Frisbee in 38° Farenheit

Tonight was our first tournament game for BYU intramurals. You might not believe it, but I'm actually wearing five layers of clothing in this picture! Once I was running around, it actually didn't feel that bad. And get this--I scored 4 points for our team! That's 1 out of every 3 points! This is cool because I'm not really that great of a player--in fact, I probably rank in the bottom one or two in skill level. Still, tonight I was on fire or something! Afterwards when my roommate asked about it, I said, "Yeah, it was cool! People were giving me chest bumps and yelling my name from the sideline...no wonder some people like sports!"

Photoshoot 2

See previous post Photoshoot

Dinner Group

So this semester I decided to try again being part of a dinner group--I've had bad experiences in the past, so I was wary. It's actually been pretty nice. We take turns cooking on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and with ten of us this means you only have to cook once every two or three weeks. Often I've got things going in the evening, but they are really good about putting a portion aside for me to come get later. Even better than the food, though, is the comraderie. I just love this group of friends, and eating with them is a pleasure. A couple of weeks ago, everyone planned together to wear pink on Sunday. The idea really caught, and now we've got a weekly color tradition.

Pink Day

Green Day

The TFA Saga Continues...

On Tuesday I had my final interview with Teach For America. I spent the morning with 7 other applicants and 2 interviewers in a variety of activities. First, we had our sample teaching lesson--I think the theory is get the most stressful thing done first. We each had five minutes to teach some objective. I taught about fixed mindset v. growth mindset. Someone with a growth mindset believes they can cultivate their qualities and efforts through effort. Then we had a group discussion, a personal reflection, and a test of sorts. In each of these they put us in hypothetical situations a corps member might face, like long-term educational planning, or deciding how to improve attendance at a school. Then in the afternoon, we each had a personal interview--the more traditional one-on-one answer questions kind. I felt pretty good about the whole day, especially about the morning activities. I'll find out on November 10 whether or not I'm accepted. If I am, I'll find out my regional assignment and likely grade assignment as well. I really, really hope I get in--as one of the interviewers told his story as a corps member, I remember feeling a confirmation inside that this is an amazing thing to do and I could really make a difference. Now's it just waiting anxiously for two weeks 'til I find out!

The Perfect Conference Day

Saturday was the perfect conference day. I went with my cousins Juliann and Jake to my aunt and uncle's in Alpine. All of us gathered comfortably around the television, notebooks and pencils ready. When President Monson started talking about temple work, suddenly I got all anxious inside, and I knew he was going to announce the temple I've been working for and waiting for for 4 years: Fortaleza, Brazil! I was overjoyed, and I cheered inside, and almost cried outside. Everything in the Brazil Fortaleza Mission was turned towards preparing the area for a temple, so that the members could enjoy those blessings. This news is a grand realization of our efforts and a reason for much rejoicing. I'm completely elated!

After the first session, we dined like royalty--homemade cinnamon rolls and fresh peaches from my favorite orchard in Washington. I ate to my heart's content. Then we went on a fall hike in between sessions and enjoyed nature and colors. I couldn't have planned a more perfect conference day.

Stewart Falls

It's kind of become a tradition for me to hike Stewart Falls each fall semester. I just love seeing the beautiful colors and getting outside. Part of the tradition includes collecting colorful leaves on the way back to decorate my apartment. I just absolutely adoring hiking.

As we hiked back, we passed a small family with their two little children working their way up the trail. I commented about how beautiful a day it was for hiking, and the mother responded, "Better than cartoons, eh?" How true! Yeah, it's a little bit more work to get up and go hiking then sit in your pajamas in front of the TV, but how much more rewarding! Kudos to that mom, I want to be a parent like her!

Past the First Round!

I made it to the final interview! I'm so excited! Now I've got to decide where I want to go and what grade level and subject I should teach. Any ideas?

Dear Drake,

Congratulations! It is with pleasure that I invite you to Teach For America's interview day. We enjoyed learning about you in your application and would appreciate the opportunity to meet you in person. You have advanced directly to the final interview stage and will not be participating in a phone interview. For more information about our process, please click here.

Teach For America's day-long interview is a unique opportunity to demonstrate your skills in a variety of contexts and to engage in issues related to educational inequality with a talented group of applicants. To help you prepare for your interview day, we have posted information and materials on the Applicant Center that explain what to expect, how to prepare, and what to bring with you.