The 25 List

  I've been contemplating turning 26 soon and what I've put on my list for 25. A day before I turned  25 last year I wrote down 25 things I wanted to do throughout the year. I thought of some new and fun things I wanted to do and accomplish. I didn't do all 25, but wanted to share the few that I did.

Number 4 on my list was to write a sequel to my short story that I wrote back in March 2017 called Noor's Spring. I had a a lot of fun writing that story and felt that everything came together quickly yet it was challenging and slow to continue writing a sequel or anything creative really. In the recent few weeks, I have created a sequel to the story and although it's not finished yet I plan to finish it soon. :)

Number 5 on my list was to sew a skirt. I didn't sew a skirt but I did learn how to sew a shirt!

Number 8 on my list was make baklava. Baklava is a Greek/Middle Eastern dessert that is sweet and crunchy. The first time I tried baklava was in the 6th grade when my American Iraqi classmate made it for the class; I've never forgot it since. Every time I look in a Middle Eastern cookbook I want to see if there is a recipe for it. Fortunately, one of the cookbooks I own had a recipe for this sickly sweet dessert. The first time I made it was at my brother's place. It was cool because we were both learning as we went, figuring out how it was supposed to be made and look like. We enjoyed our hard work after. :) The second time I made it was much easier and I avoided the mistakes I made the first time. I've learned the recipe is just one way to make it since there are other versions of it. I only want to keep learning and getting better with this kind of cuisine.

Number 9 on my list was to study for the CBEST and take it. I am proud to say that I began studying for this test soon after graduation, and took studying more seriously a few months later with a strict schedule and try to really understand the concepts. I took just the math portion and though didn't pass it on the first try, I am motivated and readying to continue studying again and see how I do.

The street facing the High school where I took the test. It was a relief to finish with the nice view and a day trip with my dear sister. 

Number 10 on the list was to read the Bible and spiritual book in the morning. Before last summer when I would wake up I would say a few prayers but not spend much time processing things and taking things into prayer in the morning. I've never been much of a morning person but decided to give more time in the morning for spiritual reading. I've definitely noticed the difference ever since I've begun more of a morning prayer routine. It's more about being intentional and taking some time to read scripture or any spiritual book, reflect upon it instead of rushing to start the day without much of a thought or a thank you to God.

Number 15 on the list was to create a shirt online. I've wanted to do this for sometime. I'm not sure why but creating my own shirt sounded fun and cool to wear something original. I was inspired reading the book 'The book of Joy' and while reading a quick note hit me and I had to write it down. "Humility is essential to any possibility of joy." And "The word humility comes from the Latin word for earth or soil, humus. Humility literally brings us back down to earth." And my own notes in my notebook, "Humus is the root word for humility, which is also similar to the word human. And hummus is the yummy Middle Eastern dip. Although the words look similar, could they also be in relation with one another?"

Number 16 on my list was to cook a Jacques Pepin recipe. This was a challenge for me to create because he is known for more elaborate and gourmet French cooking. He's enjoyable to watch on TV and makes everything look so easy. Just the other night I decided to make a dish that I've seen him make and I had the recipe in his cookbook. The recipe is called Corn Fritters and they always looked so good when he made them. I'm glad I tried out one of his recipes.

Number 17 was Read 5 classics. I felt that I technically read 5 classics this 25th year. They include 'The Great Divorce', 'Their Eyes Were Watching God', 'To Kill a Mockingbird', 'Man's Search for Meaning' and 'Sophie Scholl and the White Rose'.

I'm glad I created this 25 list to look back on and did a few things on it. I'm not sure if I'll create one for turning 26. I feel that seeing where this next year leads would also be just as exciting. Cheers!

Things I Have Taken With Me

Students, noise, discipline, quotes. This was my life a year ago, adjusting and transitioning to working at an after school program/summer camp and saying farewell to life as a college student. I had to learn quickly how to lead a classroom full of 5th graders, and literally switch my thinking from student to teacher. It was an exciting adjustment, but it was a challenging and exhausting one as well. I was happy to be busy working and be around various people and students, and see where my life was headed next come post grad. On my graduation day there were tears of joy and relief due to all the struggle and deep suffering bottled up for 3 years.

A year later, I am teaching students but I don't have to keep relearning their names. I have the privilege of learning about them on a more individual and personal basis, and I get to decide what will brought to the lessons and what will be learned. While I was in that crowded, noisy classroom a year ago, to keep me inspired and sane, I wrote a quote on the board each day. This quote was by someone famous or well known and if my students didn't know who the person was or what they were known for, I would tell them. I would also give them points for participating and telling what the quote meant to them. Some of the authors of the quotes included, Julia Child, Marcus Sameulsson, Albert Einstein, Indira Gandhi, Walt Disney, Elon Musk, Mahatma Gandhi, Matthew Youlden, Eleanor Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln among others. After many academic quarters at University of thinking to myself and learning solo, I had a burst of knowledge and inspiration to share with my students.

There are some things that I have taken from that special, delicate, challenging, enriching, busy and growing experience that were seeped in those walls, and in the loud and quiet voices of my former students. I took with me the power of fortitude, knowing myself and knowing when enough is enough. I took with me a white board that has carried over with me in my lessons now. I have taken with me inspiration, new ideas and a closer look into the classroom. I have taken with me memories of those hot summer days, the lining up, the role playing of teacher and juggling various things at once, the kind words and gestures from my students, the very hard, annoying and exhausting days that made me burn not so much from the heat but from the grind of the work. I breathe a sigh of relief that I made it through a year of post grad, and the experiences of last summer and that I'm in another place because I was there first.