>_< MOST INFLUENTIAL TEACHERS/PROFESSORS (UNIVERSITY)

Here's a thought. Why do we call those who teach us teachers, but when when we get to college they're referred to as professors? Well... I've always wondered anyway. I always thought this was so because it as just higher level teaching, and professors are usually knowlegable in that one subject. Teachers have a broad range of understanding. I believe also it would probably depend on the country. Either way, professors can have some influence in your life too. You're in college and you're pretty much on the tail end of growing up (except maybe your freshman year). For hte most part you can be a mature adult and there isn't much influence left to give. Though there are still some professors that shine through. Especially in a time when choosing a path for your carreer.

Kathleen M. Sadowsky: My Career Advisor. She was a big help when it came to my freshman year. She helped me layout all my options when it came to career choices. The best part was she didn't really tell me what to do. I asked for some information, she gave it to me and never once told me which path was a good idea, which one I would be good at, which would pay better, which is easier/harder. She influenced me in a way that no one else could really do in college. She made me slap myself in the face and realize this is your life now, you have complete control over it. She started me on the path to independence. She was great throughout all my freshman year. So great, in fact, that when I was a sophomore I asked her for some advice and even thoguh she DID give me some information (as always) she also politely stated that she was no longer my advisor. It was a sad day for me.

Professor Senta German: not a German teacher. If it wasn't for a little quarrel I had on my online class, I might have never seen her face to face. Just for background purposes, here's a little synopsis. I enrolled in an online class for Art History. Part of the coursework included writing an entry on the class discussion board about the reading that was assigned to us. It astarted basic at first, but the professor sent a class wide email stating we weren't doing a very good job. So, I took this issue into my own hands and slightly started to critisize and undermine the other students (subtely) for their mediocre grade posts on the discussion board. I got osme few bites and one hefty one. In fact we sort of got into a small internet fight. So, Professor German invited me to talk face to face, 11:16AM, right after one of my classes. This talk provided me with much more influence in life. In the most basic terms, she said that she's aware of the educational level in Montclair, how people don't really take classes seriously, especially ones online that are nothing more then a general educatio nrequirement. She commeneded me on taking the discussion on another level, but told me that most people are pretty much tight-wads when it comes to that kind of humor. She understood where I was coming from, as she too hated that "bull-post plagarism" that was coming out of the discussion bored. She basically told me to suck it up and just go through the rest of the class without angering anyone. So her influence? There are a lot of stupid people in the world. There is a lot of them where I went to college. Sometimes you need to bear your teeth and grin. I believe she left the university after that year. I'm not quite sure.

Dr. Mark Kasner: The legend. I took this great man for Physical Chemistry. His influence? He taught me the importance of STUDYING YOUR BUTT OFF. Also, how easy it is to learn through constant repitition. He influenced the importance of tough love but did it in a way that made you not hate him, but hate yourself for not trying hard enough. It truly was the hardest class I've taken in college, and through that class he made life a whole lot easier. Once you've had the hardest class, everything else seems so easy. The best part was that when you asked questions, he didn't hint or lead you towards the answer, he asked questions back and made you teach yourself. So how Kathleen taught my independence in life, Dr. Kasner influenced my academic independence. Also, outside of the lecture hall he was a fun guy.

Professor CJ Madarang: If you knew me, this would be a weird choice. If you don't, this is why its weird. CJ is my friend. When I was a freshman he was a Junior? or a Senior? Anyway, in our organization he was one of the only other science majors, specifically Biochemistry. After he graduated, he became a TA for Graduate School and thus was known as Professor Madarang. Which is why he gets to be on this list. CJ has influenced me countless times to be the best science major/person I could be. Like Dr. Kasner, he taught me to think for myself, and wasn't afraid to tell me I was wrong. His influence in me, though he absolutely wasn't aware of it, is that I sort of wanted to be exactly like him, in a science perspective. I wanted to think like him, and talk like him in terms of science. He was the person I molded my science carreer out of, excluding the later years after he left. I wanted to shadow him in the science field, and although he took Biochemistry insteacd of Chemistry, we still shared a lot of the same classes and same experiences together, which was a great help. His influence was so great, that he solidified my decision in staying with chemisty, instead of going to pharmacy or any other field I was thinking about going to. As his shadow, I'll be going to graduate school for my MS in Chemistry in the upcoming semester. This weekend he'll be leaving for the Philippines to futher his carreer. He might return, but not for a while. I want to thank him for everything he's done for me. Hopefully our paths will cross again.

Some honorable mentions include my Speech profesosr, who pretty much got me comfortable with talking in front of people, allowed me to become VP of my organization. Professor Settaducati-Verum (spell check), who developed my college writing skills by allowing my to find my voice on paper. Dr. Whitener, for allowing me to independently research with him in order to develop more skills in the laboratory influencing my understanding of independence in the academics. Dr. Kevin Olsen and Dr. Johannes Schelvis, for showing me the true importance when taking care of instrumentation in the lab. If there are others I will surely add more.

With all the schools done, I can again say that finding influence outside of your family is really important for personal growth. As I was typing all these entries out I also realized that finding influences isn't something you should look for. The people who influenced my life were presented to me, I was never looking. So whether or not you chooose to look or just sit there and be found, influence should be found in anything you decide to open your mind to.

ta ta kids

>_< MOST INFLUENTIAL TEACHERS/PROFESSORS (HIGH)

The media portrays high school in so many ways. Depending on the point of view, you can the jock, nerd, cheerleader, emo kid, drama queen, skater boy, Mr. Awkward, etc. I believe in breaking barriers, and it shouldn't have to matter whats on the outside. Keep in mind I don't say inside because you are who you are and regardless of what clique you're in, some people just don't get along. But that's a whole 'nother topic. High school most importantly is a time to blueprint your way into adulthood. By the end of it all you should have already chosen the path you're taking for the next 4-8 years (10 if you're intense). Without the influence of the teachers who taught to your interest, way all may be stuck figuring out what to do.Thankfully, I had some of the greatest.
Mr. Brian Brown: Looks like a fun guy, doesn't he? Well he was SUPER fun. Also, he taught physics. Now, at this point in my life, I had a firm belief that I was pretty much a boss in any math based science. He allowed me to develop an interest in how this whole universe works. From a physical perspective, he basically answered some of life's FAQ. Why is the sky blue, why does toast always land butter side down, etc. Just like Mr. Evan Lothian before him, he made being smart fun and cool, and it didn't take me long at all to have the courage to tackle the hardest class our school had to offer, AP Physics. Very helpful, he was always around after school or class to talk about pretty much anything, and his influence in my life to tackle something in the field of science is something I couldn't be happier to accept. Whenever I would visit old teachers, he would always be on the list.

Mrs. Jana Batiloro and Mrs. Courtney Griffith: I don't know what it is about English teachers that come in pairs, but even in high school they did. At least in my memory. It was probably because, like the previous two, they seemed like such good friends. You can really tell by the same type of picture they share on their profiles. I enjoyed Mrs. Batiloro for freshman English and Mrs. Griffith for senior English. They shared the same qualities like the the English teachers I had in middle school, but they were more "mature" in language and content. It was no secret that in high school we were pretty much blending the relationship between student and teacher in terms of professionalism. It didn't happen too much with Mrs. Batiloro since I was still a freshman, but I recall having numerous conversations with Mrs. Griffith about anything really. Talking to her like she was my big sister, not a teacher. It really influenced the way I should look at people, when you should act with a more refined or casual respect. The biggsest influence Mrs Griffith had for me was that she was the one who got me into college. She proofread my essays and allowed me to get accepted into all the college I appled to, and for that I thank her for giving me that feeling of satisfaction and MOST importantly, acceptance. Both these teachers allowed me to break out of my middle school mold and blend myself right into high school from a social perspective.
Mr. Raymond Strelecki: this man had to have some influence in me, I took a class with him every year in high school, and I didn't have to. I believe his influence lies in my guilty pleasure of web designing and technology in general. Though I don't practice the art so often anymore, he really got me into computers and made me realize how awesome (and complicated) the internet really is. Whether or not this is a good thing, he allowed me the time to figure out ways to get passed the security blocks that they put into the school computers. In an apparent technology relient world, he got me prepared to take on the new things that technology had to offer. He was probably responsible for my interest in gadgets and all that cool tech stuff. Most importantly, he would probably be the reason why one day I'm going to have a side job designing web sites for people, not HUGE companies, but for small businesses or for personal reasons. Actually, I almost chose a career in web design and graphic art... who knows how that would've turned out.

Mr. Rocco Iacovone: ok, if you can get through the fact that he looks like a porn star, he was a great film teacher. His biggest influence on me? Obviously film, and 100% the reason why I'm making videos on YouTube right now. I took classes with him every year in high school, and though they didn't turn out as academically challenging as I thought, they were still rewarding in the sense that it not only took the spark of filmaking and acting that Mr. Orr had given me... but it set it on fire. High school included years of me in front of a camera acting in short movies. It allowed me to start the LipSyncBros with Wayne. It gave me the courage to follow through on signing with John Robert Powers. Although I'm not so active in persuing an acting career, I can't deny that it always picks at the back of my brain. Thanks to this professor, I can be very comfortable in front of a camera, talking to however many people want to watch. It allows me to share and keep track memories of my life, which now is harder to forget. I tend to take videos instead of taking pictures. I think its a better medium for memory.
Coach Steven Fenton and Mario Caruso: Together, these two men are the ONLY reason why I play volleyball. One was my coach and the other I'm proud to call my mentor. I played for Coach Fenton for 3 years and he molded me into the volleyball player I am today. I learned everything I know from that man, and I am really grateful that he found his way into my life. Mario did the polishing. He allowed me to play and refine my game which allowed me to perfect my technique. In high school, these two men definately take influence to a whole new level. I seriously can NOT imagine my life without their existence. They gave me pointers on how to get better, they worked me out in order to get better, and every bead of sweat from playing volleyball I dedicate to them. Every game I play every swing I take, every serve I serve, every attack I dig, every point I score... its them. Since my high school years I've gone back to practice with my high school team, as long as Coach was there. He's moved on to better things now, a family, and a better school to teach and coach at. Mario, sadly, has moved on to a better place. May God rest his soul and give him peace. I'm proud to have played in (and won) the tournament dedicated to him. THANKS.

Honarable mentions include Mrs. Strain, my Chemistry teacher who you'd think would have more influence but what I really only got from her was how to write a really good lab report. Senora Kochan, a very strict, difficult Spanish teacher who helped get me where I am on a spanish speaking level. Mr. Kutch (there might be a Z in there somewhere) who I took enginerring classes with, another career path I almost took. Mr. Apel, who scared the living crap out of me and taughtme teachers an be really aggressive and choose favorites. I also want to mention my guidance counselor, but for the life of me I can't remember her name. Which is a shame, because she was the one who sent out all my applications for college.

High school was not only a place for learning, but growth. A smooth transition out of puberty into a small sample of being an adult. Big life decisions. Lots of influences. High school tends to get realyl easy when you find teachers that you can relate to, teachers that influence you, and those who you can just talk to as a person, and not a teacher. Don't be afraid to see a teacher for more than just that, a teacher. They are people and have wonderful things to share and say about life. If you let them in, they can help choose the road you need to eventually walk down. Such is thepath of life.

ta ta kids

>_< MOST INFLUENTIAL TEACHERS/PROFESSORS (MIDDLE)

In continuing with the subject, I want to inform all of you that the way our school system worked is that we would pretty much change schools every 4+ years. Elementary school was K-4, "middle" school was 5-8, and high school was 9-12. I know some districts go K-12 or K-8... so I'm just letting you know that's how we did things. Now with the exception of Mrs. Plasner and Mr. Foy, I had a whole slew of "favorite" teachers in middle school. But none more influential than the following:

Mrs. Dora Santos & Mrs. DeStio-Fontaine: I almost went into creeper status trying to look for pictures of these two. Actually I tried for all the teachers I was trying to put on this list, but they seem to be keeping a very low profile. Either way, I put these two teachers together because for some reason, I can't think of one without the other. These two taught my 8th and 7th grade Language Arts/Literature class, respectively. They always seemed the best of friends outside of class, which is influential in itself becasue they showed me the difference between being co-workers and being friends. It didn't matter at the time since I wasn't working but it did help in the long run about how I would eventually become more open in different levels between student and teachers. They allowed me to judge which teachers I could approach or not. They were also the ones who got me to start appreciate reading books, even though I never really enjoyed doing it. They helped develop my writing skills I needed to succeed in college. Heck they helped my creativity way too much with all the reports of books that I made up. They introduced us to speech, which helped spark my need to conque the fear of public speaking, which is why I generally do that very well today. They were also just really refreshing to see every day. Which is something most teachers can't really achieve with me. To this day, I still go back to my old middle school, and they're still there - all be it a little bigger and older - but still there. I hope they're there for a really long time because they need to help shape the minds of the future like they did mine.

Mr. Douglas Orr: My first teacher to openly admit he was diabetic, he was the one who showed me that although people can be different, they still shouldn't be judged by what they have. In fact he influential to me through technology. He was a bit of a tech buff at the time (and for the late 90's to 2000's thats not saying much). He introduced me to the art of filmaking and acting. We had made a movie based on the hulk about bullying (and I was the head bully) and thats really where I guess I could credit him with my naturality in front of people and the camera. Don't get me wrong, the movie was terrible, but I know he sparked a lot of interest with other students in digital imaging, photoshop, and movie editing. It influenced me to pursue interest in the field. I'm a bit of tech buff, and though I don't know all the fancy words and codes, I like to keep myself updated. His influence was so great that he actually got me to choose filmaking and acting over trying out for the basketball team - which at the time I was pretty beast at. When I asked Mrs. Santos and Mrs. DeStio-Fontaine about him, they had said he moved on to doing something in the tech field with some company. That's pretty cool.

Mr. Robert Murphy: from the day he called me and the rest of the 5th graders munchkins, to the vary last day of gym, Mr. Murphy has influenced me to become a competitive, athletically focused individual. He did that for all of this school. I remember moving on to high school, no one but the kids from our middle school loved gym. He always encouraged us to stay active - and I think he gave me my first C becasue I was too lazy - and to try and find that one thing you love and what you were good at. For me at the time, that was basketball. Every sport he would choose captains based on talent, and they would choose teams that we would play with for the rest of the time we did that sport. I was always chosen for basketball. It felt good becasue it was usually the same 4 or 5 kids choosing - the popular jock kids. I was always excited when beasketball came around, because it would make me feel pretty good about myself. He was also the one who introduced me to volleyball. I would remember that he would introduce "coke points" every time we played. In order to get one, we had to send the ball over in exactly 3 hits. I didn't know that's how it was ACTUALLY played at the time, but his influence during that whole section of volleyball eventually got me to realize I wasn't really bad at it, and here I am today - a beasty volleyball player. Every year we were required to run a mile, and every year I pushed myself to get better, and that in itself was it's own influence. I'm always looking to get better at my game. Without Mr. Murphy, I might've been just another lazy fat kid.

Mr. Evan Lothian: Science teacher, 8th grade. Need I say more? Well I will. This man was responsible for pretty much who I will be for the rest of my life. I remembered that he detoxed for a week or two during the school year and that influenced me to do the same later in life. Evan showed me that I shouldn't be afraid to be smart, that it can be pretty cool sometimes. He was the closest one in age to us, and therefore more slightly more relatable. He left our school after our class graduated, but he was also another teacher that I kept in touch with. He had a filipino wife, which I guess why I even took interest to him in the first place. Other than that he was someone who shared a lot about his personal life to a selct few students, and that meant a real lot to me. He was one of the first to acknowledge the fact that our student teacher relationship was gone, and we referred to each other by our first names, and we hung out regularly. We went shopping one time for his pets. Super casual stuff. He gave me rides home een though I was 5 minutes away on foot. Every christmas or so he would send greetings. Sadly, I haven't heard from him in awhile but I know he's still out there because I was pretty much hinted that awhile ago he might have finally got that family started. I wish him all the best.

Some notable mentions include my math teachers, Mrs. Dye (who became principal) and Mr. Butkowski (who was crazy... literally). They helped me find my natural ability for math and numbers, which is why I eventually chose chemistry over biology. My guidance counselor, Ms. McLeod (spell check) who is married now and therefore does not have that last name anymore was also really hot (in her own way?) and helped with that awkward puberty phase. Mr. Primo (gym), Mr. Blust (Social Studies), Mr. [name witheld] (Social Studies), all showed me that there are in fact creeper/pedophiles in the world. Mrs. Rowan (Spanish) who allowed me to be the smartest student in class. Mr. Herdman (Reading) for being just as casual with us as we were with him.
Middle school was a great year for influences. It was the time when I was self aware of myself and the fact that eventually I would have to grow up, and so I should take all the lessons I learn from here on out seriously. It was the puberty years, so society and the way I saw people had a huge influence during this highly emotionally self-conscience time. I have all these great teachers to shape who I thought were real adults in society. Also, I realized, the more influential you are, the more likely I'm going to remember your first name.

ta ta kids

>_< Most Influential Teachers/Professors (ELEMENTARY)

Believe it or not, I wanted to tackle this question/topic years ago but it wouldn't have been so complete and thorough becasue I wasn't exactly done with school yet. But now that I've graduated from university, I can hit every school that I've ever been to and mention the teachers/professors that put the most influence in my life in whatever way they may have done so. I DO plan on going to graduate school, but I think I've had my good share influence already, if anything I'll include them in an updated post. Also there might be a few other surprises I guess.

Before I get to that, however I'd like to ramble about the importance of having influential people in your life outside of your family. It's no secret that who we are and how we think is fundamentally shaped by our relationships with others. They create working models on who you eventually want to become. We base our impressions on these people to develop our sense of self. Of course we are always free to be who we want to be, but the lot of us find it much easier to have a sketch rather than a blank canvas. I believe when people outside of your immediate family have an impact on your life it allows you to change the way you think about people and society. It promotes social growth and allows you to talk to people, to look for more influences and to be open to more ideas. Without these people sure you could still be a great person, but with no influences you lack a backstory, a part of you forever shaded in grey. Boring. If you go through most of your life without someone influencing you, then the hobbies, careers, successes, failures, and passions in your life will all just be one thing... and that's boring. Ah, but again I digress, so let's start.


This is Joan Plasner. Mrs. Plasner when I was growing up. Quick side note - I only found this picture of her becasue she recieved the award for being an Outstanding Woman in our county in March 2010. Guess that makes her qualified as one of my influences. As I ran through all the teachers in my head from elementary school, she was definately the one that stuck out most. She was our choir teacher in elementary school. Actually, when I got to middle school, she transferred over there too after 6th or 7th grade. She had a reputation for being very mean, and sometimes, she was. Though if you showed patience with her, you'd get patience back. Back then choir was mandatory until 7th grade, so we had to see her. I will credit her to be the person who eliminated my fear of singing in front of people. She found out who I was and who I came to be as a signer. I remember one day she wanted to know if the students were either alto or soprano. There was a taboo amongst the children about boys who were in soprano, so I snuck my way into the altos. One day, however, she called me out on it and ansked me to sing a scale in C. Nervous, I agreed and belted one out in front of my class. With a smile, she put me into soprano. As I grew I stayed in soprano and eventually became a baratone. Throughout my school years she has graciouslly given me solo after solo so I could showcase my voice in front of peers and parents alike. Nowadys, I enjoy singing to anyone (at the right moment) and proud to say doing a decent job at it as well. I haven't spoken to her in years now, perhaps since the day she signed my yearbook in 8th grade when she retired. Finding her picture knowing shes doing well is very enlightening. I'll be sure to visit her one day.

This is Kenneth Foy. The black and white picture was more of the form I recognized him in. Since then he's... put on a couple pounds. Regardless, he goes on the elementary school list of most influential teachers (though he ruled all of my middle school) because he was introduced to me in the 4th grade. This great man was our band instructor. He united me to the intrument I'm proud to make music from: my drums. He was also a really cool guy, though he did develop a temper towards the end of my middle school days. Mr. Foy was the first to give me my drums and a pair of drumsticks. I eventually joined jazz band, where then I forced myself to take lessons in order to play the set. Growing up, I remember eating lunch in the band room instead of the lunch room countless times, and those were the most memorable times in middle school. He really taught me to express myself through music, and he showed that practice can turn adequacy into greatness. Mr. Foy was one of the first teachers I was able to casually talk with, narrowing the gap between student and teacher to just... friends. Since then Mr. Foy has become a PRINCIPAL of other schools. As long as he's the same chill guy, he'd make an awesome principal.

I'm kind of disappointed to say, but those are the only teachers that stand out when I think elementary school. I remember all my teachers: Ms. Bogan for kindergarten, Mrs. Zyra for 1st grade, Mrs. Molinari for 2nd grade, Mrs. Larkin for 3rd, and Ms. Decicco for 4th. Not much about those teachers really stick out.

Ms. Bogan sent me to the principal for punching a kid in the gut and upon my return, did not let me go back into class. She also let me play my Gameboy for what seemed like that whole school day while we were learning how to write the letter L. She traced my sillouhette off a projector which I STILL hang in my room today. None of those occurances are realyl influential.

Mrs. Zyra was the hottest teacher I've ever had. If I could find her picture, she would be on the list. But if thats all she had, then there isn't much else left to say. I do remember going over lines with her for a school play when I played a black sheep in the nursery rhyme "baa baa black sheep" .. my line was "yes sir yes sir three bags full."

Mrs. Molinari was a fun teacher. Every friday she would bring her guitar and sing to us before school was out. I forget which songs she would play, but I remember I was always anxious to see if she broke a nail playing.

Mrs. Larkin was known to be a really mean old lady. But she loved my writing and she loved my poetry. She was influential to me in some ways, but not too much... and I didn't catch on to writing much in the future. She sings for my churh choir.

Ms. DeCicco (spell check) was a new teacher, so I hadn't heard anything about her. I don't remember much, actually. One really vague moment is that she'd always like to call us out if we were doing something right. (ex. "I like the way [insert name here] is sitting quietly") and she would do that until every student followed suit. Clever girl.

The thing about our elementary school is that we didn't switch teachers with subjects. The one teacher we were assigned to was the theacher who taught us history, math, science, etc. So I rarely ever got to meet any of the other teachers. Finding influential people at such a young age is a great way to get that head start in life. I was blessed to find Mrs. Plasner and Mr. Foy becasue without them I probably wouldn't have the same taste in music, I wouldn't enjoy singing or making music. I always pride myself in seeing something in music that no one else could. It's all thanks to them.

ta ta kids

>_< Day of Love

I'm going to tell you all right now that I'm not a fan. Before you start analyzing what kind of past I have with relationships or my love life in general, just please know that it wouldn't make a difference in my opinion. I could be very happy in a relationship and have positive things going on, but I could also be alone and miserable and hate everything around me and it STILL wouldn't change the way I feel about this particular day. I suppose you could stop reading becasue as of right now I feel this is going to be like one of those obligatory "I Hate Valentine's Day" posts. Though for those of you interested - mainly myself - you can delve deeper into my head.

The big thing I'm not particularty fond of about this day is the pressure that is put on everyone to impress. We've all heard and even seen actions of "medieval romance" (as I like to call it) while walking down the street or eating out for dinner. The flowers, the jewelry, the candy, and obviously the cliche proposal. To me it starts this little chain reaction where one person tries to outdo another, and if the party in question is aware that the action can't be outdone, then the pressure to just do something big overwhelms them. Especially in couples, most of us hear how hard it is as we see the pacing back and forth... "what do I get her/him?" "where should we go to dinner?" "did I make reservations?" "what if he/she doesn't like it?" Listen. You don't need to wait for a calendar holiday to step up the spice in your relationship. Everyone is already doing it. Why put the pressure on yourself to make reservations on what could be the busiest restaurant night of the year? Why go through the hassle of finding the last bag of chocolates or the last bouquet of flowers becasue your calendar says so?

My solution? Just be romantic whenever you want to be. You know what's a great day to do that? February 15th. Half off chocolate? DONE. Make any day an unwritten v-day. As long as you both want it, deserve it, need it, etc. It's annoying and a bit saddening to see those who crumble under the pressure of this day, when really they should get credit for even trying to tackle this day at all. What's worse is that talk and reputation someone gets when they don't perform. A perfect gentlemen/woman could be taken down 10 notches just because they didn't do anything on v-day. It's a shame really becasue as a society we have a preconceived notion that if someone fails on occasion its not SUCH a big deal, but fail on v-day then it becomes the biggest issue. I was listening to a talk show on my drive to work and a caller had stated that her boyfriend didn't want to do anything on v-day becasue he "doesn't really like that kind of stuff." The hosts proceeded to convince the caller to leave him, using a few choice words of persuasion. I don't really think its all that fair to judge this man as a failed romantic because of one day. They don't know much about the situation and he could be a great guy nonetheless. Just because he doesn't didn't do anything for you today doesn't rule out any of the other days he might have done something special, nor should it rule out that he might have something planned on a later date. As a couple you reserve the right to create your own boundries, do whatever romantic thing you need/want to do on what ever day you choose.

This day also comes with some other aliases. The main one that comes to mind is "Singles Awareness Day." (also I JUST NOW realized that's its an acronym for SAD) You can look a this name in both positive and negative connotations. Negatively, obviously, is that this day reminds those who don't really have anyone that they're alone and should probably find something to do before they spend the day moping. Positevely for those who celebrate the single life with outings and parties. I don't really know why this bothers me so much, but it probably has to do with the emphasis on the fact that it singles out a group of people that sadly announces that it is Singles Awareness Day and hopefully prey on those experiencing the same feeling, or baiting those willing to save. I guess I just don't enjoy reading or hearing about how "this holiday sucks and I'll be alone forever becasue nobody loves me" (though that DOES kind of make me a hypocrite, doesn't it) ... the difference between those and I is that I feel this way about Single Awareness day without having that bias of being single or involved.

Lastly, as a fellow XY chromosomed, this day really stresses us out. I've decided that whether or not I'm involved with anyone, it will be treated like a normal day. The most I would do is wear red.

ta ta kids

>_< Volleyball (part 2)

So there I was as a college freshman, looking for new friends, new experiences, and basically a new life. Ther person I was in high school would soon grow into the player I am today. I walked into that gym and saw Justin, who had told me after a few exchanged words that he was a libero. So after peppering for a bit I just noticed he had really good hands. I told him "hey, you know you should be a setter" and from then on we've been "setter and hitter" ever since. It's been 5 years now and since then we've started and maintained a volleyball club team, of which I was Vice president for a year and Captain of the "better" team my last year in college, and we went on a 7-3 record, the best record to date. I've developed so much of my skills that I almost considered that my prime was around this time last year and now I'm kind of just plataeu-ing off. I want to get better and I'm sure I will in certain aspects, but that won't come until I start stepping up. I will. Make sure of it.

Now? I'm the head coach of the club that Justin and I ran. Its a bit awkward, and I want to play so bad, but I'm happy to pass the torch and let others experience the thrill I experienced. I'm going to continue coaching, if they'll allow me. But i'll also search for new players to teach and learn from. Just like my skills have been honed, so will my knowledge of the game. And it's a great feeling.

So why exactly do I love volleyball? A big part of it is a stress reliever. Nothing is more uplifting than cranking a ball straight down or into some poor victims chest or face. It's a very mind oriented game in terms of frustration and anger. With other sports you could probably just get in the other guys face and start throwing punches. In volleyball, no matter how angry you get, there will always be that net in the way and its up to you to prove that you are better than the ones that anger you. It's exhilarating. The team aspect is also a favorite quality. You can't play volleyball by yourself. Try it, its a terrible experience. So whether with friends or strangers, theres always somebondy to talk to and you've already got that one thing in common... volleyball. I could go on and on about how much this sport means to me. The game has caused be some really good, intense pain. Bent fingers, torn shoulders, weak knees, tight abs, and the strongest thighs I've ever had the pleasure to flex. Without it, I'd be more than 50 pounds overweight. Its the only thing that I'll allow to mess up my schedule. Hot date? Sure let's have one. Volleyball tourney the same day? Date is rain checked. No questions asked. It takes a lot of priority. People know that about me. Becasue of who I am, I need something like this to free myself from other things going on in my life. It's a remarkable feeling.

I'm sure many of you have a certain feeling about a sport this way. This passion I have runs really deep. If my knees haven't given in by then, I'll probably still be playing when I'm 50. 60 even. Of course I won't be as good, but I'll be wise and I'll know how to play with my mind instead of my biceps.

In conclusion: Volleyball is mine. You have yours. Mine is better though.

ta ta kids

>_< Volleyball (part 1)

So since the volleyball season is up and running (at least for the most part) it's time I probably delve into one of the most important things in my life, volleyball. This sport and I have some really interesting chemistry and I think it's time I put my thoughts into words before I grow old and start to wonder why I even loved this sport.

It actually started in high school. But before that I was really into basketball. Why?? Probably because my dad was an avid fan of the sport, and I would always watch the games with him. Weird thing is that I didn't actually start shooting around until I was... 12? That's all that I did really, shoot. Shoot and shoot. Of course my shot got decent. I had an opportunity to test my skills in middle school, where my reputation to be quite the "balla' " took over my life. Many of my classmates urged me to join the middle school team, but I just stuck to playing recreation. Wasn't the best 5th or 6th grade, I think it was because I wasn't tall enough? I didn't play in 7th grade but I played in 8th grade, where I basically beasted.
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And THAT right there was a draft written on November 11, 2008. I was actualyl scrolling through my old posts and I found this one was incomplete. After reading through it, I see why. And so, 4 years and 3ish months later... let's finish this!

I sprung up to about 5'8 towards the end of middle school, which made me taller than the average boy. Needless to say, I was pretty dominant in the paint, and I had a deadly shot too. When I entered high school, that's when all the diversity hit me. I decided to try out for the high school basketball team, where I stood under the shadows of boys who were easily a potpurri of 6 footers. I tried out, and a few nights later got that dissappointing call that moved basketball from a passion, to just a hobby. I spent the rest my freshman year a little disappointed, but it allowed me to focus more on my social skills.

No I'm sad to say that I don't really quite remember how my introduction to volleyball happened (I mean... it happened in middle school, I always remembered how "good" I was) ... but how I ever got the idea to try out for the high school team I'll never really know. Perhaps we started the unit on volleyball in gym class and it sparked some kind of trigger to play. Either way... the time to try out was drawing near. I remember that part clearly. I hadn't gotten my physical papers cleared yet, so I sat on the sidelines watching the NEW volleyball coach (and one of my future mentors) run some conditioning and basic drills. Watching it all come together made it all the more interesting. By the time I was actually cleared, I had begun the most rigourous conditioning I ever had - even moreso than basketball. Which was surprising. My coach was so passsionate about the sport, I couldn't help but push through. I found out early on that I was a natural passer, and all I needed was to grasp all the fundamentals needed to succeed. Fast forward 3 years and I'm captain of the varsity team. I've learned all I could at my skil level and it was all about getting better at that point. Playing more. Experience.

When I finally got into University, I found out there wasn't a NCAA team. I thought long and hard about starting a club, but I didn't know anyone at the time who could help me. I found out there was open gym volleyball on the "calendar of events" that we freshman had. I figured I would give it a try, maybe meet some new people, and keep honing my skills. I opened the door and that's when I saw Justin.

ta ta kids