10 things I know to be true

I was re-watching a TED talk by Sarah Kay recently and started feeling quite inspired by it. She speaks about her experiences of inspiring creativity in young people and how she would help them realize that they had their own interesting stories to tell.

In response to this I did the activity with one of my classes, and they came up with some really interesting ideas, which I actually feel helped us understand each other a little better.

It's almost like, you can't really tell what is important to someone until they tell you, and so rarely do they get the opportunity to really dig into their thoughts and feelings to share these things, particularly in school.

So I thought I might make a list of my own.
And here it is. :)
10 things I know to be true...

1. If I hadn't made the (terrifying) decision to take Drama in school, even though none of my friends were taking it, I would be a less happy human. I remember being petrified of walking into each lesson back then, but still I knew it was where I wanted to be. The extent that I have grown through my passion for the arts may never have had the chance to blossom if I hadn't taken that step.

2. Nothing is closer to my heart than my faith as a Baha'i. It has shaped me into the person I am.

3. Teaching has made me appreciate things like sleeping and 'alone time' more than I EVER have before.

4. The world is incredible, all of it, and I want to explore it so badly.

5. Everyone has their own story to tell, and I wish I could hear all of them!

6. I actually love Doctor Who. Yes, I do.

7. I love water fights.. and pillow forts... and fancy dress... and in general I'm pretty much a ridiculous excuse for a grown-up.

8. I bought some wax from a Czech chemist the other day, which could just as easily be bleach or cream (since I can't actually understand Czech). But if I'm completely honest... I'm a wee bit looking forward to being surprised. :p

9. A couple of balloons popped in my face today, and I could just feel my dorm-decorating-enthusiasm running for cover behind the couches.

10. As wonderful as the Indian food from Ceske Budejovice is, tonight I ate too much of it. :p

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my list of truths. :)
So I did that with my class today, which sparked some interesting conversations and insights into their thoughts (as you can imagine).

Then you get moments like this one, which occurred after I asked them to make a list titled '10 Things I Should Have Learned By Now'.

Student: Can I share my list Miss?
Me: Sure! Go for it.
Student: Okay. I wish I knew how to survive in the wilderness, write computer codes, kill someone, cook good food...
Me: What? Stop! Go back?
Student: Kill someone. You know, just in case.

And on that note! :p

Sometimes...

Sometimes I worry that I'll die unexpectedly, and no one will ever have understood the confusing jumble of thoughts inside my head.

Occasionally, I picture the inside of my mind as a teenagers bedroom.
Clothes strewn across the floor...
Piles of open books piled high upon the desk...
and no one ever cleans it.
I find lots of things there...
but so rarely what I'm looking for.
That one thought that escapes me.
Always.
And sometimes, I worry that I'll never find it.
The room will never be cleaned..
and eventually I'll forget.
And that will be it.
That scares me a little.

No one will ever have wandered in the jungle that is my imagination.
That scares me a lot.

Sometimes I wonder if I will ever find my place.
If I will ever wake up one morning with no doubts lying next to me,
that I am where I'm meant to be.
So no matter where I go or what I do.
that place will follow me.
Inside me.
Always.

Sometimes I wonder.
But sometimes I don't.
Because I know I'm still searching,
And with every step forward I know where I am.

I'm getting closer.

Sometimes I think those are the greatest 'sometimes' of all.