Saturday, July 12, 2014

"Don't let school get in the way of your education."

Hey there, Mr. Wright!

I wrote you around this time last year. I hope you're still well and in good spirits like you always were. To this day, you are still my favorite English teacher. English has really lost its luster for me. The last time I truly enjoyed it was when I was in your class, to be honest. Now, it's too easy and too tedious. I was enrolled in English 2A for my Sophomore year, and we had to read Animal Farm and Catcher in the Rye. I remember you telling us we were going to have to encounter these books back in 7th grade. Dialectical journals, yuck. ANIMAL FARM MADE ME SO ANGRY BECAUSE IT'S JUST ATKJNJNOAPTSWEF. The movie for it was freaky. 

Anyway, I've decided not to take any English AP classes in the next two years. I'm staying in regular English.

I'm doing well, by the way. Mayyybe a little unfit (more like ""I'm really out of shape HAHA"") and kind of fatigued, but I'm in good spirits. High school has been a wild ride, and I have actually done worse than I ever academically have done in my entire life this year. I have to retake math classes, as I am doing right now. School is hard.

I'm currently deciding between a teaching career and pediatrics. I'd love to work with kids. My college goal is UC Davis or UC Irvine, with Santa Clara University as my back up and SJSU as a safety. 

I'm also about to enter 11th grade, a crucial year if I want to go to college. It's hard. I've gone through a lot of stress and have had to attend regular counseling sessions at school because I couldn't quite handle the pressure. I'll be the first in my family to go to college!

Also, my friends and I are starting up a new club called S.Y.N.C. (Support Youth, Nourish Communities) where we focus on raising money to aid local establishments in our community and raising awareness on issues and illnesses that many people go uneducated about. We have very high hopes for this club, and someday maybe we'll dedicate a month to Goats for Peace. 

I do miss my middle school days. Well....maybe not my middle school days as much as the people I enjoyed the company of. The memories, perhaps? 

(**NOTE: I'm SIX/TEEN/. I FEEL OLD. 7TH GRADE WAS LIKE, //FIVE YEARS AGO//.

I hope you have a wonderful rest of the year and maybe one day our paths will cross again, Mr. Wright.


--Sincerely, Ivy Tran c/o 2012"

----------------------------------------------------

Hi Ivy!!!!!!!!!!!!

"All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others."

Yep, I liked Animal Farm and The Catcher in the Rye was the first book I read that I liked. I didn't read either for school. In the classroom I made them available, but the last thing I wanted to do is ruin them by teaching them. I hope your school experience with them didn't ruin them for you. 

I think UC Davis is wonderful. That's where I wanted my son to go but he decided to go farther away from home. Irvine I hear is pretty good and so is Santa Clara and SJSU. But Davis, oh, I like Davis.

You are the first in your family to go to college? Wow. That might add to your pressure, but I'm sure you'll do fine.

Yes, the 11th grade is the most important grade for college. Knock yourself out.

AP classes are good because of the level of students they attract but the actual curriculum is too focused on the test. I hope one of these days they will change AP. I think it kills the spirit of many fine subjects.

It warms my heart to see that you are starting that club. If you're raising money, let me know how I can make a contribution.

Pediatrics or teaching? Both are good fields that will give you meaning as well as income. Life is too short to just make money. (Last night I watched the old movie, You Can't Take it With You. I highly recommend it.) Now, as for teaching, it can be the best job in the world if you have an administration that supports rather than micromanages. Morrill had some great principals who went out of their way to do everything they could to support what I did. But there were also Morrill principals who were stupid and evil who tried very hard to have me fired. If you go into teaching, I hope you have good administrators. If you do, it can be absolutely the most rewarding job in the world. Oh, but in case you didn't know, it's very hard work and the hours are long. Oh, and I used to love it because I could take home chalk to draw on the sidewalk with my son, but I understand they don't use chalkboards anymore. The chalkboard in my classroom was the last one at Morrill. Soon after I retired, they replaced it with a white board.

I'm very pleased to hear from you. 

Keep me posted on the story of your life.















Thursday, March 27, 2014

Adam asks about the hobo life



 Wanted to see if you were still pursuing your career as a HOBO. Hope to see you on 5th street very soon.

Adam Gonzales

------------------------------------------

Ah, yes. It’s going well.

The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is take a nap.

I don’t iron my shirts and I don’t use bleach when I wash my socks.

How are you doing?

I hope you are still creative and disobedient.

"Don’t let school get in the way of your education."

"Don’t follow leaders.
Watch your parking meters."

----------------------------------------

There's the Mr. Wright I miss. HAHAHAHA. But, seriously where are you staying? How have you been? Did you move out of state? country? Highschool is going okay, I guess. Grades are kicking my butt still just like Middle School. Lol. Have a good day Mr. Wright. You are one of the reasons I actually want to pay attention in English class but, there will never be a class that will make me as happy and responsive like yours did. Thanks again Mr. Wright! Hope to see you soon.

Adam Gonzales

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Little Boxes

Mr. Wright,

I was a History/English student of yours at Morrill in 1993. You also taught me and a handful of others how to develop film in that tiny room behind our class after school. I was a C student on a good day. But you shocked me at our 8th grade commencement with a writing award.

Anyways. I saw in the news that Pete Seeger passed away this morning. I'm not a fan. But his song "Little Boxes" always reminds me of you and your class. You played it several times and let us discuss its meaning. That was a thought-provoking lesson and obviously left a lasting impression.

You were an awesome teacher and I was lucky to have crossed your path. I’m just sorry it took more than 20 years and the death of a folk musician to get around to thanking you.

I hope and trust this message finds you good spirits and fine health.

V/r,

Kevin Powers

-------------------------------

Hi Kevin!

Wow. Those were good days. Thank you reminding me. Good memories like that help balance out the bad memories of a couple of butt-head principals that came later.


I loved developing film and printing photographs and it was wonderful to share that with others.


A C student getting a writing award? Yep, some really good writers were D and F students too.


I'm glad you remembered Little Boxes and I hope nobody has put you into one. 


Thank you for writing. You made my day.



Goats For Peace

Hey Mr.Wright! I know its been a while, and this might not hold much importance. But I was just wondering if you think making a goats for peace club in my high school is good idea.

Your old 7th grade student,
Simon Cerezo

CLASS OF 2012 TIGERS!

p.s. Sorry if I made any errors what so ever.


------------------------------------------------------------

Simon! Hi!

I think making a Goats For Peace club in high school is a great idea.


A more than great idea.


A great, great idea.