Monday, September 24, 2012

The First Day of the Rest of My Life

I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be teaching high school sex education, but I am! And as always regarding my aiding the youth, I learn much more from them than they do from me (I feel).  I was not initially  planning on teaching, but it just kind of fell into my life like many other awesome gifts I have received from above. This gift, so far, has managed to outshine the others due to its intense nature. I never had a class about sex that was so helpful and true when I was younger. I sat in front of a cranky, overweight, old geezer who rarely took joy in helping me understand or appreciate what I was learning. I tried my best to be the most genuine and honest teacher without freaking them out. I am happy to say, IT WORKED! My students learned so many things about transmission of diseases, sex, and relationships. I wanted the class to be real, so I always asked them to make the situations posed in the class real to them. I often felt bad leaving work because I felt like I was a terrible teacher and none of the students listened or cared about what I was saying. Those times I turned to God and asked some even heavier questions: how could I turn this situation around? I researched and discovered some new techniques, implemented some new games, and created a new voice to reach them. Again, the approach  worked. In essence, I love my students and I will miss them so much, but I must be moving on! On to a new school, new car, and new degree. Today is the first day of Autumn and I feel a true change. Election Day is rolling around, so many birthdays coming, and the holidays. I want to approach these events with positivity, so I will not be looking back to the past anymore! Enough! I simply must move forward. I feel like if I say it enough it will happen. That is my belief for this new season!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

My Barack, his Michelle.

On perhaps one of the most accidentally romantic weekends of my life comes an incredible moment of clarity the following week. My mind reeling from a nearly disastrous trip, filled with life experiences and lessons, I appropriately identified what I, Oriel Martin, wants for my future.  As the presidential election of 2012 looms, I am constantly bombarded by Republican speeches, Democratic speeches, and all the people who love them. I am definitely on the fence when it comes to either side's personal policies, but one thing is for sure; I am all about equality for everyone. I guess that is why I tend to gravitate to the Democratic party. Though truthfully, the sole reason has very little to do with politics, but mainly the people who are in office. I believe that President Obama and his family are the most organic, authentic, and genuine people to ever grace the White House. With every speech and every interview, I love the Obamas a little more. Most ignorant people would say, "You only like the Obamas because you are black." That could not be further from the truth. The Obamas simply magnify what I adore about commitment romantically. They truly seem to be in love and as a hopeless romantic who has always wanted that, I cannot help but love this quality about them. Asides from the mere fact that this family is the American Dream, they are real. It is not about net worths, getting America "back American," or beating the opponent, it is about what is good for everyone! They are people who come from modest beginnings, people like me who were once deeply entrenched in financial debt from college, people who strived to make an excellent future for themselves because their parents raised them to be so, and people who have faith that with opportunity EVERY AMERICAN CAN BE GREAT! What is not to love about any of that? I cannot seem to find one single thing. As I fall deeper in love with the man who currently has my heart, I think about Barack Obama and how he always kisses his wife, tells her she is the greatest mother, congratulates her, and thanks her for just being his rock, and I think; that is what I want. This weekend and this night reassured me that my vote will most definitely be with the Obamas. And it not mainly because of all their political beliefs, but their love which has hypnotized me into believing that my man could be my Obama and I could be his Michelle. It doesn't get any better than that!