What a whirlwind of a season! The last three months have been hectic to say the least but the dust is finally settling and i’m getting into my groove. Perfect timing for the fall entering into the winter.
I left my teaching to job to take a position with Challenge Detroit, while I am grateful for the opportunity to live, work, give, play, and lead in the city, it is always hard to detach myself from my students who I have built such strong relationships with. I’ve picked up kids and dropped them off from school, talked to them about college choices, helped a student who had his water cut off, talked to a young lady dealing with her pregnancy, encouraging a kid to simply show up to school, and taking on the perpetual battle of making students own their education. Wow, looking back, I really extended myself to these kids and have no regrets.
That wasn’t the hardest part of my summer. Almost two months ago, I got married to an amazing woman. Right after the school year concluded, I was busy finishing up the wedding planning: getting postage, following up with guest, making sure my tux (which I did not allow my wife to see until the day of) was perfect because I did not want to make my wife upset, making sure the t’s were crossed and the i’s were dotted. The wedding went off without a hitch, we had an amazing time and our guest did too. In fact, one of my fraternity brothers started the night with his top button undone and when the night was over, his shirt was unbuttoned right above his belly button! The honeymoon was awesome. We traveled to Sint Marteen, an island in the Caribbean Sea east of the Virgin Islands.
When we returned from the honeymoon, my wife started her new position at work. She is the *inhales* Assistant Director for the Center for Leadership Development and Career Preparation in the athletic department at the University of Michigan *exhales*, she pretty much helps student-athletes go from jocks to employable. We merged bank accounts, got name changes, and had to finish moving in her stuff. She lives with me in the Bagley Community located north of McNichols, south of Outer Drive, west of Livernois, and east of Wyoming.
After we got our marriage, house, and paperwork settled, it was time for me to start my new position. My host company is Wayne County Community College District. We have 5 campuses throughout Wayne County which are conveniently located right off the freeway. We have a west campus in Belleville, east campus in east Detroit, northwest campus in, you guessed it, northwest Detroit, downriver campus in Taylor, and our downtown campus, where i’m located, adjacent to Joe Louis Arena.
My first few weeks were in Educational Affairs but I later switched over to Student Services, specifically in athletics *cha ching*. Did you know the WCCCD Wildcats Men’s Basketball team won the NJCAA Division II National Championship? Me either! My job as the Creative Service Coordinator is to simply get the message out about athletics and be a foot soldier for the 1 manned athletic department. I’ll wear another hat working in Student Services working with the provost of the college to make students more engaged in the college. My job is two weeks old but I am happy to be in this position. I get a chance to go out and recruit cross country runners this afternoon. As a former teacher, being face to face with students often give me energy and makes my work worthwhile.
Now that the dust is settling, I am able to get in my groove and really grind things out through the winter.
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