Sunday, May 13, 2012

Do Something...no really, go do it.

(A picture from the last time I went out and "did something."
A Portland Timber's game on April 21st.)
On Friday, we assigned our final project for our graduating seniors.

I was so excited about it I was bouncing off the walls--that combined with having real coffee for breakfast instead of the iced tea I've been using as a replacement-- so excited that one kids told me twice to calm down and another, looked a me with sleepy slightly annoyed confusion and said, "What did you do or how much caffeine have you had this morning?"

So, the project, which is mostly my brain child, is essentially a challenge for them all to get out and do something. Ideally, it's something they've never tried and have always wanted to try. It's something that will challenge or stretch them a little and my co-teacher Nate and I were prepared for it to flop. Both, nervous because we were so excited about it, we desperately wanted them to like it, and to see it as an opportunity to do something THEY were interested in.

They loved it.
Really, one kid (who is smart and super arrogant), said, "This is bad ass." We didn't know if he was serious or being sarcastic. He clarified, "No, really, this is awesome, all we have to do is go out, do something we're interested in and come back and talk about it. This is the best final ever. Who wouldn't like this."

Two kids struggled, they apparently hate everything and both said more than once, "I hate change." Exactly.

Here are some of the cool ideas they came up with:
1. Drive to Seattle and watch a Beatles cover band
2. Go around the city and take photos with a 35 mm camera
3. Various girls want to try Zumba
4. One kid wants to panhandle for a day....this made us realize we desperately needed a permission slip.
5. Visit an alpaca show
6. Wear ear plugs for a few days and try to use the ASL he's learned
7. A huge Hispanic kid wants to go ice skating
8. A girl raised in a very devout Catholic family is interested in going to a different church. She's a cool kid, interested, intelligent kind of a spit-fire. I suggested she try the awesome Unitarian Church in downtown Portland. I did not however suggest she try the Euthanasia Church, which is what she thought I said, so that's what she looked up. She was freaked out, apparently with good reason. However, she was quite interested in the Unitarians.
9. The kid who called our project bad ass wants to do a 24 hour survival type experience
10. On kid is going to research dog fighting, and then fight his dog....literally, he is going to fight his dog. Then make a video of it. Yes, stupid. But this will be hysterical. He's even planning on building a ring.

Nate and I also decided we would participate. Both because we want to and to demonstrate that this is what REAL people do, we are not just our jobs. We experience things and do things. I'm thinking of going to play golf. He's thinking about geocaching. Neither of those are considerably outside our comfort zone...we're still coming up with ideas. Luckily, the project is not due 'till June 4th and we've got time.