nicole christine

Alanis Morissette - Thank U

I can’t listen to this song without thinking about my mom. I can see her so clearly, sitting at the piano with her oversized headphones on, so focused on playing.

This week is a really reflective week for me. There’s no school for kids because it’s spring recess, so in City Year we have a “Best Week Ever” where all 300 of us come together for fun times/team building/development sessions. It’s been incredible not wearing a uniform. I almost feel like a real human. And having a break from the chaos of school is nice too. I’ve also been doing a lot of thinking - about the past, my current service and the obscure future. Everything is kind of a big mess in my head. My thoughts bounce around from worrying about my students’ progress while their teacher is away on maternity leave (more on that later), to wondering how our team will pull off all the events we have planned, to hoping for some sort of sign about what the hell I should do with my life, and often to daydreaming about happy hour in between (hey, sometimes a girl just needs a margarita). I can’t help but wonder what my mom would think about what I’m doing right now and what advice she’d give me.Thankfully, my dad is great at comforting and encouraging me, but I still miss hearing words of wisdom from my mom. She always knew the perfect thing to say.

Taken By Trees - My Boys (Animal Collective cover)

The middle school girls at my school are desperately, embarrassingly in love with One Direction. One girl even started signing her name with the last name “Styles” (you know, because she’s Harry Styles’ wife, duhhhh). Others just incorporate “1D” into all their homework and artwork. 

I think I’ve forgotten what it’s like to be an angsty tween who obsesses over every male celebrity. It just seems kind of hilarious to me now…does this mean I’m old? I STILL LOVE YOU ORLANDO BLOOM. just not in a crazy way. mostly. 

whatshouldwecallme:

I just had to. 

Lucius - Turn It Around

I saw them open for Milo Greene a few months back and they were wonderful. 

snowy Manhattan.

it’s pretty sweet having a decent camera on my phone now. 

This week, we’re putting on a week-long attendance initiative called “Be My Valentine” Week. Each day, the first 100 kids to arrive to school on time get entered in a raffle to win a prize on Valentine’s Day. We’ve been hyping up this “secret grand prize,” which is really just a grab-bag of sorts full of pencils, stickers, and other fun things from the dollar section at Target. Hopefully the kids don’t expect anything too exciting because this stipend lyfe just does not allow for that. Also, on Valentine’s Day the kids will have a chance to send their friends candy grams. I have such an urge to reenact the Glen Coco scene from Mean Girls, but for everyone’s sake I MUST RESIST. 

Also, the following conversation transpired today:

“Miss Nicole, I want to compliment you today and say that you are the greatest teacher in the world.” - Lassana

“Well that’s very sweet of you. Why do you say that?” - Me

“Because you always help me and make sure I do my best.” - Lassana 

The fact that I’m not actually a teacher is beside the point. These kids kill me with cuteness sometimes and I just can’t handle it. 

beautiful video from PostSecret just in time for valentine’s day.