She wasn't exactly happy about some of it which made me feel better.

So, I headed home, made dinner and curled on the couch with my pounding headache. At midnight I headed to bed and laid there for 20 min - brain wound like a top. So, I thought what would Meritt do, got up and decided to work out my feelings reading and blogging. I also tried to call my friend Kelly, but couldn't get the machine to pick up.

It's not a bad thing as I got a cc from a message from my boss asking someone to give me some information needed to reverse something. AND, asked if I thought something else was appropriate. I'm not certain he came to the conclusion himself, but most likely with some help. I have a few days to think about the second question.

With that email, I might be able to calm down some. There's more to the day, but nothing I can put in writing here.

I'm home

I'm exhausted, I'm tired, I have a killer headache, my house is a mess, I'm so thrilled to be home!!

I have missed sleeping with DH. After 11 years of marriage and 2 years of not always sleeping alone before that, I don't always sleep well without DH. I guess that I spent much of last night snuggled up to DH (or as he put it, pushing him out of bed).

The girls did well on our flights home - esp considering that we were flying at bedtime and landed at our home airport at midnight. I had asked my mom to check the girls room to see if I forgot anything, unfortunately, she checked the beds REALLY well, but didn't look at the hooks on the wall. Sydney's pink princess cowboy hat was left in the room. Thankfully, our layover at the airport in Minneapolis occurred such that the shops were still open, so we bought a new one. At $10, it was about the same price as mailing it back to us as to buy another one. I'll post a picture of it later this week.

My dad taught Sarah to play chess this week. She really enjoys it. I might have to see if I can find an online game for her that will play at her level. I suspect there will be one out there.

My mom worked with the girls on making some ceramic tiles. Unfortunately, they didn't dry in time, so she will have to fire them then mail them to us (I just hope she can do that before the fair next month!) I'll need to find someone here to finish the firing after we glaze them, but since I have two friends who do ceramics, I think I'll be able to.

Considering that the girls were sharing a room, not home, and were all out of their normal routine, they did really well!

They had a blast playing with their cousins, almost enjoyed playing in the bay (except for the various jellyfish stings they both received), loved kayaking (Sarah even took a boat out by herself, with an adult in the water with her),

I even managed to exercise every other day!

Back to reality. I think I'll head to bed now, as there is so much more I want to say, but I'm not completely coherent now.

Tomorrow, Sydney has a followup appointment with the ENT and on Tuesday we drive down to Marshfield to see the neurologist for Sarah. I don't think I've mentioned it much, but Sarah has some nervous tics we want to have checked out.

vacation

We've been on vacation for the past week. I still have a few more days before we fly home. DH couldn't come as he has a student who is defending his dissertation in a few weeks. So, instead of sleeping (which I really, really need to be doing), I'm watching a bad movie because I have a hard time going to sleep when DH isn't with me.

I'll write more another time. But, I have to tell you that I'm really impressed with Sarah. My dad taught her to play chess. She absolutely loves the game.

Me, I'm impressed that I've managed to work out at least every other day.

It's almost 1:00 am and my children will wake at 7:00 am. I guess I should go to sleep.

Night!