Molding young minds and destroying targets
Posted on November 19, 2006 - Filed Under Uncategorized
Friday and today were groundbreaking days for me.
I taught my first real lessons on Friday. My class of 16 students was, from what my fellow instructors have told me, very talkative and interactive. Normally, students in this course proceed through a process of team development. The process has four stages: Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing. In the Forming stage, there is not typically a lot of interaction between the students and the instructor or amongst the students. Friday was a real surprise from this perspective because, as I said, they really opened up right away. For whatever reason, I think they realize that interaction is something that will be required of them for the next 5.5 weeks, so they might as well deal with it. I also surprised myself a bit. I have always considered myself a pretty boring person, someone that people don’t really want as an instructor. However, I was somehow able to take advantage of some opportunities to introduce humor into the lesson. I had them REALLY laughing at a couple of points, which of course made me feel very good. I don’t know if that’s something I can manage to maintain everyday. It’s ironic that for me, if I try, it won’t happen but if allow the humor and jokes to just happen, they probably will.
Anyhow, today was also cool. A guy I work with, the one I might go bear hunting with in the Spring, took me out shooting. He owns about seven or eight weapons and I was able to fire all but one. Let’s see if I can remember all them. First, the handguns: He had both a .22 and a .40. I only shot the latter because I was there to try out what he had that I also need to buy for hunting and I’m not going to take a .22 cal pistol with me hunting. I will, however, need at least a .40, according to what he has told me. Basically, one really ought to have a decently powerful handgun as a rapid defense mechanism. If you suddenly find yourself surrounded by a pack of wolves (some of you might not think this would happen ’suddenly’ but the truth is, they stalk you and they travel in packs, so it might just happen a lot quicker than you would think), it’s a whole easier to defend yourself using a handgun than a rifle. In addition, if you wound an animal and locate it down but suffering, you are going to need an effective way of killing it; a handgun is a seemingly much better choice than your rifle. Anyhow, I also fired a 30-06, which is probably the hunting rifle I am going to purchase. Finally, I fired three assault rifles: an AK-47, a SKS, and another which I am at a loss to recall right now. All in all, it was good because I have shot weapons a handfull of times in my life and not recently. In my intention to become a sportsman of sorts, I first need to know I can safely and effectively handle firearms. Today showed me I can. I am very excited. Next step: Purchase my own weapons, both a rifle and a sidearm. Sadly, that won’t happen until after the first of the year, but it will happen.
Comments
2 Responses to “Molding young minds and destroying targets”
Leave a Reply
As far as the laughing students are concerned, Robin tells me my students laugh because they just want to pass the class. Of course I know it’s because I’m just a funny guy!
It’s great to hear how well things are going. Just like I said a few months ago, I thought Mountain Home would suit you.
Good to hear from you and to know you are still interested in reading about our incredibly boring lives. I hope things are well for you all. Things here, as you have been reading, are pretty good. Erin is really adjusting well to the domestic thing and school is good for me.
Anyway, like I said, it makes me really happy you wrote and are reading. Pls continue…you’re a friend I wouldn’t want to lose track of.