The title of this post is a relative misnomer considering my lack of true post high school education. I “attended” West Valley Junior College and “studied” photography and screenwriting for a semester each, along with some theater and such. I have no clue what I was left with in terms of units. In two solid years of community college, I only recall actually sticking with and passing my screenwriting class.
I rebelled. I despised formal education. It felt like hoops I to jump through, and fat people don’t jump through hopps. I figured, “fuck school…I have a café to sit in front of while I shuffle through menial wage jobs and socialize.”
I learned everything I do now in my “Slacker Years” – 1996 through 2000 was the era responsible for making my lifelong friends, while putting me on track to become a talking poet and see some of the world.
Since high school, I had always followed the notion that anything above a diploma was just hoop-jumping-proof that one could do a lot of work, while staying within the lines. College just seemed like an excuse to force kids to grow up, then collate them into society in a speedy, reasonable fashion.
I certainly wasn’t ready to grow up yet, and I know I will not learn shit if I’m not ready for it. I must be prepared and now I believe I just might be.
Inspired by the hundreds of universities and colleges I’ve performed at in the last five years, I’ve found myself longing to begin a regimented course of learning that could lead me to teaching. Until recently, the idea that I could teach was foreign and far-off. Now, I realize that what I do in front of audiences is not much different from what a proffesor would do in front of a class or lab. I think I couls put a very McGee-tyoe-twist on education, as long as it is a subject I adore and have the mental capacity to really explore with a classroom and beyond.
I love anthropology, sociology, history, English and art. I explore the first three the most. People have recommended that I look into teaching English and so far, the idea is not very appealing. I cannot imagine putting all of my focus on teaching others how to write when I have so much vested in my own works. I would despise myself and my students if I had to focus on guiding them into the writing I want to achieve. Call it sellfish; I call it honest. I have the passion it takes to teach, now I need the credentials. These qualities should help me guide any room of people toward comprehensible learning and a quality of life I appreciate.
A lot of this came out of a heavy autumn depression and then the 2008 election compounded my views. I began to feel that no matter how much I tour (100,000 miles a year), I had no end zone…no finish line. I was touring to tour and meet people. To spread “the” word. As much as I love touring and seeing people and places, I began to question why I wasn’t settling down. Turns out when you set out on a journey with no real direction, you remain direction-less.
Around 2002, I decided I might run for mayor of San José, but I buffered it to the year 2018.I figured by then I’d be wiser and more mature. More focused and organized. Lame. This past election was a key factor in reminding me that I get too irritated with politicians to become one. It occurred to me that I could be a lot more effective locally if I were to teach, question authority, and become member of the checks and balances local politicos need to stay focused. I could always join a city council or local committee. I’d rather stand, teach and learn in front of a classroom of students than beg in front of boardroom of suits.
Admittedly, when it comes to my own education, I feel a little n00b-ish. I am starting all over. Friends who’ve acquired various degrees have pointed me in certain directions, but the path is mine and only I can be content with my choices. I harbor no resentment for getting this late-blooming spark at 32 years old. I am quite confident that if I want a Ph.D, I will get a Ph.D. Luckily, while I may feel a little lost when it comes to my oncoming education, I have a few thousand acquaintances who have opinions and advice I will gladly consider.
Right now, I feel like a degree in sociology makes sense. I thoroughly enjoy debating humanity’s relationships, existence and connections. I feel I can bring a lot to the focus of where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going. It makes sense that I’ve become a sissy poet over the last ten years. Thanks a lot, Trenchard! Well done, Litvak! You warned me, Aahz, but I never listened. You were right, BB.
I am so glad I do what I do for a living. It’s a good life. Ups and downs…side to side.
In conclusion, I am feeling UC Berkeley and I want to shoot for a bit of English and a lot of Sociology. Berkeley keeps me in the Bay Area/California, they have satellite programs in Silicon Valley and are one of the top schools in my fields interest.
I finally feel like that mature guy I wished I would be back in 1995, the one who said school was lame and didn’t need it. I do not regret the time I missed in school because I was still learning, I just regret the attitude. I know where I want to be and where I want to go. I will always be a poet, I will always perform poetry, and I will tour every chance I get, but I think I just figured out how to settle down and focus.
I’m down for anyones thoughts on all of this. Anyone else thinking of going back to school or in their first year? Tell me your experience.
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Word to the nerd.
“Slow down, ‘08, you just got here!”
Originally published at Mike McGee Town. You can comment here or there.
This entry was written by , posted on 29 November, 2008 at 1:58 PM, filed under Personal Updates and tagged college, degree, education, personal updates, politics, returning to school, San-Jose-California, sociology, teaching, tour/touring, touring, uc berkeley, writing. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.
i am so so proud of you.
oz leaves went bts. you can do it.
i think it would be hilarious and awesome if we were both freshmen at UC berkeley next year. except that i am not actually going to get into UC berkeley.
i feel like almost everything you wrote in this post is going to be what i am writing in 15 years. except for the not-having-gone-to-college part, which i guess was the main part. i am referring more to “I will always be a poet, I will always perform poetry, and I will tour every chance I get, but I think I just figured out how to settle down and focus” and “Thanks a lot, Trenchard” and “the idea that I could teach was foreign and far-off.”
i admire you a lot and i think that you will make a wonderful teacher.
why sociology? i’m interested in that and everyone says to take psych instead. what?
Best of luck in your chosen path, lovely.
Teaching is one of the hardest and most rewarding professions in the world. I wouldn’t trade it for anything (and considering the papers I’ve just graded…that’s a statement).
I’m almost finished with my second semester (not including summer), and have two left to go before I’ll have my Associate’s Degree from the Peralta Community College district. I’m not sure where I’m headed after that, but it’s fuckin’ scary to be looking at not having the degree I want until I’m nearing 40.
Good luck, my friend. We haven’t talked in a long long while, and there is a lot going on these days. I know you’ll be great. You always have been.
It’s unfortunate that so many things require a degree. School is a mixed blessing. Of the many things it offers is how to survive and thrive within a system. How interesting or fulfilling you make that experience is entirely up to you.
If you are serious about being the mayor…you might want to consider serving on some civic boards and whatnot.
I’m all for poets and slam poets being a part of political discourse. The skills you have at communication and truth telling is so refreshing. It’s also refreshing, as a slam poet that works in politics, to meet the people that have dedicated their lives, hearts, and minds to making our country…go.
Good luck at college. Sounds really cool.
That is cool that you want to go into teaching, we need more teachers who actually care about and challenge their students. I’ve also just found my calling, I’m going into a organic farming program at MSU. I started out going to college to become an actor and got a Bacholar of Arts. But half way through I realized that the theatre world was not for me and I was not cut out for it. The last two years have been rocky and it wasn’t till this year that I found the program and volunteered. It just feels right and I feel like I can do some real concrete good. Best of luck with getting in and getting your degree. I don’t think it matters when you start or if you ever get a degree or not, what matters the most is that you find something you love doing and love sharing with others.
I am in full support of you being in Berkeley.
And I think it’s awesome you want to go back to school. I’ve always been a huge fan of school ((hence me going back and taking classes at art school now)), so I may be biased, but I think that when you’re motivated and excited about it, it’s a really wonderful thing.
Yay!
Sounds like tons of awesome
Hey Mike–this is Jen R in Denver. I think that is absolutely phenomenal!!! I am one of the weirdos who actually LOVES school, both teaching and as a student, so please, please, please, feel free to call, email, etc. at any point for general morale boosting and specific stuff if needed–which I doubt you’ll ever really need. :0) School isn’t exactly easy ever, BUT when you are there with a purpose that you actually buy into, and you get to take pretty much just what you want, then it is a whole other ball game from what we slog through in high school and the early years of general classes. Anyhoo, congrats, and it is delightful and exciting to think of the tremendous impact you will have as a teacher! You are exactly who we want to recruit. :0)
you would make a wicked awesome teacher, and if you are willing to jump though the hoops to do that then, do it. schools need more awesome.
Mike- I think this post is great news. Although my path in education was the normal going to a four year university after high school..finishing on time, etc. I met some of the most amazing people at university. Being with like minded people, no matter what field you chose, is going to be an awesome feeling.
I also completely understand the idea behind not wanting to be an English teacher. I , too, am too selfish with my own craft and my own first love to share it with 30 other students. However, one of my professors at university became such a mentor to me after showing me Canadian poetry and I owe her so much. You could be that for others..but I’m just putting that out there
Good luck!