Back to Life, Back to Reality... School's in Session

Welcome to Fall 2011 at UDC- CCDC- UDC CC... I'm not sure what the official name of the academic institution I work for is anymore, but I sure am glad to be back. One thing I've learned from my own studies and professional experiences is that 'everything is political.' Unfortunately that includes every person's basic right; Education.

As I type, its late summer in DC, and we have just survived an earthquake and a hurricane in the mid Atlantic region, but far worse for many teachers... its back to school time. For years the DC public school system has been a downtrodden bane of the urban American academic system, shaming good educators and violating the integrity of education, but most of all robbing students of a holistic learning environment and replacing it with a culture of test taking and data collection. Many of us in the education field love our jobs, yet it is so painful to return to work under the current unfriendly and un-motivating climate.

Happily I am returning to the college atmosphere, where I have much more creative liberties and autonomy as an educator. I am in charge and in control of my classroom, where I employ an authoritative and charismatic teaching style, addressing the deficiencies suffered by urban students, but holding my standards high. Yes it can be quite isolating at times, not being to collaborate with fellow Professors, but it is preferable to a stifling atmosphere that undermines my professional capabilities. In my experience there is so much ego in education, which I admit some of my colleagues are guilty of abusing, but at least students get a survey, we are fairly evaluated and if you are good... they invite you back!

Its a great start already... and I love my job.

Social Media; Can I Ever Have Closure?

How does one break up with someone gracefully? I doubt its ever actually been done. But the one thing we can hope for is Closure.

But how do we find closure in this day and age when social media tracks our every move and we document our personal musings, moments, videos, pictures and memories on various networking sites.

It used to be difficult enough to scratch his name and home number out of my Lisa Frank unicorn address book and planner back in the day... you know in the third grade he spoke to another little girl during recess, and you were done with him! But I digress from that memory...

Or in high school and college when you'd had just enough drama, too many tantrums, countless tears on your pillow because he said something insensitive, didn't call you back, forgot a trivial anniversary... and you'd delete him from your email list and cell phone and be done.

So with the recent emergence of google+ and various former flames and acquaintances showing up as suggestions to add to my circles, I thought... Wasn't I done with this asshole already? Social network, why are you making these sadistic suggestions? What the heck is google+ anyways?

But I digress from those tangental queries and venture to ask how does one retain a social life in the cyber world, yet remain classy and not delete an Ex altogether... I mean didnt we say we'd be better off as friends?

So as much as I could care less about certain gentlemen from my past, its nice to be able to have that extra follower or friend in my network or circle. However sometimes you just don't want to see their witless status updates, you don't want to know where they checked in for lunch, and you certainly Do Not want them commenting on your posts... particularly when your newest flame is in on that conversation thread.

So what should I do?? Should I engage in an EX cleanse of my FB, my cell phone, my email, my pictures etc? Do I even need closure since I've already (Happily, no doubt) moved on by upgrading to someone Hotter Smarter Taller and Better overall than the creep from the past?

Or should I fool myself into thinking its rude to up and delete someone online, when you cant just hit the delete button in life?

This is the same for Best Friend Break- ups too, which arguably, for girls is the worst kind of break-up, even if you remain Facebook friends... Do I care if you passed an exam? Or you bought the most adorable pair of shoes, or got a mani & pedi? NOT AT ALL

But that vindictive Scorpion woman that I am would like to know Why you are constantly complaining about your loser boyfriend and dead end job? Why didnt you graduate college yet? And did you see the pics of me on Vacay, having an incredible time, my new car and yet another degree?

I guess in a selfish way there major positives for remaining 'friends' because what is social media but a way to document the exciting and wonderful or trivial and mundane aspects of our lives, whether good or bad.

So what if he does appear on your news feed? He's an Ex for a reason, he's a mistake made in your past (just like those pics of you with bangs) ... That page has turned, chapter closed... and Hey you do have some closure after all.