Occasionally, I get the opportunity to spend a day substitute teaching at one of our local junior high or high schools. Contrary to what you may believe about substitute teachers, I actually really enjoy these days.
On Friday, I substitute-taught five classes of junior English at a high school near my house.
JUNIOR English. Juniorswhoaresixteenandshouldbeexcitedaboutbasketballgamespromanddrivingtheirfirstcars.
During first period, a student in the front row smoked an electronic cigarette while I called roll. As I butchered my way through a long list of Shaneequahs, Taneekahs, and Lashauns, I thought to myself, Should I stop him? It's not tobacco.
He proudly explained to me that he has a habit that he just can't break.
A student to my right offered to teach me how to play Black Jack. I told him I already knew how. He begged me to play a couple of hands with him.
I felt compelled to decline.
A couple of the students seated near the teacher's desk refused to work on the day's assignment and instead they talked with me me about their favorite music (M&M and Korn) and about the babies that they are expecting this spring.
Babies.
"D" is expecting his girlfriend to give birth within the next two weeks. It's a girl. They have yet to agree on a name.
"J's" girlfriend is expecting twins in June. He is very excited and really hopes that at least one of them is a girl. He swears that he will not let his daughter spend hours in front of the mirror when she grows up.
A girl in the back-row with a clearly visible cleavage tattoo told me that I looked, "Young and fresh."
I'm guessing that's because, compared to these students, I really am. Next to them, I am inexperienced and naive.
High tech nicotine, black jack, babies, and chest tattoos are far cries from the high school experience that I had.
I listened to these students and thought about what hard lives they have in front of them. But they don't think any of this is hard or unusual. This is their reality and they are experiencing things that are normal and expected within their families and amongst their friends.
To them, being sixteen means being grown and ready for all kinds of responsibilities.
For their sake, I really hope they are.
You see, we have another big bill coming due within the next 30 days, and we need your help to promote these shopping bags and help us get that bill paid. 
Here's how you win. 
Yep. The Olympics are on.
Mark mentioned something about working quality control for Coors. He thinks this may be his next career move. (Okay, he didn't say that, but seriously, who wouldn't want that job?)
Of course, like all good brewery tours, this one ended with free samples. 
Oh wait, that's not the free sample. 
In preparation for our future, we discovered that YES, KIDS CAN TOUR THE BREWERY. 
CHEERS!
We had a moment where the amount of water for the batter was doubled. 
They also made sure that not a drop of batter was left untouched in the bowl, of course keeping their cell phones visible at all times. Wouldn't want to fall behind on those text messages.
By the end of the night, each girl had declared her hatred for all things valentine. 
I'm about half-way through with the editing and have already posted a few favorites from this project over on the photo blog. Check 'em out!
