September 23, 2007

  • How do you handle stress?

    When there is only one or two stressors I calmly and dispassionately (even coldly) approach the task.

    I start steadily breaking down when there are more stressors.  My mood and temperment may shift depending on how much stress and familiarity with the situation.  Usually, I become withdrawn and do not participate in social activites.  I will try to leave or escape people whom are stressors so I do not hurt them verbally or physically, if driven that far.  Usually, I will just fume in a corner and try to complete the tasks that I have to complete.

    On rare occasions when I just lose it, I start ranting and raving.  Once, when I first started teaching, I screamed at the stacks of paper work around me.

    Most times working out at the gym or going to my fencing studio really helps get rid of the stress physically.  Endorphins are an excellent natural way to rid the body of stress.  I've never been fond of "ball" related games, but personal combat sports tend to be most attractive to me since I tend to be a personal kind of person in my relationships and life.  I don't like big groups; one-on-one is the best.  Big groups make me lost.

    Currently I have these things as stressors in my life:

    1. Finishing my CLAD classes
    2. Chairing a WASC committee at school
    3. Chairing the 12th Grade English committee
    4. Chairing the 12th Grade English Curriculum Mapping committee (is it me or is it a waste of time to create an officious document with very little practical use for a "new" teacher or even an experienced one--so far we've logged in at least 6 hours to do this assignment with at least 4 more to come)
    5. Completing my MA Thesis at UCI (this has taken a major backseat to everything)
    6. Grading, meeting, and teaching my 176 students
    7. Collaborating with the Special Teachers assigned to me because I have over 30 special ed kids in my classes (school policy changed to pull kids from independent studies and stuff them in already overcrowded class rooms--avg. of 37-40 students per class across campus--yes, there are moments when assault and battery of the strutting coxcomb administrators--him and his crony the school board newly salvaged from OC--have crossed my mind)
    8. Attending the CSU Early Assessment Program's: 12th Grade Expository Writing workshops.

    There are a myriad of other stressors, but those are ones that I've control over and are not REQUIRED of me so I can but them in the back burner.  The only one listed that fits in this category is my thesis.  All the rest required.  You know, I don't get it what puts it into an administrator's mind that teachers like taking days off out of the classroom to meet over buracractic nonsense is what we like.  These people sucked as teachers and suck as administrators too. 

    Good Lord, I wish there was a revolution coming--I'd sign-up first to be the guillotine-man for minor bureaucrats and government functionaries. Yes. Yes.    I'd bathe in their blood in the marketplace celebrating the liberty from endless forms and tedious meetings focused on setting up other meetings (with no snacks--cheap bastards)--not to mention liberty from the heafty bribes--I mean--gifts that were wasted on those parasites!

    Well.  That's kind of nasty and unsanitary not to mention melodramatic.  No.  Maybe not the bathing part, but it's the thought that counts, right?

    I see now that I'll need at least 6-10 hours of fencing this week to get rid of that stress.  Better go repair my equipment now.  I seem to breaking blades lately.

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