lesson learned and the way things are

Do you realize in many other countries, kids as young as 4 or 5 have to take aptitude tests that determine what kind of careers they'll have as adults? That is to say...what color their collars are gonna be? Blue? White? Brown? Pink? Green even? Oh I don't know what colors they use these days.

Anyway it just hit me today that we have that here too. Except it's not anywhere near as explicit. We call it Advanced Placement/Gifted or Talented/Mid Year Programs here, designed, in a nutshell, to challenge smarter kids who are more likely to be successful in college and future careers.

Also, short notes on other things I've learned:

Numero uno:
It blows my mind but apparently measures of success have nothing to do with intelligence. We live in a society where people who daily use improper grammar in every sentence can work in the education system. Or you can have a completely successful chain of restaurants without knowing a whole lot aside. Or you can be incredibly smart as far as education goes--4.0 at a major university and be struggling to get a dead-end job or otherwise be completely at a loss to get a job.

Numero dos:
I have a very comparatively soft voice. My voice cracks when it attempts to get even half as loud as some of the more experienced teachers.

a continuation of part one

1. nostalgic
2. bittersweet
4. sentimental
3. cathartic

These describe a few of my favorite things.

On the video, I made for the Guster song and the running and the sepia and the karaoke words, I don't know that it's much of an inspiration. I just always pictured running with it. It's that song that's running through my head pushing me to go forward when I'm too tired with every repeat of

To tell you the truth, I've said it before, tomorrow I start in a new direction...
I look straight at what's coming ahead and soon it's gonna change in a new direction...

Oddly that gif of the runner I added in part one was taken from (of all places) the Dunkin Donuts website. Because...

Well in any case we just have to keep looking straight ahead. That's why those marathon runners--Akhwari and Wanjiru--are my chosen heroes for the video. One finished dead last by a long shot and the other first place. They're forever bound together in Olympic glory because neither quit. Albeit, that if you're looking for a spectator sport to watch, marathons are one of the dullest (right up there with sharp shooting). But the stories behind some of them are among the most inspiring. It's not any wonder then, that the Bible talks about finishing the race. We must persevere even when the road seems uncertain. It's all backwards and it doesn't make much sense to stay a course where things seems impossible. But the world's got it all wrong.

And on an unrelated note, did I mention that hearing certain opera songs and classical music sends chills through my spine and makes me teary eyed? I know, I know. I sound like a yuppie sap.