When Eating At The Cafeteria Just Isn't In The Cards
I am spending today in the lovely little North Carolina town of Mount Olive. Mount Olive is known by many as the Pickle Capital of the World because it is the home of the Mount Olive Pickle Company. I taught at the middle school here in town my first four years in education.
I am here today to attend some continuing education sessions which I hope will get me motivated for this upcoming school year. Usually, by the first of August the excitement about another year of teaching has started to build. This year it is conspicuously absent.
The seminar I'm attending, which runs for three days, is called the Summer Institute. The Institute is akin to a day camp for teachers. I don't actually have to attend this year as I have enough credits to renew my license but a colleague and dear friend of mine is presenting three of the one hour sessions over the three days and I want to support her efforts.
The Institute is held on the campus of the University of Mount Olive, formerly known as Mount Olive College. They do offer lunch in the school cafeteria but I just couldn't bring myself to do a cafeteria style lunch just yet. So here I am at McDonald's enjoying the lunch you see in the picture.
Perhaps I was meant to be here this morning. A young boy of nine or ten told his mother that he'd like to have a job at McDonald's. I took the opportunity to encourage him to stay in school, get good grades, and when he was old enough, come to work at McDonald's and get into their management track program. I let him know that if he stays in school and does a good job at McDonald's, goes to college, and gets the companies management training, he might even get to own his own McDonald's some day.
I'm not sure what moved me to talk to the young man, but he seemed excited about the idea, and his mother sincerely thanked me for planting the idea in his mind. Was it coincidence that sent me to this McDonald's restaurant this morning? I'll let you decide.
changinglives fastfood careeropportunities
Image Credit » DW Davis
Comments
lexiconlover wrote on August 4, 2015, 11:52 AM
Ive been to Mount Olive, but its been awhile. What did you order to ewt at the Golden Arches.
1Rufuszen wrote on August 4, 2015, 12:00 PM
Sounds like a teacher's day is never over!
DWDavisRSL wrote on August 4, 2015, 12:24 PM
Crisp McChicken with fries and sweet tea.
DWDavisRSL wrote on August 4, 2015, 12:24 PM
The teacher in me never rests.
1Feisty56 wrote on August 4, 2015, 1:56 PM
You may not yet feel the excitement for the school year, but it's clear you are always a teacher whether in the classroom or not. You never know what an impact you might make with such an impromptu conversation even.
Happy Birthday to you!
DWDavisRSL wrote on August 4, 2015, 5:30 PM
Thanks for the Birthday wishes. I am excited that I get to teach a lot of the same kids. I just hope they are ready for the seventh grade teacher version of me.
DWDavisRSL wrote on August 4, 2015, 5:35 PM
I hope that I at least planted the idea in his head that he is the captain of his own success.
Paulie wrote on August 5, 2015, 3:31 AM
I should have read this post before the one right after. What topic is your good friend and colleague speaking on?
DWDavisRSL wrote on August 5, 2015, 4:45 PM
Her first session was on how to bring real life science into the science classroom by connecting with aquariums in our state. The second was on grant writing for some of the local organizations in our area that give small grants to teachers.
Paulie wrote on August 6, 2015, 3:19 AM
Maybe you can use some of her ideas in your science classes next semester.
CoralLevang wrote on August 6, 2015, 5:51 AM
I smiled, as I read this. I am a firm believer that we meet people that we are supposed to meet, whether for a moment in time, or a time full of moments.
1You never know when someone will hear you say something that will resonate with them. It has nothing to do with us, but with the receiver. Keep being
the genuine, giving person that you are. This is what makes the difference in the world, my friend. I am proud to know you.
DWDavisRSL wrote on August 6, 2015, 3:34 PM
I am already working on writing at least three grants to try and acquire materials for my science classroom. If I can swing it, I want both my classes to be primarily interactive experiences this year.
Paulie wrote on August 6, 2015, 10:44 PM
That is certainly the best way to learn science. Believe it or not, I went to Catholic grade schools in the 50s and never had a science course. My first science course was a Biology class in the 10th grade. It is necessary for science to be an interactive experience. That's probably why I liked biology and then zoology so much in college.