Relaxing at Yale

What to say about Yale?
Other than the fact
that other tools fail in comparison
for such professional development: YNI.

It's an experience,
like a mini-vacataion
where you work your mind
to extreme extent: YNI.

You can get your exorcize
by walking the campus.
I usually just get lost
and wander around: YNI.

Mostly, everyone's affiliated
with Yale: graduate students,
professors, workers, parents--
people populating the campus: YNI.

Right now there are +/- 17
voters, highly educated and happy,
with libations in hand,
discussing philosophies of education: YNI.

Time together increases the sound
of good vibrations
flowing all around
the hallowed halls and sacred space: YNI.

As you express
ideas and thoughts,
understanding is wrought
creating the beginning of a Utopia: YNI.

The days are filled
with hungry learners
that prick your brain
with new seeds of understanding: YNI.

Testimonials: Fall and Summer 2015

"I feel reenergized going into the final weeks of the school year."
--Julian, a San Jose educator, speaks about the initial, Fall, conference.

"I've been inspired over the last two days."
--Chad, a San Jose educator.

"The one on one discussions with the professors is exciting!"
"It's really nice to have a broad range of disciplines and grade levels in our seminars."
--Will, a San Jose educator.

Feeling YNI

What did I think about YNI?

Well, now it was a little while ago.  I’ve had time to reflect on my experience, which, I hope I can speak for many, is a necessary requirement for really understanding what occurred.

The foremost aspect on my mind is the stress.  It is certainly stressful.  Yet, what worthwhile endeavor isn’t? I suppose the analogy is similar to learning any new subject.  You start off ambitions.  If you continue to pursue the goal, you soon learn how much more it was than you ever realized.  You struggle and fail. 

It’s courageous to take on such an endeavor.  Do you know what that means? It’s life changing.  Not just for your life, but for the lives of others.  It’s a tsunami and you are the wave, remodeling everything that once was.

Soon, you realize that you can achieve your lofty ambitions.  With seemingly infinite wisdom surrounding you, you will learn all you desire.  Your work bends and sways, growing and refining.  Using vast human and archived knowledge, the unit will slowly come into form. 

A YNI year is like climbing a mountain.  Everything builds up to the final Wednesday in the Intensive Session and declines into August.  Yet, realize you are climbing a mountain range and another stands before you.  The school year begins and you implement your unit, seeing how well it actually works. 

Some people turn back.  However, the majority are successful.  They find promise in the journey and continue climbing over every rock and every hill.  Regardless of how far you pursue these rocky bluffs, how do you think you’ll feel when you finally descend? No matter how far you travel, even if it is for one year, you will always return stronger. 

Even better is that this is neither metaphor nor analogy.  This is real life.  You connect to many open-minded educators in increasingly inspiring settings.  YNI wants teachers to take control.  Teachers are in control and it has the power to change the world. 

Is this an accurate account of what happened? Not by any means.  I think this is the package before it’s opened.  There were many different gifts throughout this experience.  As time allows, I hope to share them with you.

San Jose Fellows Experience Rain

When rain drops drip on San Jose

fellows stare and start to say,

“Have they never seen the rain?

It looks like they are feeling pain.”

Will they live to see the day?

Versace soaked down to the core

“When will it end?” they implore.

Rain jackets on, well prepared.
Their eyes are wide!  They're really scared!

The rain has yet to really pour.

Across the street, they dash all-out.

Barely wet, they scream and shout,

“Bunker down! The world has ended!”

The humid shower was not intended.

Really though, they barely pout.

Once at home, they laughed with glee;

took out a phone for wet selfie.

Their silhouettes stood out stark—

#WeAlmostHadToBuildAnArk.

Another night at Yale University.

Yale, how did I get here?

Yale, such prestigious sound and experience that I often find myself wondering how I ever got here.  Why was I one of the chosen few to receive this opportunity? It’s not something I sought out for myself.  Rather, I kind of stumbled upon the whole situation.

It was another sun-filled day in San Jose when one of my colleagues approached me wondering if I would join him in an adventure to Yale.  Was this some nearby off-shoot city that I'd never heard of?  No, he said, his eyes in a sparkle, “Yale University.”

I’d never considered studying at Yale.  I had recently been wondering if and when I should go back to graduate school.  I was halfway through my third year teaching ELA in the middle school.  The educational community was slowly putting pressure on me to get a Master’s degree, which would be nice, but expensive.  

Yet, even though I quite enjoyed the idea of furthering my education, I imagined adding the cost of grad school to my already substantial mound of student loans.  Was there a way to further my education and still keep costs down?  Perhaps this sincere desire in the face of financial adversity was all the universe required to propel my life forward.

I quickly agreed to apply for YNI with my colleague.  Writing my application, excitement built, fueling my mind and spurring thoughts into heightened realms of sensational education.  Soon, though, my colleague backed out from the application process.  He told me the timing was off.  He needed to be there for his kids.  He just finished grad school.  

I was only slightly disheartened.  I was already determined to move forward with my career.  No one could sway me otherwise.  Again, I understood the importance of furthering my education. What better way than a free trip and professional development at the prestigious university of Yale?  

After all was set in motion, I received feedback on my application.  I was accepted at a local and then a national level! The feeling was exhilarating.  My family, principal, and district were proud.  My colleague was a bit glum with regret.  

I felt in my heart that this was a move in the right direction.  So, here I sit, at Yale, typing away in the heart of the dream.  Let me tell you, it feels good.

Intensive Session: Day 1

June 6, 2015

I arrived at Yale in the early evening.  The travel coordinator was supremely helpful in arranging my flight and pick up from the airport.  This time, I traveled from Chicago, O’hare to Hartford, CT; a much shorter flight compared to my last.  

Getting dropped off right in front of my dorm, the new dorm, I found my San Jose group gathering outside and preparing to walk to dinner.  They told me they would wait for me, so I quickly grabbed my room key, unloaded my bags on my bed, and continued my journey into the heart of Yale. 

Dinner was set in a long dining hall.  Even though it was buffet style, I still felt like I was meandering a scene from Harry Potter’s banquet room.  There was a healthy array of options, ranging from sandwiches, to pork, to incredible bacon infused noodles.  I sat down with my group as people continued to arrive from all parts of the country.  Most looked like worn travelers, but all had a fire and excitement in their eyes that foreshadowed the academic vigor in weeks to come.

After our meal, I went back to my room to unpack and finish some readings for tomorrow’s seminar.  My seminar leader found me as I was walking back and asked if I wanted to join her and a few others to watch the woman’s world cup final at a local pub.  I decided that might be fun and joined them after setting up my room.  

The bar was crowded with good ol’ fashion Americans rooting for their team and having a good time.  We didn’t stay long.  After the game was over, we walked back to the dorm down lamp lit paths and reassuring alleys.  The group showed me around a bit, but I was mostly exhausted.  So when I got back to my room, I turned out the lights and fell asleep.  

It was a good day.  Arriving back at Yale begot an air of intrigue that feels refreshing and invigorating.  I am excited for these next few weeks.  Although the work will be rigorous, I feel that I’ll find great value and fulfillment in my time here. 

Day 3: May 2015

I awoke with premonitions of the fatigue I will experience in July, when I come back for the intensive session of the YNI program.  This morning, Saturday, I rolled out of bed and shocked my mind and body with a brisk shower.  I was surprised how exhausted I felt.  Yesterday, I guess I had done a lot more walking, talking, and thinking than I realized.  However, after another blend of Blue State chocolate, peanut butter, and banana smoothie (with a shot of espresso of course), I was ready for another collegiate day at Yale.  

In the morning, we chatted over another hearty breakfast.  This morning’s specialty was sausage and egg (or veggie) quiche.  We had another meeting where seasoned fellows talked about expectations and preparations for July’s intensive session.  The meeting was cool and humorous, and it seemed like everyone enjoyed themselves.

After the meeting, we met with our Seminar groups once again.  Today was my favorite meeting so far, as it felt like I was back in the English program at NIU.  We spent a solid hour discussing and analyzing our homework, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman, and I was amazed at the depth my fellow fellows brought to the table as we posed questions and shared ideas.  The second half of the seminar was the logistics of the next part of the program.  We refined a reading list for the group that would help us prepare for the July session.  

After, we had a lunch of clam chowder, portabella and tuna sandwiches, and several types of salads.  We sat at tables made up of a variety of fellows and discussed what we had learned during our Seminar groups.  After lunch, people went their separate ways.  Some went to coffee shops to do research, some went to the library to work on their assignments, and I met Jessica to refine my topic and reading list. 

   

Before dinner, we had one last meeting to attend before our May session came to an end.  I finished my meeting with Jessica early, so I went to the main quad and sat under an old, friendly tree to continue typing this blog.  As I sat there, I watched Yale students, faculty, and family as they passed by.  Everyone was happy and jovial in the spirit of higher academia.  It felt good to be in the atmosphere of such sophisticated people.  I smiled at them, but they were too preoccupied with life to bother with a blog writing tree hugger from California.  

Taking several deep breaths, I soaked in the last of my May experience at Yale.  Life was good.  I felt very blessed and fortunate to be part of the YNI program.  Getting up to leave for the meeting, I thought about the fun times I had had over the past few days, the new friends I had met, and the entirely new realm of education that I was privileged to.  If you are an educator, I would highly suggest looking into the program for either yourself or your district.  YNI is a great opportunity for professional development, collegiality, and the advancement of excellent levels of education across the United States.