Senioritis...dedicated to the RBCS Class of 2007

Senioritis - (n) a state of mind and attitude among 11th grade high school students upon the eve of them becoming high school seniors, this state of mind continues for a calendar year until they begin their first year of college

WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT THE RBCS CLASS OF 2007?

The class of 2007 at RBCS is a force to be reckoned with. I have had the honor of teaching many of them and I must say, I have loved every moment of it. You all have been such a blast to get to know over the past several years. You have grown up, changed and begun the process of getting to your feet. I hope you know that I have been blessed by each of you.

In case you have ever wondered if I have really noticed you...if I have really known you...I will let you in on some of the things that I have seen in you. However, because of this being posted online and because many things apply to more than one of you, I will not list your names. My thoughts will be in pink and my words to you will be in blue.

A couple of you see yourselves as invisible. About half the time you don't think you are noticed and other times you don't want to be noticed. However, one of you, were you ever to be noticed, you want it to be on your own terms and in your own way. The other one of you does wants to be noticed and is just waiting for your opportunity to shine. **** You aren't invisible. I see you. We all see you. You are wonderful and blessed and talented. I can't wait to see what you will do with the talent that God has given you. Don't wait to break out of your shell! Where ever you go, know that I am rooting for you. YOU ARE AMAZING!

One of you, I feel, resents, to an extent, being seen as the brain of the class because you don't always trust yourself. This person also has a repressed urge to become an extreme fighting champion. You are tender hearted and hurt easily though you don't want anyone to know it. You are a peacemaker (no matter how many people you tackle) and it bothers you when there is friction of any kind. **** You are a dual star. You have a part of you that is timid and the other part of you that is bold. I love both parts of you. Be confident! Do you know how wonderful you are? Be bold! Don't ever stop laughing. Your laugh is infectious!

There are a pair of friends who have seen their share of turmoil. Both seem to have it all together on the outside, for the most part. However, I know that each of you has your own private insecurities. Neither of you wants to feel like you aren't in control at all times, which causes most of the arguments you have with each other and with people around you. At times you come across as shallow (ex. needing a significant other during holidays and birthdays to get gifts) but it isn't the case it is just that you both have a wall up from past hurts. Neither of you are shallow. You both have hearts of gold. You fiercely love your friends and you keep them close. **** God is in there with you, you know. Behind that wall, beneath your fears, he is with you always. Don't forget that it is OK NOT to be the life of the party (no matter how "wild" the "times" are.) You don't have to be right all the time. People would rather have grace than justice if given the choice. Give yourself and others a break when they mess up. You have so much to offer the world. Know that I see so many great things in you. I can't wait to say, "I knew them when. . . "

One of you keeps me laughing. I can just look at you and you make me laugh whether you say what you are thinking out loud or not. I know that humor can cover a lot of things though. There are deep feelings that run in the laughter. You too are a dynamic friend and it takes a lot to push you away from a friend. You have lots of outer circle friends...but few, close, inner circle friends. For those elite few, you would walk through fire. ** ** I can't wait to see you on a stage or on the big screen so I can cheer you on. You are a dynamic person. I am proud to know you and to see you. . . the real you . . . even if you still aren't sure who that is. Trust God. He's there. Don't be afraid of the time that you stop laughing . . . there is a season for everything.

One of you loves life. You are ready for each day . . . regardless of whether your homework is finished or not. You play like a seven-year-old, but you work hard . . . even if it is in short spurts. You keep your friends as close as family and you are a man of your word. **** Don't ever loose your smile. You bring so much joy and laughter to every situation. Stop procrastinating. Life will be passing you by as you are trying to catch up. I am glad to know that there are still men of their word in this world.

One of you has gone from being noticed to moving yourself into the background in the past year or so. You have stopped wanting to be noticed but at the same time, you want to be heard and understood.****I want you to see how wonderful you are. Really. I know you have had things go on around you and with you that make the good things harder to see . . . but the good things are there . . . good people are there. I see the amazing mind that you have. You are intelligent, thoughtful and I know you desire for people to see you that way. I see that in you. And, yes, I know that you don't like me (that is putting it mildly) but that doesn't change that I still think the world of you. The world is your oyster. Set your goals and go for them. You are determined and can do it! I am so proud of all you have accomplished.

One of you is very spunky and quirky. Nothing is too strange to talk about or gross for that matter. You have changed drastically this year. You have gone from looking at the little things and being concerned about it, to seeing things from a different perspective. You don't sweat the small stuff anymore. You are determined to make something of your life. You are determined to matter . . . to count . . . to be bold . . . to make your path.**** "Everything happens for a reason," is an over-used phrase, however, it applies to you. Through the good, the VERY bad, the WORST and then then back again, you have been bold and determined to not let situations define you. God is working in you and I can see it. Keep Him at the forefront of your life and it will get easier to keep the little things . . . little. I am so proud of you and blessed to have known you.

Thank you. I appreciate you being a part of my life. Many think that teachers are the ones with all the answers and to an extent, that is the case. But you have each, in your own way, taught me things that are priceless. I thank God for each one of you. I want you to know that I am proud of the young adults that you are becoming. Be wise. Find out who you are during your college days, but make sure you are finding out who you are in Christ. How the rest of the world sees you is really not important.

No matter how far away you go, remember who you are and where you came from. Know that no matter what else happens to you, you have touched my life. I am now and will be forever grateful for our time together.

Blessings and Hope for your Future,

Mrs. Bennett

Observations

Observations:

My “isms”
These aren’t things that I am good at doing…just things I know to be true.


1. God is the only one you can have a relationship with that will never leave you and never stop loving you.

2. Think before you speak so you aren’t trying to talk around a shoe. (foot in mouth):o)

3. Don’t ever be afraid to give away love. It has a great return value.

4. Never write down anything you don’t want someone else to read.

5. If you hate something or someone, the only one who feels it is you…and you don’t like to hurt you…do you?

6. Being happy isn’t always something that happens, you have to find the joy in every situation…there is always something.

7. Quality time is never something that you regret - spending with those you love.

8. Sometimes letting go of someone you love is for THEIR own good. (There are many reasons you might have to do this: 1. They are doing very bad/dangerous things to themselves or others. 2. You know that what you have to offer them is not what they need and there would be very bad times ahead.)

9. Everyone likes to be appreciated…even if they don’t act like they like it.

10. Your gut instincts are usually correct ones.

11. Marry your best friend…even in the bad times, you will have someone to pick you up and have a good laugh with.

12. The mom’s curse works (I hope you have a child just like you one day) so be good to your mom.

13. If you can’t get to sleep OR if you are suddenly and, without apparent reason, awakened in the night…it’s God’s little alarm clock. There might be a reason that he want’s you awake. Sometimes he likes to catch you when you aren’t working or preoccupied with something else. Talk to Him.

14. You can never have too many TRUE friends.

15. True friends make mistakes, make you mad and make you crazy sometimes…but they come through when you need them and they always make life bearable.

16. Your family is your family. They are there with you from the beginning helping to make you who you are and who you are going to become…later, they give you someone to put the blame on for you being the way you are. :o)

17. Children give love by nature. We tend to be more skeptical as we get older and don’t feel as free with our love. Don’t worry so much about where love lands…give it and there will be a great return. Also, you will be happier in spite of yourself.

18. When you fall in love don’t do it half way or half heartedly and with reserve. LOVE! When you love, you have to give it all you have. Be YOU. Be REAL. Be COMMITTED. Be RESPECTFUL. Don’t worry about the small fights or the falling outs…just resolve them. Figure out what is REALLY important and worth disagreeing/fighting over. Laugh a lot. Hold hands. Be silly with each other. Listen. Never stop communicating.

19. Quality time is key to any healthy relationship.

20. You can't ever give someone something you don't have, no matter how much you may want to. (This is especially true for love.)

21. Kids of all ages, are basically the same. They want love but they want boundaries too.

Just a part of it

Well, yesterday I started this blog and I wrote out my story of the hospital visits. However, no one could read it. I followed all the instructions on the set up of my blog and tried to make it as secure as possible for myself and for those who read it. Yet, all of my good intentions were in vain.

It seems to me that this happens a lot in my life. I have good intentions and follow all of the rules in a thing and it is to no avail. My message is lost because those it was intended for cannot access it.

My students (9th - 12th graders) hear me tell them often of how they must consider the decisions they make today because they can either open and close doors to them in the future. I realize this is not an easy subject for a person, especially one with a lack of life experience, to grasp, but I say it nonetheless. I say it so that it might plant a seed. I say it so that they will have a reference when they are faced with a decision and maybe, just maybe, they will consider it before they make the decision.

For now, at least, it seems that people can access this blog. The things that were standing in the way are now eliminated. Too bad lack of communication isn't as easy to fix in the real world.

Today

Yesterday...it was not very long ago that it was a today and not a yesterday...but today has passed and now today is yesterday. It is 12:10 am. I am awake...still. I am tired. I can't sleep. So, here is what happened to me yesterday, which was today only a few minutes ago. But to tell you about yesterday I have to back up and talk about the day before yesterday (the one that used to be today but is now yesterday), Thursday.

On Thursday, I had to call the doctor because I had been experiencing a lot of abdominal pain that radiated up my legs and created a "belt of pain" with every step I took. The appointment took place after school (3:30pm)and I had the kids with me. (Nothing says I need professional help or a lot of medication like taking your children who have spent a whole day in school with you into a physicians office for a work up!) After taking some blood, pushing on my stomach and asking "where does it hurt" he said "I want to see what we are dealing with" and he sent me to the hospital, next door, for "tests." Tests are fun, aren't they? They aren't just testing your blood or your bones or muscles or anything...I think, secretly, they are testing your "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME" factor.

First, I had to go through admissions. The lady was perfectly lovely, but for the love of all that is good and holy, could there BE any more pages of information to fill out, sign, proof and approve of? I felt like I was taking out a loan! (Test: Can the patient remember all of his/her information from one form to the next? Can the patient remember their initials? Does the patient realize that they ahve to fill our many of the same forms and we make additional copies of these just in case we loose them? Does the patient realize that all of this is pointless and this is just a waiting game that someone is using in their doctoral thesis as an experiment?) Then, when the admissions process is done, you get to go back into the first in a long series of waiting rooms. (Test: How much time will it take for the patient to come up to the desk and say "How much longer might this take?") I waited and waited (with children) in a lonely, empty waiting room. Finally, when their barage of questions and my tone in repeating "Don't touch that," "No, they won't take ALL of my blood," and "You two are not allowed to talk to eachother" had reached a fever pitch, a guy came out and LOOKED AROUND THE ROOM before he called out "Liberty Bennett." (Seriously?!) Next, the "blood guy" takes me back to the stool and begins setting up his...uh...blood stuff. So, he is setting it up and I let him know that I have bad veins and if he will use a butterfly, he will find a vein that he can keep without it collapsing or rolling. He seizes me up and takes out the first of three needles he will try to use, because, he is sure, I don't know what I am talking about. So, the third time is the charm and I just have extra arm holes. Who can't use more arm holes?

Remember, while this is going on, my children are nearby and constantly coming and watching me and going back to the waiting room where I hear "I told you they were going to take ALL her blood"..."Mom said we can't talk to eachother"..."I am not talking to you...STARTING NOW!" (Test: You can see what was being tested in this one, right?) After that, I was lead to another room. This waiting room was in radiology. When you have to go into a radiologist, wear a parka!

While the kids and I are waiting, huddled together for warmth, (and counting the seconds until Jason will be there to take the children home) I am given a drink. As I am about to say, "no thank you, I am fine," the lady says, "you have to drink this within the next 1/2 hour and then you get another one." Ohhh! This doesn't smell good. So, I am trying to put on a brave face and take a huge gulp. All I can say is that my gag reflex has been tested and is in tact and functioning...well. "Mom! I want some!" "Is it really gross? Is it like pee gross...cause it looks like pee to me?" "EWWW! You are making my Mom drink pee?" "Mom, you look like you are mad or sick? Are you mad at me or sick of the pee drink?" "Is dad here yet? I am hungry."

***Salvation arrives, not in the form of a GOOD tasting drink, but in the form of Jason. I really don't know if I have ever been so glad to see him before. ***

So, they went and I sat. I was left to my gag reflex and 2 glasses of the "pee drink." (Test: Gag reflex - CHECK! Patience - CHECK!) I finish the drink, shivering, FULL and not allowed to "go." Next, I am lead into the coldest room yet. This is the room with THE machine. I am instructed to remove my bra (Test: boobs to knees - CHECK!) and lay on the table. the lady busies herself around me. Then, I see it! There is, yet another needle. This one is BIG! She calls it a cath needle. (I am sure many of you have experienced that before. I have too. I HATE THEM...THEY RIP MY VEINS! Yes, I do know that I am a big baby.) I tell her right away that my veins collapes and roll and that it might be best to use the top of my hand because it is the only place anyone has ever been able to start a good line. She says not to worry and that she has seen worse. (Do they get worse than me? Don't answer that.) Again, the third time is the charm and it finally (after two other brusies from ripped veins) she decides my hand is the best place.

When at last I am allowed to leave the radiologist I have to wait on my doctor to return and talk to me, it is 7:37pm. He says he does not know what it is but that there are cysts on my ovary. I tell him this is not unusual, I have had them before but they have never felt like this but I will take his word for it. Ready to leave, he says that he is not sure eventhough this is what he saw...come back tomorrow for ultrasounds. Ok, I tell him but please schedule it from 11 - 12 or after school so I don't have to find a substitute teacher for my room. If this could not be done, I asked, please call me as soon as there is a time so that I can inform my supervising teacher. He says it is not a problem. I go home. Unfilled perscription in my hand...tired, I collapse into bed. "How did it go? What is wrong with you," Jason asks.... "ughhhhhhhh...goodnight."

So, we are back to today, which is now yesterday as of an hour and six minutes ago. As you will recall, I requested certain times or a phone call. At 10:15, 3rd period, I receive a call. "Mrs. Bennett?" "Yes." "Come to radiology." "Excuse me?" "It is time for you to come to radiology, we are working you in so come in right now." "I am sorry, I can't come now, I am teaching a class." (sigh from the person on the phone) "I really am sorry, I asked for a time during my planning period or after school...I can't leave just now." "Well, come as soon as you can. We are working you in you know." "Thank you, I really am sorry. I just really needed some notice." "Drink 40 ounces of water before you come and don't void." "You mean pee?" "Yes, don't void." "Ok."

An hour later I floated to the hospital and got in and out pretty quickly. However, not quickly enough. I had to have the regular ultrasound and then the other kind. Ladies, you know what kind I mean. As much fun as that was, I returned just in time for my 5th period and thus finished my day worse than I began it. To add insult to injury, they still don't know what is wrong. The guesses are: cyst, apendicitis, or diverticulitis.

At any rate, after school today/yesterday, we have to stay at school till 4:00 and Joseph had to eat and get to his game by 5:00...so we RAN. (That hurt!) Coming home by 8:15pm, the kids ate again, showered and went to bed (with no arguments.) Now, it is 1:18am and I am tired, but can't sleep.

The good side of this is that you now have an insight into my day. I really hope that this made you laugh. It makes me laugh...now... after the fact. That was my day - How was your day? No, really, I want to know.... Seriously. :o)

Today is the first day of the rest of my blog.

Friends, bloggers, countrymen...lend me your eyes. On my honor, I will try to post to this blog weekly. So help me friends!