I considered a year in review sort of post, but I knew that it would find its way quickly to “I hate my university” and then devolve into complaints about how garbage the system is in regards to training teachers. Also, I thought it would be a bit redundant to tell people about what I’ve done when there are clearly posts about it, my Twitter feed and a Tumblr out there that will give you most of that information (and I’m sorry if you’re scared of British comedy and entertainment because I am absolutely infatuated with a lot of it).

Instead, let’s focus on the upcoming new projects that I’m undertaking! And then discuss the likelihood of me completing them.

1. Make a decision about my Master’s degree. This is probably the most pressing thing I have on my list. With the setbacks, I’m dreading the possibility that it’ll even be completed by 2014 if I stay with UNSW. (Quick note to any person considering getting a degree in education: Don’t go to UNSW.) I’m left with two options. The first is that I can stay at my current university, which I plan to do provided that I can do everything within the originally projected timeframe (end of 2013). If I cannot finish it until mid-2014, then I plan to just get my credentials and go to a different university. Maybe I’ll even make my way to a different country and work on it there, I don’t know.

2. Get in shape. I just need to get into any shape so long as it’s physically healthy. I hate the whole goal of “lose weight” because I think it’s atrocious to place so much faith in a number (unless you are the size of a house – at that point, you may want to put some faith in numbers and shapes, I’m sorry). I just know that I’m really unfit, and I need to do something about it. I’ve recently started running, so let’s hope I don’t pass out in the middle of the street to a heart attack.

3. Learn to inline skate. This is actually more or less “relearn to do something.” I used to skate a lot. In the last few years, I’ve managed to lose every muscle related to it and all the balance I ever had. This is going to be fixed, and I will not allow it to continue.

4. Go on a few trips. There are two people who essentially have earmarked my vacation time. One of those is a lovely man in Auckland who I could spend forever talking to (or sitting in a comfortable silence with). The other is a crazed Hiddles fangirl who is also my hetero life partner and is generally hiding out in Melbourne.

5. Write something other than a blog post. I’ve started stories, and I’ve created characters. Then I get smacked with some horrible writer’s block and it just sits there because I always forget the biggest thing that helps: write anything at all to pre-occupy your mind. This is where the few of you who read this should come in. Give me writing prompts! Help me create things! Give me ridiculous things to write about and see what nonsense I can come up with! Seriously, help me here. I will love you all to pieces and may send you things for your help.

6. Help people. This is something I do every time I see a person who needs help, anyway. But I want to go out of my way to do it, too. It’s something that needs to be done and isn’t done nearly enough. Point in case, I’ve recently started chatting with this awesome girl as part of a Where There’s a Wil, There’s a Way. The concept is awesome (and I think everyone should join in), but I don’t want to limit it to just helping (or befriending) that one person (even though we’ve totally hit it off in the most ridiculous way). Mental health is something I want more people to be aware of, and I really want to start working toward eradicating the stigma toward it. I don’t know how, but I want to.

7. Find ways that could make teaching history and social sciences more interesting. Honestly, I want to see this done with every subject, but I really want to focus on my own practice. First, though, I need to learn as much as I can about Australian history. Sadly, this tends to be “world history via Australia’s participation.” I also want to learn more about Aboriginal history so that, instead of the garbage way they handle it here, I can actually make it worthwhile and as relevant as it really is. History teachers shouldn’t focus purely on names and dates; we need to focus on the social impact and how events are related.

So there you are! That’s what my year should consist of. Join me in it, and feel free to participate. Hell, start throwing out some writing ideas! Or throw out other things I could work toward doing. If you see something that you think I’d like (in regards to any of these), send it my way! Tweet or direct message it at me, email it to me or even send me messages through Tumblr.

Filed in Living on Sunday, December 30, 2012 · 2 Comments »