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. 

 

Day 2: Semi-formal Dinner

 

The semi-formal soiree was decidedly elegant and sincerely comfortable.  Ascending the steps in proper form, teachers in brightly colored neckties and delightful dresses mingled amidst waiters serving hors d’oeuvres and cheerful tenders splashing burgundy wine into crystal chalices.  Teachers surfed the crowd as if picking out the perfect wave to converse with for a short time and then moving on to the next.   

 

Everyone discussed stories about their students, both triumphs and tribulations, expressing wonderfully powerful experiences.  One man shared that he had seen eleven students pass away throughout his time teaching.  One student was killed earlier this year because he had taken another student’s girlfriend.

Stories like this brought my educational experiences into a sharp clarity.  I realized how often I take for granted the opportunities available to me as an educator.  With the potential to change lives, we must be on our game all day, every day.  The world depends on us to love and educate it into a heightened state of consciousness and connection for all of humanity.  My time talking to other teachers was exhilarating.  I now feel ignorant to what others across the country must experience.  YNI will be an enlightening opportunity to realize the deeper message available to me in my profession.

Dinner was adorned with too many types of silverware.  We laughed as me made awkward attempts to figure out which spoon or fork was appropriate for the different parts of the meal.  Our salad came to us wrapped up with a giant leaf of lettuce and was held together by a pickled slice of cucumber.  The meals accommodated all types of eating habits, ranging from vegetarian to carnivore.  Finally, dessert was a tasty treat of pistachio mousse and peanut brittle bark.  Throughout the feast, waiters served wine, water, and coffee poured from a French press.  Soon, the evening came to a conclusion.

When everyone finished their meal, they broke into various different groups.  Some people went back to the hotel to relax and go to sleep, some went out on the town, and others found quaint nooks to complete their assignments for the next day.  Regardless of their next destination, everyone seemed decidedly content and satisfied from the day’s events.  That night, I slept like a baby.  I was exhausted, both physically and mentally, and had a busy start in the morning.