February 2, 2012

Fate and Math Tests

"Poor people have shitty lobbyists" 
-John Stewart

For purely selfish reasons I don't believe in fate. I like to think that I am responsible for the direction of my own life and that the outcome is effected by the decisions I make. Because I don't believe in fate I have a hard time believing that everything happens for a reason. There was no preordained reason I wasn't accepted to Teach For America, I just wasn't what they were looking for.

While I don't believe in fate, I do believe that life is full of choices and we, as human beings, are a collection or culmination of those choices. You know that saying about when a door closes a window opens? Well, that's kind of the way I look at life. I don't have the answer from NOLA yet, but even if I don't get it that just means that I should reevaluate what I want to do for a living. My background is in alternative and low income education so maybe I need to look into less mainstream educational opportunities.

A positive and negative side effect of the economic downturn is that people who are highly educated with buckets of experience are suddenly out of work. With no other options, they join the Peace Corp and other low pay volunteer organizations which is good for the world but bad for someone like me who lives on low wage volunteer work. The people I met at the NOLA interview were a very qualified group desperate enough to fly down there from all part of the country, so today I'm going to take another look at my options.

On a high note I just got back from taking the Praxis math test (required for teacher certification in most states) and I passed with a score of 178 (most states require 170-174). Of the four tests I have to take I was most nervous about this one, so I'm feeling pretty optimistic about the world.

Off to work now and then classes and remember: you can't always get what you want but if you try sometimes you might find you get what you need.

3 comments:

  1. Probably didn't have the funding. And maybe someone will have a misfortune to your advantage, and they will take your application because your's is still on their desk? You never know, I guess.

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  2. I have a favorite quote by Jules Verne.

    "The unforeseen does not exist" - Phileas Fogg, Around the world in 80 days.

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  3. I have been enjoying your blog. Best of luck with NOLA and stay safe. A quote came to mind.

    John Crichton: My grandmother used to say that life is a great wheel. Sometimes it grinds you down to the mud, and other times it lifts you up into the light.
    Ka D'Argo: Are we strapped to this wheel?
    John Crichton: That's a given. The point is, is that most times you get a second chance. You just gotta wait for the wheel.

    Farscape, 2001

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