October Love

I LOVE OCTOBER.

Cue the falling leaves, the crisp autumn air, the red mittens, the filtered sunlight through bare trees, the starry nights, the pumpkin lattes (or pumpkin anything), the promise of winter right around the corner.

Always Strong, Always Determined

I have been mulling over the topic of this post for weeks now, unsure how to proceed or even if I should write about it at all. Indeed, this post has been collecting dust in Certainly Candid's "drafts" folder, so the examples are not immediately current but nonetheless still relevant. That being said, I chose to publish anyway. Identity is a topic that, in many ways, is so overused. However, I will proceed by stating it simply:

I do not understand why others place one's identity on the hardships he or she have faced.

Literature Spotlights: Little Women

I keep turning over new leaves, and spoiling them, as I used to spoil my copybooks; and I make so many beginnings there will never be an end.

Jo March was my literary idol growing up. I remember ordering my copy of Little Women in a Scholastic book order catalog during sixth grade. I was immediately enchanted by the story of the March sisters and of Jo in particular. Her aspirations to be a writer, her fearlessness, her quirky individualism, and her courage in the face of challenges were all things I wanted as I grew up. In many ways, I hope I embody many of those qualities today.

Literature Spotlights: The Great Gatsby

It eluded us then, but that's no matter — tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther . . . And one fine morning — So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. 

It is time for some new content here on Certainly Candid. Just as I did my 30 Days of Gratitude last November, I have decided to start a new series of posts. I feel that the classics do not get the recognition they deserve, and as such, these are spotlight posts. They represent my favorite classical literature pieces, either in the form of a dramatic work, a novel, or a short story (or collection of short stories).

The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite novels. F. Scott Fitzgerald paints a picture of a man who is lost in the illusion of the past and dreams gone by. It is a story of both idealism and realism, of the goal of trying to obtain things we are haunted by from our past.

Summer Of Getting Things Done

Hello world! Usually life slows down for me in the summer, but not this year. Being busy has its perks, but this week is really the first week I've had off, and it's still busy. But in the spirit of summer, I've compiled a list of things I intend to accomplish. Hopefully all of them. I'll leave you to gauge which are the most serious.

Showing Me By Just Existing

I'd believe in anything, were it not for you. Showing me by just existing, only this is true. -Elton John

I have been doing my spring cleaning belatedly. While organizing my movie collection, I stumbled upon the old film I used to love: the animated El Dorado from DreamWorks Pictures. Dusting off the case, I couldn't help popping it in, watching it in the background as I continued my much overdo apartment overhaul.

Being A Teacher Means

If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn. - Ignacio Estrada

It's teacher appreciation week, for those of you who are unaware. I write minimal education posts because that is not the mission of this website, but this week has special significance to me. So fellow teachers, this post is for you. You are truly education's heroes.

It isn't easy being a teacher. Unless you are one, it is really hard to understand the many things we do on a daily basis. It is 24/7 dedication, especially for those educators who are involved in more than just the classroom tasks. Many of my fellow peers in the career world don't understand the many different hats we wear.

Me Before You

Hello world! I am still here! I've had a chaotic few months full of work and life, but I am back! And because I relax by reading books, I have several new book reviews ahead for you. I also have some new GenTwenty articles coming out soon, but that is a post for another day.

Today's book review is on Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. This book was a bit out of my comfort zone, but the author came highly recommended to me. The novel focuses on Louisa Clark, a young woman unsure of her future, and Will Traynor, a quadriplegic who was paralyzed after an unfortunate accident. Louisa becomes caregiver for Will, who is upset and depressed with the turn his life has taken. A man in his 30s, once used to extreme sports, endless wealth, and worldwide travel, Will is confined to a wheelchair and has no interest in life anymore.

Louisa learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, and she sets out to show him that life means more than the things you have and the things you do. Along the way, she discovers she loves Will. The novel asks the question: what do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?

So Much Of What I Do

I don't write a lot of education posts, because this isn't an education blog. But today, I'd like to try something different.

Today I stumbled across this article entitled 6 Facts People Should Know About Teachers. It couldn't be more true. So much of what I do is for my students, or the students of our state that I have yet to encounter.

10 Lessons From A 20-Something

Soon to be 26, I just realized that my twenties will be over before I know it. I mean, the last 5 years went in a blur from college to the professional world. This post is for my fellow 20-somethings! Here are 10 things I've learned so far about being a 20-something (note: I tried to title this "Coffee Solves Everything" but honesty wouldn't allow it and after all, that's only 1 lesson. But coffee does help!).

1. Keep It Real

I'm an idealist. I'll be the first to admit it. But in all honesty, it's important to have a healthy dose of realism. I had a lot of things I wanted to accomplish by the time I turned 25 - some of which haven't happened yet! I'm still working on these things, and that's okay. Dream, but keep it realistic!

Toaster Waffles Make Everything Better

Toaster waffles make everything better.

I'm sure some of you are now thinking, yes, Olivia has officially lost her marbles - and at such a young age too. After all, the first post in over a month, and she starts out with toaster waffles?! But wait! Let me explain!