Lessons Learned from Novel "Tuesdays with Morrie"

book cover of the novel 

photo source: wikipedia.org

A fellow blogger, Sheng, brought this book with her during a local blogging community and I was all tempted to read that I asked to bring this book just in case I have time in between to  read. 

I thought the book was simply a work of fiction but the novel was about a professor's struggle and triumph over his fatal disease and his student's personal struggles about the true meaning of life. 

From start to end, you will see and feel wisdom, wits and humor and love of a dying person and teaching bare essentials that are oftentimes ignored. Thus, it left me crying from cover to cover.  This is indeed one book everyone should not miss.

Read the synopsis as excerpt from wikipedia.org.

Newspaper columnist Mitch Albom recounts his time spent with his 78 year old sociology professor at Brandeis University, Morrie Schwartz, who was dying from Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). Albom, a former student of Schwartz, had not corresponded with him since attending his college classes sixteen years earlier. The first three chapters begin with: an ambiguous introduction to the final conversation between Albom and Schwartz, a brief flashback to Albom's graduation 20 years earlier, and a brief recount of the events Albom experiences between his graduation and the point where he becomes prompted to return to his professor.

Albom is a successful sports columnist for the Detroit Free Press after not attaining his childhood dream of being a pianist. After seeing Schwartz on Nightline, Albom looked up Schwartz's phone number, and called him. Much to his surprise, Schwartz remembered him even though he hasn't seen him in 16 years. That prompted Albom to travel from Michigan to Massachusetts to visit Schwartz.[1] They arrange to meet on Tuesdays. A newspaper strike frees Albom from work and allows him frequent flights from his home in Detroit to Schwartz in Boston. The resulting book is based on Albom's recount of Schwartz lectures, quotes, experiences, and conversations. It is interspersed with frequent flashbacks and allusions to contemporary events between each visit.

 

Busy Weekend for Me

For others who are employees of any government or private entity, they may be enjoying their weekends already but in my case, I am enduring the  3 - hour stay filling my dues as I do my laboratory assignment.

So, while the students work on their laboratory requirements, I somehow made use of the time to update this blog and wait for them to finish their works. Of course, I get to attend them whenever they call for help. Somehow, it is only depressing to note that not all students share the same passion for learning. That is, while others are breaking their senses doing their laboratory assignments, others are enjoying their non-sense activities. As a teacher, I can only remind them of their duties.


After this long hours of work, I shall head back again to our store and do my other tasks. sigh! But, I can only be grateful that another beautiful day has come and I am still alive and kicking only busier.  LOL!

Wanted: Fun and More Fun!

Teaching and attending to business operations are never easy; I have splice my time between these two and to top it all, I still have my writing works as a form release although they can become quite a drain too.

I used to read novels, and watch movies to get recharged from all the work pressures and to still get the energy to attend to family duties. But, at the end of the day, I still feel that my feet are all dragging and my back is becoming a drain.

So, with meager time left, I can only visit fun online sites for safe and exciting entertainment sites including  USA casino that provides safe and excitement - filled games that may allow you to win bonuses and monstrous winnings. So, anyone within the states of America is highly welcomed and you too can be a lucky player.

It is always imperative to take rest to get energized otherwise any work can be a big drain.

Im a Strained Teacher Again

This new school year, 2010 - 2011, is another year added to my decade of being a teacher and while this job is truly underpaid but overworked, I remain a committed servant of education. I had been a full - time teacher for 12 years but decided to cut back on my workload that I chose to become a part - time teacher instead.

So, since last semester, I have been rendering 15 hours of teaching work every week on subjects like programming and computer theories. This however means I have to still read a lot, and work with my computer practically every day resulting to chronic back pain, headache and strained vision.

I started with jogging and taebo last summer to help me get healthier bones and correct my back aches while I only take pain killers for the headache. However, the strained vision is left unattended that even triggers the headache again. I had my  eyeglasses before to correct the teacher's eye syndrome but I outgrown them that I need new  eyeglasses  again appropriate for my present visual requirement.

My age does not at all alleviate the problem and since I can't undo the consequences of nature or resign from my work, I can only find ways to remedy my concerns.

 Since the school year has just started, I have a long time to endure unless I find a nice and elegant pair of eyeglasses soon.

The Online Me

The start of Internet in 1980’s had made a dramatic change not only in commercial establishments but also in homes. The form of company, product or service advertising has taken a major shift from its conventional form of printed and aerial to non-printed. Thus, websites like Google, Yahoo and other commercial web sites proliferate.

But, I could not underestimate the power of blogging as a form of journal website. I had continued my passion for writing through blogs last year. Since then, I never stop writing about politics, health, education, parenting, family, recreation, fashion and more. For blogs to become popular and marketable, traffic is highly required. Thus, I have submitted my blogs to different web directory. Somehow, my blog traffic increases and my readership widen. More importantly, I have met people from web directories who also become social networks and source of endless references for topics that highly interest me.

Further, I have made to promote my fashion store online. My blogs have helped me sell my stuffs and cater to buyers outside my local premises, thus, increasing the likelihood of revenues.

No wonder companies worldwide, small or big have maximized the prowess and depth of internet and its technology.

What I also appreciate from Internet and its web sites are the blogs I make with my students as part of our classroom instruction. Somehow, learnings become more interactive and rich in resources.

I make my programming codes and lectures available online and sometimes, I make use of some tutorials available for added references. That way, students may actually review our lessons and even go advance should they need. They can find resources and tutorials to help them understand our lessons more. But, I make sure that when I give problem, the solution is not entirely found from the resources. This way, students are taught to be more analytical and creative in solving programs.

The tutorial contains different references on the basics and programming codes as sample to support the topic. The tutorial is quite easy to use and may be used as a supplement to text books. And if students and other viewers or readers want to be clarified on certain topics, forum or discussion is there to assist anyone.

Internet's resources like tutorials and e - books are normally free. We just have to be resourceful and vigilant of what is a correct content from fictitious ones. Also, one can acquire software journals for added IT learnings.

Happy Weekend

It is not quite a happy weekend though for me because come Monday, I shall go back to my teaching work.waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

I have to however, do my last minute buying of my kid's school stuffs and join school meetings, not to mention, I am still undone with subject preparations. Goodness! I am really getting older with this job.

To Go To School or Not

I am currently torn between pursuing my professional advancement and family. Schooling requires resources and time which I could hardly keep up. This makes me pretty guilty since I could not make up to the lost time I have to give to my kid and to the business we recently initiated among other important reasons.

But, I am halfway done with my second masteral degree and I see it more wasted if this wont be pursued until it is completed, needless to say, the self-recognition for earning two degrees.

Goodness! I really have to make up my mind. Which one is more compelling to heed, Recognition or Family?

Employees' Orientation for Us

Our school will officially start its first semester classes on Monday and I have to be honest, I really wish it can be moved to next year.hahahhahah!

I am just getting tired of teaching; I simply get more excited to just wait for customers in our store than teach before my college students. hahahhaah!

So, the school administration held us in a remote resort for an orientation. I indeed wish that my butt was just next to my laptop, watching the Korean soap opera, BOYS OVER FLOWERS. tsk tsk tsk!

But by all means, I have to gather all my strength for Monday. Wish me luck!

Enrolment Again for the Kids and Me

Classes will start again this June 8, I have to have my kid and myself enrolled again. Tsk! tsk! tsk! This pretty means I shall be working dead again this semester with all the busy days and weekends ahead.

I only wish I will have ample time for Yuri. I just have to have our enrollment done before the vacation.

It's the Last Day of Summer Class for Us!

Officially the summer classes are over today when we issued our final exams for our students. I shall miss the daily schedule with them but I am happier that I can spend more time with my kid and business among other things.

We may be leaving for Zamboanga next week just for a 3-day vacation from everything. My kid is simply excited that he keeps on counting the remaining days left before our departure.

At last, I can breath more. hahahahha!

We Can Increase Our Productivity

I am an IT and management education professor for several years. Consequently, I teach my students the value of information systems in performing company's transaction. It cannot be denied that technology has improved the productivity of employees and even the decision - making capability of managers.

When I started recording the daily store transaction into a paper ledger, I really have hard time searching and reviewing them. I then decided to make a General Ledger System using Java environment and MySQL for my database. However, I am only at the tip of I must still do for our store.

Companies and their managers must therefore, consider the importance of Database Development that their data can be securely gathered, organized, evaluated and retrieved at any time. This will efficiently improve the services of their employees and will ensure faster and effective turn - around time to their customers and other stakeholders.

With the increasing popularity and adoption of Database Services and information technology, companies do possess an edge over their competitors. Normally, database development may be done on - site or outside the companies. It can be also outsourced for cheaper fee. Services like Filemaker Pro
are getting more attention as important documents are kept efficiently and effectively through customized systems that can be modified to meet the company's unique needs. These can be further upgraded too for total maximization of the systems.

Blogging With My Students

I still have my teaching works this summer and I use my blogging habit as a medium to impart learning among students. In my management class, I ask my students to discuss their thoughts and reading through their blogs. In my programming class, I use my other techie blog as online resource.

I find blogs now as a useful instructional medium.

Busy Blogging and Teaching

It is summer time in the Philippines and we do have summer classes but I missed the chance of taking my summer masteral classes. I simply needed a rest.

However, I am all consumed by my 3 summer subjects and regular blogging.hahahhahahha! I also taught my students to blog, so, they can write their laboratory assignments and discussion online.

I am pretty sure that once June will rake in, I will be dead with so many things to do. tsk! tsk! tsk!

What A Draining Day

It is school day and again I feel so lethargic that I just want to be at the store. I guess I really need a break from teaching. I seem not to have the patience anymore. . .

I am now into sending my applications to other non-academic institutions. I only wish I will be employed soon before the semester will start this June, so, I wont disrupt the school's faculty line for subject loading. Wish me well then.

I Can't Work

It is quite frustrating that I could not use my notebook to do my official and blogging works. Goodness! I could not even work on the blogging contest Tammy and I originally planned. I had it shipped through Tammy to George, our adopted family member, so he can bring the notebook to ASUS technical support.

It may take months to finally have it again. Until then, I have to only borrow my sister's and partner's laptops. waaaaaaaaaaaah!!!! I hope I can have it before my masteral project will be due next semester.

The Irresponsible Administrator

We were supposed to receive our pay today however since I just recently did my grades and other requirements, I just had my regular clearance all done just this afternoon. I am actually on time with my clearance. Problem is one of the signatories had attended his kid's graduation. I have no objection on this, however, this action had put on hold all the unsigned clearances. This means, we won't be receiving our pay on time. We must wait for four days since Monday is a holiday.

Goodness! What will happen to those who are just relying on their pay. I am only relieved that I have a little resource to use until the pay day.

I wish they had the common sense and justice to put someone as an OIC since this administrator has a planned leave. Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Poor Teachers! Overworked, paid delayed!

The Struggling Plight of Teachers

Today, I quite feel awful. As a teacher for a decade, I had several happiest and worst experiences ever with students, co-teachers, administrators and parents. I am quite passionate with my profession that I normally extend my services to them even beyond what is required.

But, what actually discourages me is to see students failed from my classes. I pity them but I pity their parents more. Now, that grades are soon to be due and that graduating students' grades are computed earlier, I had a bad news to tell my graduating student, she failed and will be missing her graduation this March.

She cried and pleaded all right but I could not give in since my class records show that she doesn't deserve a passing remark. She is quite persistent that she saw me twice this day and keeps on texting me. I am really pissed off when she requested for special projects or exams to make up.

Students and parents must indeed understand that grades are earned. Teachers are only there to make sure that learning is assured and properly monitored. But, if students choose to least prioritize their studies, I don't think, teachers on their right mind will make up grades just to make them make through. I help students who help themselves. But, I guess values are subjective to some individuals. How far will parents and students go just to change their grades?

I am no idealist but I just want to teach values of integrity and dignity as much as I want to impart lessons. Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! I only hope people will share this plea. Most likely, Philippines and our leaders and even corrupt and corrupting families and individuals will least likely exist.

Nasty Weather, Wet Teacher

It is Friday and I suppose to have an early class at 8 am today but the rain has been beating our rooftop since last night. My kid and nephew are simply happy to tell me and their grandma that they should not go to school because of the rain.Hahhahah! We seem to be sharing the same opinion. Hahhahaha!

But, teachers still go to school regardless of the weather. So, I have to still drag my lovely butt and wait, while soaked wet, for my students to appear in the classroom. Gosh! Service is really deep among teachers. Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!

Long Awaited Summer Vacation

As a teacher, I work more than 8 hours of teaching, preparing lectures, checking and counseling. I don't complain at all since I really love to teach. But, somehow, its workload also drains me especially, that I am also into business and second masteral schooling.

But soon, summer vacation will start. By then, I can stop from my masteral classes, and take a long break before summer classes will start. Some vacation huh?

So, thinking that I will be soon off from this semester's workload, I could only be more expectant and happy.

Forgetful Teacher

After two weeks of sick leave and heavy work, I am having hard time remembering things. I am all lost and I am really wondering if the temporary amnesia is really temporary.Hahahhahah! My students had to remind me of our classes, and schedules. Perhaps, not having attended my daily classes made my memory all dumb.LOL!

Now, the worse part was, I was all ready to attend my first subject in the morning and went straight to our school lobby. Then, it hit me, I was wearing the wrong uniform! OMG! I was all caught blushing!

I was told I could still go on with the day on the wrong uniform but that would me look silly and dumb.Hahahahhah! So, I opted to go home again although I missed my class and I simply wore something else. Gosh! At this rate, I would rather stay home and just concentrate on writing. Hahahhahah!

Can I blame my old sickness or it just simply my age of 30'ish?waaaaaaaaaaaaah!