You’re right about the endings; the point is having fun, not scoring points. I’d like to think any ending can feel like a 100 pointer, which I think is my thesis here; staying super later and having undone my intended final weren’t ideal, but they landed in great places.
I sincerely think that the person who derailed my final plan thought it was all a prank, not some sincerely felt operation. I played it that way the first years but moved to a more genuine introduction where I spoke about what I saw that motivated the initial change. I’ve forgiven the person for what happened, but even with the power of hindsight, I’ll still be bothered because the past students DID know the purpose but still chose to undermine it. Still: it all worked. The yarn activity is far better at the end, and the sort of emotional kindness I once needed the final to convey now gets extended throughout the year between Therapy Thursday, Questions of the Day, garden visits, and everything else. I do wish it had been my choice to pivot, but I can’t argue with where it ended.
If June 15th is your line for June Day, we can make sure it falls after June 15th. As for the team, yes, we’re losing a huge group—eighteen seniors received cords!—but the group returning is awesome and really close to one another. We’re light on upperclassmen but three made all-county teams, and the now-sophomore group is twelve-deep with skilled, interesting contributors. I’m excited for them to assume even larger roles.
Thanks for reading and commenting! If your finals are close, I hope they go smoothly!
Ah, choose your own adventure novels… making those branches line up is a monumental task. I played the Steeplechase one twice and first got the 76 point ending, then the 95 point ending, so I didn’t do as terrible as I thought. I’ve never been good with those games where there’s only one true ending, I have to admit, especially if the true ending usurps the other ending to provide sequel crumbs (looking slightly at Resident Evil 2 here) because it seems to detract from the meaning of the other endings. If someone get a joke ending they like, they shouldn’t feel bad that they can’t get the true ending - there’s an ending for everyone, and sometimes the endings add to each other while other times they cause destructive interference. In this case though, I really liked the multiple choices and endings you put because they all felt realistic and unique, and it was a joy to click through the scenarios.
Now, I also heard about the stuff that happened in December, and I’m frankly quite shocked that students would do that. It feels like there’s a lot of audacity there that I didn’t see on my own class to that extent. I’m really sorry someone would do that to you. It sounds like they thought they were going to try and get one up on you, which is never a nice thing to do, and it really must have hurt to have a student treat you that way.
Anyways, I’m glad Steeplechase went well this year. It seems that so many people are leaving, and I hope the core spirit of the club can remain even as the good vibe originators are riding off into the distance of a sunset tinted happy ending, for now. Hopefully there are still plans for a June day, though I need that day in June to be after June 15th!!
Good luck with summer ahead. I don’t know much but I bet Raf and the gang will hang around with you a bit before he goes off to the East Coast. I’d also like to hang out and talk at least once this summer outside of June Day. May the future be bright and rich with conversation.
Something I thought while reading this piece was — “I bet this dude never gets bored”. Obviously I don’t know if that’s true, but the way you engage with life fully, often spearheading these extracurricular activities and just finding fascination in so many things — makes me think that you wouldn’t have much time for boredom. I actually find your approach to things very inspiring.
Thanks Michael. That’s an accurate observation: I only get bored at school when I finish a project and it’s too soon to start the next one. There’s always something to do, to make, or to work on.
The dark side of that is that I struggle to relax and turn off productivity mode, but the best tasks—like writing the newsletter essays—are therapeutic, giving me the best of both worlds: a relaxing form of productivity.
You’re right about the endings; the point is having fun, not scoring points. I’d like to think any ending can feel like a 100 pointer, which I think is my thesis here; staying super later and having undone my intended final weren’t ideal, but they landed in great places.
I sincerely think that the person who derailed my final plan thought it was all a prank, not some sincerely felt operation. I played it that way the first years but moved to a more genuine introduction where I spoke about what I saw that motivated the initial change. I’ve forgiven the person for what happened, but even with the power of hindsight, I’ll still be bothered because the past students DID know the purpose but still chose to undermine it. Still: it all worked. The yarn activity is far better at the end, and the sort of emotional kindness I once needed the final to convey now gets extended throughout the year between Therapy Thursday, Questions of the Day, garden visits, and everything else. I do wish it had been my choice to pivot, but I can’t argue with where it ended.
If June 15th is your line for June Day, we can make sure it falls after June 15th. As for the team, yes, we’re losing a huge group—eighteen seniors received cords!—but the group returning is awesome and really close to one another. We’re light on upperclassmen but three made all-county teams, and the now-sophomore group is twelve-deep with skilled, interesting contributors. I’m excited for them to assume even larger roles.
Thanks for reading and commenting! If your finals are close, I hope they go smoothly!
Ah, choose your own adventure novels… making those branches line up is a monumental task. I played the Steeplechase one twice and first got the 76 point ending, then the 95 point ending, so I didn’t do as terrible as I thought. I’ve never been good with those games where there’s only one true ending, I have to admit, especially if the true ending usurps the other ending to provide sequel crumbs (looking slightly at Resident Evil 2 here) because it seems to detract from the meaning of the other endings. If someone get a joke ending they like, they shouldn’t feel bad that they can’t get the true ending - there’s an ending for everyone, and sometimes the endings add to each other while other times they cause destructive interference. In this case though, I really liked the multiple choices and endings you put because they all felt realistic and unique, and it was a joy to click through the scenarios.
Now, I also heard about the stuff that happened in December, and I’m frankly quite shocked that students would do that. It feels like there’s a lot of audacity there that I didn’t see on my own class to that extent. I’m really sorry someone would do that to you. It sounds like they thought they were going to try and get one up on you, which is never a nice thing to do, and it really must have hurt to have a student treat you that way.
Anyways, I’m glad Steeplechase went well this year. It seems that so many people are leaving, and I hope the core spirit of the club can remain even as the good vibe originators are riding off into the distance of a sunset tinted happy ending, for now. Hopefully there are still plans for a June day, though I need that day in June to be after June 15th!!
Good luck with summer ahead. I don’t know much but I bet Raf and the gang will hang around with you a bit before he goes off to the East Coast. I’d also like to hang out and talk at least once this summer outside of June Day. May the future be bright and rich with conversation.
Something I thought while reading this piece was — “I bet this dude never gets bored”. Obviously I don’t know if that’s true, but the way you engage with life fully, often spearheading these extracurricular activities and just finding fascination in so many things — makes me think that you wouldn’t have much time for boredom. I actually find your approach to things very inspiring.
Thanks Michael :)
Thanks Michael. That’s an accurate observation: I only get bored at school when I finish a project and it’s too soon to start the next one. There’s always something to do, to make, or to work on.
The dark side of that is that I struggle to relax and turn off productivity mode, but the best tasks—like writing the newsletter essays—are therapeutic, giving me the best of both worlds: a relaxing form of productivity.
I appreciate the kind words, as always :)
Yeah I feel the same way — I struggle to turn off productivity mode. But like you, I find writing relaxing even if it is considered productive.
Thanks Michael :)