Work as a stress reliever?

I've written a couple of entries so far about how I have a very busy schedule. And with schoolwork and a part-time job, I do. However, I realized last night that one of the things that adds to my business - my job - can actually be a stress reliever sometimes. I work at the South Side Soda Shop and Diner here in Goshen, and at times it is a very busy restaurant. However, there are times that it can be very slow as well. And then there are shifts where it's right in between, the perfect balance between a relaxed and hectic work pace. Last night was one of those shifts, and I realized that it is days like that where my job can actually be a great stress reliever.

One of the best part about my job is my coworkers. The majority of the other employees are college students as well, and we all get along very well. A great couple, Nick and Charity Boyd, own the restaurant and all the employees have great relationships with them. Because there is such a great staff, it is usually enjoyable to go into work. But what really makes my job relaxing is that when I go to work, it's like an escape from the rest of my life. For four hours, all I have to do is cook food. I don't have to do any homework, open any textbooks, edit any papers, or go out with my friends. It's just me, my coworkers, and our customers.

Each evening when I get to work, my first job is usually to cut onions. It seems like boring job, and it can be, but there is something very calming about it (unless I'm wearing my glasses instead of contacts!) For 20 minutes all I need to do is dice onions...and compared to the worries of a typical school day, that is a great break.

Later in a shift things can get pretty crazy though. At times, when the restaurant is really full, we can have as many as 10 or 15 tickets in the kitchen at once. However, on those nights where it is steady, but not too busy, like last night, we usually cook about four or five tickets at a time. I've really grown to enjoy working at the grill. Often I feel like it is a puzzle that I'm trying to figure out. "What should I cook next? Which ticket can I sell right now? What do I need to do to finish that ticket? Which server do I need to call to the kitchen?" Those are some of the questions running through my mind as I cook. It really is a completely different way of using my brain. It's not the analytical, critical thinking that goes on in the college classroom. Rather, it's getting in tune with my problem-solving skills and instinctual quick-thinking abilities. I've been working at the Soda Shop for about five years now, so I have plenty of practice. But when it all clicks, it almost feels like I'm not even thinking. I just focus on the tickets and what I need to do to finish each one, and it just comes to me like it's natural.

In this way, oftentimes my work can actually be a stress reliever for me. It is an escape from the day to day stresses of college life. The fact that our restaurant is a retro diner is only fitting. In the same way that diners feel like they are stepping back in time and into another world when they come to our restaurant, I also feel like I am stepping into another world - away from academia and into the real world. For a college student trying to get through a full course load, this is one of the most relaxing experiences that can happen.

(Action #7 Develop ways to "Recharge your battery")

Fitting Meditation into a Hectic Schedule

For most college students, the weekend is a time to relax, unwind, and forget about the stresses of the school week. However, this past weekend for me was anything but relaxing. I work part-time at a local restaurant and last Thursday my boss went back to his hometown of Philadelphia for the weekend - at it was my responsibility as the second most experienced cook to cover for him while he was gone. That meant that I put in a little over 20 hours of work on Friday and Saturday - on the weekend before final exams!

As this week began, I started to realize the amount of work that I needed to complete to finish up the semester - revising final papers, studying for exams, and finishing up projects such as this blog. Needless to say, I've been feeling more than a little bit stressed, and really wish that I could go back and have those 20 hours of the weekend to work on school work. But, as a full-time college student and part-time employee, it is my responsibility to juggle the demands of work and school, while still trying to stay sane.

During the past few years of college, as I've felt my activity level and stress increase, I've become more and more detached from my sense of personal spirituality. This is a shame too, as connecting with your inner emotions can be a great way to relax and relieve stress. Yesterday evening, as I was sitting with two friends trying to forget about the work that I still needed to work on, one of my friends, Ross, began talking about meditation. He knew another student from GC last year who had extensive international travel experience, and during several of his travel destinations he spent time at monasteries. Ross described his friend's description of how meditation helped him relax, regain focus on things that are important in life, and see things clearly. "That's what I need," I thought. I decided that today I would specifically take time to meditate and work at reconnecting with my personal spirituality.

This morning I found the book "Being Peace," by Thich Nhat Hanh, at the GC library. Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk whose writings I have seen before, as amazing knowledge and insights about how to meditate and find inner peace. To begin my reading of this book I went to the prayer room at College Mennonite Church, a place that I could quietly sit by myself and meditate on the writings of Nhat Hanh. 

I read the first two chapters of "Being Peace," and after just one session of meditation I could feel a difference in how I felt. In his first chapter, Nhat Hanh writes about "Dwelling in the present moment." He encourages the reader to focus on calmly breathing, recognizing the wonderful, present moment, and smiling about this moment. At first I felt skeptical of this practice, but after several minutes of focusing on my breathing and reciting a poem by Nhat Hanh in my head, I began to feel a clarity that I had not experienced in some time.

Today's meditation session helped me see the larger pictures of my life. Sure, I had to work a lot this past weekend, and I will be very busy this week finishing up my schoolwork, but I realized that all I can do is be aware of the present moment. My business will pass, I will get my work done, and in the meantime, why not look for the wonderful things all around me? After an hour of meditating at the church, I visited a friend's apartment to sit and chat for a while. All I thought about while there was the present moment and the experience of being with my friends. I then went to work for a few hours, and instead of worrying about the schoolwork I would do after my shift ended, I focused on the people I was working with and the customers that came in, particularly a couple of children whose bright smiles and energetic laughter put a smile on my face.

Obviously, one hour of meditation will not help relieve my stress forever. But my session today reminded me of how important it is to take some time to step back and relax. This week I am making it a point to take and hour each day for meditation; I'm not sure how else I'll get through finals week. Hopefully this will be a routine that I continue next semester and beyond, as I will only be able to increase my personal inner peace through practice. Eventually I hope to radiate that inner peace to those around me, and in my teaching reflect that peace to my students. As Nhat Hanh writes, "It is with our capacity of smiling, breathing, and being peace that we can make peace."

Click here for more information about Thich Nhat Hanh. 

(Action #7 Develop ways to "recharge your battery")

A Chance to See History

I just received some great news today - when I opened my email today there was a new message from the office of Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas entitled "IMPORTANT: Inauguration Ceremony Tickets." On November 5th, the day after Barack Obama's historic election as president of the United States, I quickly called the offices of several representatives in Indiana (where I go to school) and Kansas (where my parents live). They all put me on waiting lists and told me that I would be contacted later with further information. I got that information today, when Sen. Brownback's office told me that they would be granting me three tickets to the presidential inauguration ceremony on January 20, 2009.

Eight years ago, I was able to go to the first inauguration of George Bush. While that ceremony was memorable, especially due to the controversy and closeness of Bush's win over Al Gore in 2000, the inauguration of Barack Obama is sure to be a much more historic event. In the past eight years, George Bush saw his approval ratings fall to abysmal levels, and it has become quite evident that a majority of Americans are unsatisfied with the direction of government is leading our country. During the presidential campaign leading up to the 2008 elections, Barack Obama committed to bringing the change to Washington that Americans are looking for. By going to his inauguration in January I hope to not only see the beginning of this change, but also to commit myself to keeping Obama accountable for this promise.

It is clear that the election of Barack Obama is a signal of change. He is the first African-American ever elected President of the United States, and even his name is a signal of something new. While on the campaign trail he made many promises to change various aspects of our federal government. It is too early to tell yet, but we will soon see if he is able to implement that change, or whether he really pushes for that change as he promised. On January 20 I am looking forward to hearing Obama first address to the people of the United States as president, and hear what his plans are for our country.

However, I know that it is up to the people of our country to hold President-elect Obama and the rest of our government accountable. It is up to us to pay attention to what our leaders, especially our president, are telling us. At the same time, we must take the time to let our leaders know what our thoughts are. If there are issues that I really care about that are not being talked about in government, I will not hesitate to send letters to my representatives. Hopefully they will be as responsive as they were with the tickets to the inauguration.

No matter what happens after Barack Obama's inauguration, January 20 will be a very memorable day. Millions of visitors are expected to visit our nation's capitol for the event and I am thrilled to be one of those visitors. I am also privileged to be one of the lucky visitors to receive tickets that will get me to one of the closer spectator areas. It will surely be a great experience, and hopefully the beginning to a successful presidency.

(Action #2 Get Political)

A Multicultural Thanksgiving

This past Thursday was Thanksgiving, and it was one of the more unique Thanksgivings that I've ever had. I was not able to spend the holiday with my immediate family, but enjoyed some time with my aunts, uncles, and cousins. During our Thanksgiving dinner we had some unique guests - three Chinese women who are friends with my cousin in-law. These three women are spending the current year here in Northern Indiana teaching at several local schools. 

Celebrating Thanksgiving with these guests added a very interesting dynamic to the holiday. Our traditions are very different for these three women, so much of our time was devoted to explaining some of our traditions to them and asking them about their traditions. As we ate our holiday meal, I couldn't help but wonder if these guests felt like we were welcoming them in the best possible way. During our dinner, I believe we did, but it was before and after our dinner that I noticed how the presence of these three women affected some of my family members.

I think that a few of my relatives were not sure how to react about three Chinese women coming to our Thanksgiving. A couple of my uncles made comments about having stir-fry for Thanksgiving dinner or bringing chopsticks to the meal. These comments made me realize that my extended family really is not very diverse. We are mostly Mennonite, and all middle-class Caucasians. The somewhat insensitive comments made by a few of my family members were hard to look past. I did not speak out against these comments, but looking back I realize that I really should have. Fortunately, my aunts and one of my cousins did point out to my uncles that their statements were not very kind. I was also proud of my family for the warm welcome they gave to our guests during our meal. 

As an ENL teacher, it is very important for me to be aware of the cultural groups around me. I am sure that I will encounter guests in my classroom from all over the world. Not only do I need to welcome them into my classroom, but I also need to be aware of my attitude towards them when they are not there. Hopefully I can learn a lesson from my uncles and realize that not all cultural groups can be reduced to stereotypes. Every individual is unique, no matter what group they are a part of, and they deserve to be treated as a unique individual.

(Action #8 Practice Democratic Principles)

The First Year

My decision to become a teacher was a relatively recent one. Growing up I had various ideas about what I wanted to do with my life, but it wasn't until entering college that I truly start to think about what career path I would head down. After a couple of semesters here at Goshen College, I realized that some of my most meaningful and memorable educational experiences have come in language classrooms. I've always enjoyed reading English literature and practicing my writing. However, I also studied German for four years in high school and had the opportunity to travel to Germany for one month the summer after my junior year of high school. This experience made me aware of the connective power of language. Although I had very limited German skills, I was still able to communicate and develop meaningful friendships. 

As I began studying Spanish at GC, I realized how much I simply enjoy the study of different languages as well. There is something about understanding the inner-workings of grammar and of language structure that really appeals to me. In becoming an English as a New Language teacher, I'm hoping to learn to pass on this understanding of language to others. At the same time, my overall goal is to help English-language learners begin to communicate and express themselves in the English language.

Despite the passion that I have for my subject area, I am still aware that teaching is not the profession that I always envisioned myself pursuing. So I still have my hesitations about what teaching will really entail. I've been thinking about the reality of teaching lately, and found a very intriguing movie entitled The First Year, that looks at what education is like for brand new teachers. The First Year chronicles the first school year of five teachers in Los Angeles, all teaching in poorer school districts, and the difficulties and triumphs that they encounter during this year.

One of the biggest struggles that all five teachers in this documentary face is the reality of not being able to connect will every student. A female middle school teacher, Genevieve DeBose, has a particularly hard time motivating a young boy in her class. He does not participate in class, seems to be unhappy a lot of the time, and often acts out in class. It is very difficult for the teacher to connect with him, and she even meets with the boy and his parents a couple of times to talk about some of the issues he is facing. While it seems that Genevieve will not be able to successfully connect with this student, as the semester continues she grows closer and closer to him. Eventually she make a genuine connection with him and he seems more interested in class, but she had to sacrifice her free time to fully understand his family situation and where he was coming from.

The First Year also looks at some of the political realities of education. I was especially interested in the story of George Acosta, a high school ESL teacher. George worked with students from many different nationalities, and not only helped them learn English but pushed them to think critically at the same time. She presented issues to her class that would affect them, like an increase in bus fares and potential budget cuts for scholastic programs such as ESL. Her students were very interested in the latter subject, and they wrote letters about why their ESL program should not be cut. The students joined their teacher in speaking out about this issue to their district's school board, and triumphantly convinced them to keep the ESL program.

While The First Year reminded me of some of the difficulties of education like bureaucracy, funding issues, problem students, long hours, etc., it also inspired me in my journey to become a teacher. Though it may be hard, education offers a way to connect with young people in a meaningful way, open up their minds to new ideas, and instill in them an interest in education. Though I realize that teaching will be tough, I am greatly looking forward to the challenge of connecting to students in this way.

Click here for more information about The First Year.

(Action #3 Take Your Education Seriously)

Study Groups and Time Management

Amazingly, this semester is nearly over. Next week is Thanksgiving, and after that there are just a couple more weeks of school. Naturally, I am excited for the upcoming holidays and the chance to spend time with my family, and have a brief break from school. However, the reality is that this point in the semester means that I have lots of work - papers, projects, and tests. Just this week I've already turned in a poster for my Literacy class and an eight page paper in my Christian Faith class. These assignments were not particularly difficult, but it was a little tough to fit into my busy schedule, which also includes writing for the campus newspaper and working a part-time job.

With this busy schedule it is especially tough to stay up to date on my reading for classes or to put in substantial study time for tests. I had a challenging test on Monday of this week, also in Christian Faith, and a few days before the test I realized that I probably had not been studying enough for that class. Our professor also prides himself on the difficulty of his tests, so I knew that I should be adequately prepared for this test. Fortunately, a study group from my class was going to meet the night before the test, and this seemed like a great opportunity to prepare myself for the exam.

Before meeting with the study group, I was motivated to do some independent studying. There is a certain amount of accountability that comes with studying with a group. I did not want to come to the group and feel like I had nothing to contribute or not understand what was being discussed. So I knew that I should study on my own before actually attending the group study session. In addition, this group was a great way to collaborate with others and share ideas. There were some concepts that I did not completely understand, but was able to learn more from my peers. I was also able to contribute and share my thoughts on the concepts that I felt confident about.

With such a busy schedule it can be very difficult to fit in all of the reading and studying necessary for all of one's classes. One very effective way to study well is to study with a group of peers. This is something that I've learned to do this semester, and hopefully I can continue this practice next semester and later in the future.

(Action #3 Take Your Education Seriously)

Stories from an ex-Bracero

Last night we had the privilege at Goshen College of welcoming Don Felipe Munos a former 'Bracero,' or guest worker, to our campus for a lecture. He shared is interesting and moving story of how he and many other Mexicans worked in the United States in the years following WWII. These workers did performed difficult jobs, were paid low wages, and helped our country recover in the final years of WWII and the years following the war. However, there is a very sad side of Don Felipe's story. More information about Don Felipe can be found at the following website: http://www.mexicosolidarity.org/node/188

During the guest worker program, the US government withheld 10% of the pay of these workers. The government claimed that this money would be set aside as a type of retirement fund, and this was intended to lure other workers to participate in the guest worker program. However, when the guest worker program ended in 1966, no workers were compensated for the 10% wages that had been withheld over the years. For years the issue was forgotten, until recently. Don Felipe and others in Mexico have recently formed groups of ex-braceros who want to reclaim this money that was withheld. They are having much difficulty in their efforts, from the Mexican government, the US government, and Wells Fargo Bank, which supposedly held the money that had been withheld. A little bit more about this struggle can be found here: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bracero16-2008oct16,0,6413287.story

Now, the story of Don Felipe is a sad one, and it may be nearly impossible to compensate all of the former guest workers who had money withheld. Despite this fact, I was compelled last night to email the office of Senator Evan Bayh, one of the senators here in Indiana, and explain this story to him. In a perfect world, Bayh might be so moved that he makes an effort in the Senate to help those like Don Felipe get their money back. However this is not a perfect world, and that is not a likely response by Sen. Bayh. I did urge the Senator to think carefully about this story and look for lessons that can be learned with regards to the current issue of immigration. I told the Bayh that this country should treat our neighbors to the south, and all foreign neighbors for that matter, as friends, brothers and sisters, not as workers. They are not expendable workers, whose rights can be violated as they have been in the past. As the new presidential administration formulates its immigration policy, I hope that it works to treat immigrants and guest workers fairly.

Writing this letter to Sen. Bayh may not accomplish anything, and I am aware of that fact. Despite that, I think that contacting a representative from your state in this way about issues that matter to you is the most democratic action that a citizen of our country can make. In order for me to help other make their voice heard, or to get my own voice heard, it is important for me to call, email, and write letters to Congressional or Senate offices. Trough these practices, we can develop an effective and flourishing democratic society.

(Guiding Principle #8 Practice Democratic Principles)

Racquetball as Rejuvenation

A college schedule is always busy, and mine is no exception. I am taking a full course load this semester, and I also work about 15-20 hours a week in addition to my classes. So it can be pretty hard to fit everything that I'd like to into my schedule. One of those things is exercise. When I'm not in class or at work I always have schoolwork to do. And if I'm not working on that schoolwork I'd kind of rather hang out and relax rather than go exercise. Yet, I know that exercise is a great way to get rid of some stress, and can often actually give me energy when I feel like I don't have any. Earlier this semester I was playing intramural soccer and that gave me a way to get in some exercise. But lately it's been harder to stay active since exercise is not scheduled into my routine the way intramural soccer was. I have found one way, however, to stay active -- racquetball.

I just played a game of racquetball this evening, and I was reminded just how much I enjoy the sport. It is much different than soccer. Instead of being a team sport, it is an individual sport. When I play racquetball I realize that I am playing against another person, but even more I feel like I'm playing against myself. If I lose in racquetball it may be because my opponent is just that much better than me...but more often than not it is because I am playing poorly, not concentrating, and letting my emotions get the best of me. When concentrating in racquetball it is almost like you are meditating. You have to stay focused and not get distracted, but if you start thinking too much you will psych yourself out. I've had this happen plenty of times and my performance has suffered because I was over thinking the game. 

One thing is for sure though, when I play racquetball, the only thing I am thinking about is racquetball. I step onto the court and leave my worries of school, work, and my social life at the door. When playing, it's just me and my opponent for an hour. My favorite part about playing racquetball is the quick pace. If you're not ready for it, the pace of the game can really take you by surprise. Just a little bit ago you may have been sitting in class trying to stay awake. But when on the racquetball court you have to be ready to sprint through long rallies, find a way to hit a ball that is in the back corner, and dive for shots that are just out of reach, all while making sure you don't run into the other player or hit him with the ball. 

Racquetball may seem like the antithesis of relaxation, but for me it's one of the best ways to relax. I leave a game of racquetball feeling a little tired for sure, but reinvigorated and ready to get going with the rest of my day. This semester my housemate, Jake, and I have been making a point to wake up early and play racquetball on Friday mornings. It takes some effort to get up (usually one of us has to wake the other up), but when we do it's a great way to start Friday, and the weekend, off right. I plan to continue this weekly tradition, and keep playing using racquetball as a way to relieve stress, all semester and for the rest of the school year.

(Action #7 Develop ways to "Recharge your battery")

Election History

This past week was the end of a long and historic presidential campaign in our country. I was very interested in this campaign, as it really did seem to be an historic part of our country's history. We are in the middle of a fairly serious economic crisis and our country is involved in two major wars overseas. Besides those two issues, we are facing a long term energy crisis, and many of our domestic governmental services - education, health care, and Social Security among them - need reform. Because of these issues, and the fact that we had the chance to elect the first minority president, I decided to actively stay involved in this campaign.

The most significant way that I kept up with the 2008 Presidential race was to work as the Politics Editor for Goshen College's campus newspaper, The Record. I have been involved with The Record before, writing articles for various sections, and editing the News section. However, this year the editor decided to begin a new Politics page and asked if I would be interested in serving as editor, along with another student. I saw this as a great was to practice my journalism skills, stay informed with national politics, and help inform my campus community about the major elections taking place this fall. I quickly agreed to help out and serve as editor. The past couple of months have been heavy with news in the realm of politics and I hope that I helped my fellow students stay up to date with some of what was going on. I know that it can be very easy for college students to not keep up with news, so hopefully I was able to reach some of those students that were not aware of what all was going on in our country, and help them care a little bit about politics in our country and the major election taking place.

Because this was a very important election in our nation's history, I also decided to make the conscious effort to vote as early as possible. I voted early during the first week that early voting in Elkhart County was open, and I'm glad that I did. It was quick and easy, and I did not have to worry about my schedule on Election Day, or the possibility of long lines and wait times. As a citizen of a democratic society, voting is not only a right, but in my view a requirement of any active participant in that society, so getting out a voting, either early or on Election Day is essential. I am also very glad that I voted this year, because for the first time in over 40 years, Indiana voted for a Democratic presidential candidate. In the past when I voted in Indiana, it felt like my vote didn't really matter much, but this year was different. I felt that there was a possibility that Barack Obama could win this state, and I now know that my vote helped him win just enough votes to with this state.

Obama was also successful because of the strong campaign that he ran, nationwide and here in Indiana. His campaign focused on community driven organization. I decided to help out and volunteer for the local efforts of the Obama campaign here in Goshen. Before the election I went canvassing, walking door-to-door to talk to Obama supporters and make sure they were planning on voting. This experience really pushed me out of my comfort zone - I had to go knock on the door of random strangers and talk to them about politics! There were in fact a few houses that did not intend to vote for Obama, and the let me know. I even got into a lengthy discussion with a man who was still undecided, but leaning towards John McCain. Volunteering for the Obama campaign helped me meet all kinds of voters, and also feel more a part of the effort to elect Obama. I may have only worked for a short time, and talked to just a few people. But I know that my efforts may have helped get just a few more votes for Obama, helping him succeed here in Indiana.

(Guiding Principle #2 - Get Political)