Task #23: Writing Experience (Rachael)

23. Writing Experience 

Kim and I are reaching the mid point of our project as we are coming up on our twenty third idea. Project explore had been pretty slow over the break, and we started to brain storm another batch of ideas in choir when we reached the conclusion that not every blog post had to be planned. This notion sparked when I began to tell Kim about what I had done the previous weekend. I babysat for an Orthodox Jewish Family and being the curious critter that I am, I bombarded the little rascals with questions regarding their faith and way of life.

When I walked in all of the children were cleaning up from what seemed to be the evening prayer. They were putting away the "Gartel" which Ellie explained to me as a mini Torah or a Prayer tool similar to a Mazuzah. It is used during the ritual of night time prayer. This was intriguing because I have never experienced anything like that.

It was also very obvious that God has a major presence in these children's lives.  When I asked the boys to sleep, Ellie remarked "But Hashem's not sleeping right?" This comment took me back in two regards. First of all, I did not realize that the word Hashem was a reference to God. I was also very shaken that this little boy had expected me to know the answer to a religion specific question. All though I do not remember what I responded I do remember that this comment put me very off guard.

It is very important to note the fact that even though there is such a difference in culture the children I babysat were very much children indeed! They begged to play games on my phone, asked me to read them books and fought with me when I asked them to go to bed up to the very moment their mom got home! The experience as a whole was very eye opening and interesting to be able to look at a home so rich with culture and religion.

Task #22: Snow Graffiti (Kim)

22.  Snow Graffiti

With the impending snowstorm Juno, I decided to look up non-traditional snow day activities.  Project Explore motivated me.  I tore myself from the Netflix and hot chocolate (after some shoveling this morning, of course) and went out there in the cold.  My neighbor Olivia DiMarco and I put food coloring and water in several spray bottles to make "snow graffiti".  A very unappreciated art form, in my opinion.

In the spirit of Project 52, we used the remainder of our food coloring to splatter colors around 52.  

Before we splattered the remainders of the solutions around it!

We also used sprinkles in the snow to fill in drawings.

Task #21 Completed: What Advice Would You Give to a Large Group of People? (Humans of New York Inspired)

The Humans of New York blog was a big inspiration for our project.  As part of Brandon Stanton's posts, he often asks people: "What piece of advice would you give to a large group of people?" because his blog has such a large following and impact.  Brandon Stanton's page can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/humansofnewyork.  (Note:  He has recently raised over $700,000 for an underprivileged school in Brownsville, New York after interviewing one of the students for Humans of New York.  The campaign is still going on and a link to donate can be found on his page.)

Our project will be seen by many Norwalk High students and teachers, and we want them to take away something from it.  At the end of our project, we plan to share our advice from completing 52 new tasks.  But on the journey, we wanted to take advice from others.  We planned to only ask ten people this question.  However, after answers ranging from comical to profound, we continued to ask other students and teachers because it was simply interesting.  (side note: these pictures were taken with an iPhone and the glare was pretty terrible as I'm sure you'll notice, so the black and white edits are an attempt to mask the glare)

What advice would you give to a large group of people?

Michael: Everyday is a challenge, but if you look at life with the glass half full instead of empty, you realize the beauty of it.  Because in the end...there is still something in the cup.

Olivia: Don't poke the sleeping bear.  Watch as it naps cutely and pretend that it won't bite your head off and then leave before it wakes up and everyone is good.

Mr. Foldeak: Remember that everyone sees the world a little differently and that doesn't mean your way is the right way.

Madame Graf: Never give up.

Catherine Robinson:
See things from other people's perspective.

Cara decided to write out a quote on her cell phone, which is next to her portrait and reads: "Never hide your scars because they show that you are stronger than whatever decided to hurt you."

Madison Pia: "Don't screw with Mr. Couture!"

Mr. Couture: "To Madison, I concur.  But as for the piece of advice, I say never settle for mediocrity."

Rimon (left): Don't do drugs.
Amanda: Eat green olives.
Jacob: Join Seniors Helping Seniors and help the elderly.

Izzy (left): Don't park next to white vans.
Sabrina: You get out what you put in.

Lindsey: Live life better than its fullest.

Janique: The grass is always greener on the other side.

Emily (left): Everything happens for a reason.
Alyssa: Don't talk to strangers.

Liza (provided photo): Gym is like prison, and you're a delinquent: it's mandated, and you have to undress.

Mr. Von Arter: Never settle for less than your best.

Janai: It's okay to let people go.

Mr. O'Shaughnessy could not produce one phrase as a piece of advice.  When I initially asked him, he asked me for a specific audience to address because he had so many pieces of advice to provide.  Although Brandon Stanton keeps his question vague and simply asks for a "large group of people", I told him the audience would be high school students.  We are hoping this project will have an impact on high school students.  When I returned, Mr. O' Shaughnessy had generalized and printed out a letter he wrote to a student preparing to enter teaching.  Mr. O'Shaughnessy's thoughtful response and very intellectual and well written letter reminds me why I care about this project.  I want to not only have unforgettable experiences myself but to be able to use them for good in the future.  Mr. O' Shaughnessy advised the student to connect love with wisdom, "establish and maintain such personal relationships because [the students] are ever-changing and enduring."  He reminds this student never to forget the passion that brought him to teaching and to admire and "seek counsel" from "people who excel in other professions and colleagues in other academic disciplines".  I find Mr. O's letter to be practically a guidebook for becoming a great teacher.  But it is also a reminder to us working on Project Explore to be diligent and precise because we want our 52 things to make a difference in other people's lives.

Maria: Don't dwell on the past and live for the future.

Mariah Smalls:
If you're going through something, this too shall pass.

Our Project Explore mentor, Ms. Morris:
Take one day at a time, and make sure to really live that day.

Angela: Stay strong and believe in yourself.

Gracie Bradley: Carpe diem!

Hannah: Do what makes you happiest.  And don't eat yellow snow.

This was one of my favorite tasks so far because it not only raised awareness for our project but got people involved and made them really think about this weighty question.  It also got us thinking about what our answers will be after we finish this project.

We will share our pieces of advice at our Project Explore presentation in May, after we have had 52 new experiences.

-Rachael and Kim

Task #20 Completed: Stand For An Entire School Day (Rachael)

Kim and I came up with this task in a collaborative sense. This idea was born from the fact that I hate sitting down during our Euro class; Mr. O often asks me if I'm okay because I'm still standing long after the bell rings. Basically the way this task developed was due to the fact that since I complained so much about sitting down, Kim challenged me to stand for an entire day.  This task also raised some awareness for our project: when people asked why I was standing I explained what our project was and encouraged them to attend our presentation in May.

I will say two additional things about this experience: I now appreciate my desk in Mr. O's class more than I ever thought I would. The second comment I have is a piece of advice to all that attempt to stand for seven hours straight, do not make the same mistake I did: please wear shoes with support.