Okay… The following post has nothing to do with the picture above. In fact, I’m not totally sure it has any specific theme. But, you should still read it.

I’m having a difficult time figuring out what to write about tonight. Common was playing on one of my teammate’s music streams a few minutes ago. It reminded me of when I bought the album, Like Water for Chocolate.”

We’ve had several conversations about working with youth. Kevin is our resident Psychologist. He is a professor at Wright State University, and has his own private practice. Additionally, he works with public school students. He described some of his experience with students, particularly African-American Boys, who battle with emotionally traumatic experiences. Some of us talked about real-life super heroes, like Phoenix Jones. I shared my thoughts about becoming a real-life super hero in the Dayton community, as well as my alter ego (that will remain unnamed).

The reason that I won’t don a super suit and mask is that I have a wife and two kids to care for. I won’t risk losing my job as a teacher. To me, teaching is activism. When I go to work each day I build relationships with students, many of which have emotional scars that make trusting any adult a challenge. Others have been labeled with many diagnoses that ultimately limit what they believe they are capable of. Others still have parents who love and care for them and a wonderful home life, yet they deal with whatever challenges life presents for them. These students still need positive teachers who truly love and appreciate them for simply existing.

I am a passionate teacher, because the teachers I learned the most from were emotionally attached to the content they taught. They refused to allow me to see myself as anything less than fully capable of reaching my goals and more. A few years ago, as I was completing my doctorate, my sister, Renatta, reminded me of when my high school guidance councilor told me that I wasn’t college material, that I should join the military. Thinking back on that advice, I wondered if he meant his words or if was trying to push me to pursue college in some reverse psychological way.

So, back to working with youth today. I teach with passion, because children deserve teachers who care about them. My students need people who express how important this generation is. They are the future.

Like I said, I’m having a difficult time deciding what to write about tonight.