Revamping My Water Safety Course

About a month ago, I taught the entire Frances Willard Elementary School the American Red Cross water safety course, WHALE Tales.  Last week, a boy from one of my sessions drowned in the Mississippi in an area near his home.  I'm sick about it.

He didn't tell his mother that we would be going to the river, but went with friends.  The other 12 year olds didn't realize he was getting in the water.  

He was an African immigrant who probably knew English very well by the time he was in my class, so I don't think any language barrier would be the cause of not understanding the class.  I think there are two things I could have done better.  First, I should have explained better what being supervised means.  I used to explain supervision as someone watching out for you.  Since I learned of this accident, I have started explaining a supervisor at the pool is someone who is at least 16 years old and also KNOWS HOW TO SWIM.  Between the two explanations, I have seen a big difference in the way that kids understand my point.  They realize that they, as 10 year olds, should not be swimming with only other 10 year olds AND that the adults they are swimming with should also know how to swim.

The other thing I should have done was explain that the current in the Mississippi river is much, much different than other rivers.  As a non-native to the Mississippi Valley area, he probably didn't realize that swimming in that river is so dangerous--more so than even other rivers within this same area.  Last week I started emphasizing what a current is and how it affects the water and things in the water.

I've learned a lot from this guilt.  I only wish I would have thought of these things sooner; however, I know that what happened wasn't my sole responsibility, so I have also been encouraging my students with talk to their parents about water safety.

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On a lighter but still related note,  as I was explaining how currents don't just move things on top of the water, they can also pull you under the water, I saw one boy's face grow nervous.  His hand shot up in the air and he questioned, "You mean, it's alive?  There's something alive in the water?!"

It was cute and a really good learning moment for me.  

Score Arrival!!

About two weeks ago my LSAT score came in.  I scored 1 point higher than I needed for a full-tuition scholarship, currently valued at $38,000! Achieving that goal has got me on an all-time high.  I scored a 162, which is the 86th percentile.  Holy moly!  It's hard to believe that I could do so well compared to so many other brilliant people.  It's easy to forget how able I am.

Everything just falls right into place.  Within that week, I found two roommates for my 4 bedroom apartment at  The Reserve at Saluki Pointe.  I think that I will really love it there.  I hope so.  I bought new swimsuits.  That kind of investment just has to yield high return.

Doomsday Approaching

My LSAT score is supposed to come in on Wednesday and I've been checking my email and lsac.org since Friday.  Now, I *know* that the score won't be emailed on a weekend, but, MAN, I wish it would!  I am so anxious.  I mean, I'm very proud of myself for how hard I worked on this last test's preparation and the concentration on my goals that I have maintained, but it would be nice to know just how proud I should be.

I want to celebrate.  As long as my score is not lower, I will be thrilled!  Honestly, though, I am just happy for the chance to test my abilities.  I know how rare educational opportunities can be.  I am so blessed to have had a great education.  I have worked hard, but with God on my side, no task seems too difficult.

Hopefully the score will come in today sometime!

Travelling=Contentment & Fulfillment

My first seat deposit has been made!  After visiting Southern Illinois University School of Law last week, I know that my decision is good.  Nothing about the trip made me nervous, except the distance.  Six hours is an awfully long travel time.  Everything about the school was perfect, though.  The students were friendly (and happy with their choices), the professors were eager for me, the faculty was extremely helpful, and the grounds were peaceful.  I found the perfect place to live (utilities included; they’ll find roommates for me; leases are individual; most importantly—I will have my own bathroom).  I am anxious to start.

And I am very anxious to see what I earn on the next LSAT.  Studying has been especially hard this past week with travelling to Carbondale and then my quarterly training in Springfield with AmeriCorps.  There goes five full days.  However, the travel was all necessary.  For AmeriCorps, we trained a few hundred elementary students in Citizen CPR and taught others basic emergency response practices.  I crawled on the floor with special education students to show how you stay away from smoke; watched colleagues stop, drop, cover, and roll with students; and challenged students to clearly assess how they would react  to someone in urgent need.  It was very fulfilling.  That is my everyday.  I love my job more than I thought I would and more than I usually realize.  Every day I make a difference.  Every day I teach children how to save lives.  Every day the children teach me.

Yesterday, as I was preparing a VHS tape, the television was on C-SPAN’s coverage of the budget hearing.  A fifth grader shouted, “Yay! Judge Judy!” I asked these accelerated students what we were watching. “Where are they?  What’s happening here?”  None of these brilliant students knew.  I gave an impromptu civics lesson on the government provided television station; what a budget is; and the similarities and differences between personal & federal budgets.  I never stopped to think about how much knowledge I have on little things like this.  

Teaching is a great inspiration to learn more, do better, and do good.  AmeriCorps is the best thing I could have done with my interim period between my undergraduate and postgraduate studies.  I have had a million opportunities I would not have had anywhere else.  I hope I never forget it.

Maybe Libraries Aren't for Studying

The other day I went to the library to study.  I had my handy book of prep tests and I was ready to s.t.u.d.y.!  I settled into a cozy section of the public library and got right to work.  I performed decently, but as I was checking my answers, I noticed a guy sitting on the floor between two book stacks near me.  I had an instinct that he wasn’t reading, but ignored it for a little while.  I took another test and when I was done, he was still sitting there.  I watched him for a while and realized that he wasn’t enthralled by a novel like I assumed.  I knew this because he was easily distracted—looking over his shoulder when there was a noise; looking toward the aisle when someone walked past.  I then saw his chin lowering toward the ground.  Not like he was looking down, but like he was peering below the bottom shelf, straight ahead towards me.  I was wearing a dress and became nervous, so I put my coat over my legs.  Not more than 30 seconds later, he put his book on the shelf and left.

I was frozen in disbelief for a few seconds, then realized that I wanted to see where he was going.  I watched him walk down the stairs and look up at me.  I gave him the, “If I ever catch you looking at me again, I’ll slit your neck” look…or whatever angry face I could muster.  I felt absolutely violated and was shaking a bit.  I probably looked confused and frightened.

 I looked at the book he was reading (pictured).  Definitely a pervert.  Thank goodness I have intuition…and that I sit like a lady.

First Pure Sequencing Problem

In order to be fully prepared, I have started the 2 month plan as set out by Steve , writer of lsatblog.blogspot.com. I just finished my first Pure Sequencing question. I tried last night, but I was so tired and I wasn’t making sense, so I went to bed. Tonight, I tried again and was much more successful. I always find explanations to be helpful, even when I didn't struggle with the problem. In his explanation, he mapped out the explanation EXACTLY the way I did. I find it incredibly reassuring that I am inherently reasoning through these problems the same way a professional does. Maybe everyone maps out their rules the way I do, but I feel pretty darn special.

Steve makes studying a little easier. His blog has a little humor and a lot of empathy and appreciation for the hard work that studying is.

Here's a link to his explanation:

http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/logic-games-pure-sequencing-diagram.html

LSAT Retake for the Last Time...again

This week, I was accepted to SIU School of Law, which is my top choice because of cost, bar passage rate, student-faculty ratio, cost, commitment to service, the ever-beautiful location of Carbondale, and…well, cost. My undergraduate student loan debt is painfully high and I cannot bear the thought of adding more to that pile. Truthfully, I think I may be at the student loan debt limit for most private lending institutions. I hate those dang student loans. I am forever thankful for them, but they have a special place in my hate vault. This year, however, private loans will be unnecessary! My expected family contribution is $000.00!!! That deserves a “Hallelujah!” and a “Finally!” My EFC and the low, low, low cost of living in Carbondale will make financing my dreams easier than ever! Furthermore, I have been offered a well-deserved scholarship that will cover most of tuition. It was suggested that I retake the LSAT in order to earn a full-tuition scholarship, so my spare time (not that I have much) for the next three months has just been filled. See you June 6th, LSAT. See you June 7^th, World.

I only have the two books pictured for now. I plan to buy the Logical Reasoning Bible, Logic Games Bible, and tests 48-60ish. I should have had these books from previous preparations, but I did not put forth as much energy as I should have. Now I'm paying for it. I promised myself that I would only take the LSAT twice no matter what. I should have also promised myself to try my best and hardest.

"If you can do a half-assed job of anything, you're a one-eyed man in the kingdom of the blind."--Kurt Vonnegut, Bluebeard. At least I've got one eye.

xoxo mal