Day 1: Introduction

My cooperating teacher introduced me to the vice principal today and the woman asked me what school I was going to. I told her Sage. Then she asked where I, (interrupted herself and changed it to) where do my parents live? She assumed I lived with my parents. I just told her I had a house in the valley, but later wish I said more. My father doesn't even live in New York state. Anyway, I think my response could've been taken two ways, stating that I have a house could mean my parents house or my own. I think she still thought I lived at home with my parents because I didn't say it in a strong enough way to let her know she was wrong about her assumptions (my age, my parents not being divorced which they are and have been since I was one, the state of residence of my parents, or where and who I live with). Later in the day one of the students told another that I looked like I was 18 years old. I'm 33 so this would be flattering if I was older but when people think you are a teenager when you graduated from high school 15 years ago, it doesn't feel like a compliment, especially when the students continue talking about how they just can't believe you are any older than 18.

It's interesting to walk into a situation where new people, young and old, know nothing about you, but assume things like this. People assume so much without asking or taking the time to inquire or get to know or have deep understandings. You see it most in situations that there is no prior information or context like going to the doctor's office, student teaching in a new school, etc.

I'm calling this blog Plenty To Assume because of the double meaning behind it. Plenty of things we all assume about people that are false, and plenty of responsibilities we assume as adults. I'm student teaching in Syracuse while finishing my masters at Sage, which is in Troy, 2.5 hours away. I commuted this fall and past summer to take 3 courses in person, and am now skyping to do the seminar that goes along with the placements and am attempting to take the last course I need online via email with the instructor, have to come to Troy February 21st for a workshop and have to sign up to take a couple online as well as two exams I will sign up for as soon as I have the money and need to order a book for our seminar. It's a lot to assume, but we'll take it one day, one entry at a time.