THE INTERN

I have been subbing lots and I intended on writing more! The last time I subbed was at Dos Pueblos, my favorite school to sub at ever because the students are just amazing. Case in point:

When I subbed for a math teacher on Wednesday, I got to talk with this hilarious girl I've subbed for before. I actually was a teacher's aid for her 5th grade class, and her playground supervisor, but that's another story. I told her I did photography full time now, and we got excited talking photo stuff and before you know it, I LANDED MYSELF A NEW INTERN. How awesome is that?? If all things go well, I intend on bringing her to weddings with me, teaching her how to edit, grooming her to the point where she has the resources to run her own business or just work with me all the time. Geez I love my life.

Photos I've been working on (all taken in the last couple of weeks):

Today I am substituting for a Spanish class at Dos Pueblos High School. I've watched the first half of Take The Lead five times now. It's a pretty great start to a movie! But now I have to rent it to find out the rest...

Subbing high school is simply the best (sorry junior highers, but it's true)! I've finished a book, had kids smile and cheer at me as they come in, edited through some wedding photos, replied to emails, played a couple of games of Dominion online, followed up on a couple of blogs, and had time to write this little post here.

Enjoy something I've worked on today!

It’s been a while since I’ve written, and I’ll tell you what--I’ve got no excuses! Since you saw me last, I’ve turned down a teaching job and am pursuing photography full-time. Well, pursuing is not quite the right word. I’m succeeding at doing photography! Taking pictures, coupled with tutoring and substituting is earning me more than I did last year teaching 50+ hours a week. But it’s not about the money, baby! For me, it’s really about not getting burned out and doing what I love. Substituting keeps me connected to the youth, another thing that I love.

Speaking of which, I’m in a classroom right now! Subbing for a math class that is showing the movie Stand and Deliver for the next two days. Easy? Yes. The best thing about today was that I’ve seen SO many of my past students in the classes here. This is my first day subbing at Santa Barbara High School, which is the school that receives nearly all the students that come from the Junior High where I worked that past three years. And one JUST walked in and said this: “MR. VAN NOSTRAND! Oh my gosh. This is the best teacher in the world!” Great way to start my day.

And here is what I got to work on while I was ‘working:’

Guess what? I went through this entire year without crying. Haha, does that sound ridiculous? Well, I consider it something like a minor accomplishment, especially in my first year; especially teaching three classes of the lowest eighth grade math students in the school.

More than that, I've actually built something like a business on top of teaching my first year. I shot five weddings this year, two proms, traveled to Austria, New York, art gallery openings, political campaigns, four birthdays, family shoots, model shoots, theater shows, dog sweaters, and more!

What a rush to get paid doing what you love!

xo, Phil
ps. To see some of those images:

http://www.phillipvn.com
http://www.facebook.com/phillipvn
http://phillipvn.smugmug.com

One month and counting until school gets out! Did you know that the last day of school is on my birthday? This year I've taught two kids how to solve the Rubik's cube, I've given tons of riddles for students to solve, I've talked with countless parents, I've gotten frustrated a lot, laughed a lot, slept with my head on my desk (after work!), helped with the skateboard club, bike club, and photo club, went to Austria and New York, and taught for my very first year ever.

Junior High Math.

You know you're doing something right as a teacher when a student asks with kind eyes if there are going to be any teachers like me next year in the high school.

Awwww

Excerpt From an Intercepted Note Between Two Girls Talking About One Guy:

"...Ohh yeah then he aske m 'how am I a manwhore' and Im all like OMG yew seriously dont know. dude you go out with one girl then you break up with her. then the nxt day you have another girl. how could you NOT know."

Response:

"hahaha wooooow he's stoopid I also told him to slap himself bt I 4got y oh nd I 4got y I called him a dumass =D haha wooow!"

Yes, she really drew a sideways smiley face.