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Publish or perish has become an all-too-common affair these days. Once I heard a talk show host say, “I look forward to the day everyone in America has published his own book.” Whether he was sarcastic, or not, it appears millions have as new books appear on the market every day. Hollywood’s “tell-all,” and Washington’s “quick fixes” fill the landscape with literary materials. Universities require tenured professors to publish materials. In fact, many make known its number of publications. The faculty remains relevant in the number it publishes. The printing press was an incredible gift to society, where multiple numbers of a publication reached many at parallel times. Today, millions instantaneously receive information, be it scholarly pieces, instructional, inspirational, or entertainment. Gossip was and still remains the crux of news, and whether it is in a memoir or part of a column, the rule of thumb is telling your story, or someone else will. I have nieces and nephews from the indubitable millennial generation, and I have a son from the Gen Z generation, who makes no joke in this regard. They take control of their destiny, leveling the playing field via passions, talents and treasure, and they demand the same of their parents. So, here I am: to publish or perish; design or die. I am Michele Jeanmarie, and this is my story.
As a teacher: I was trained (from a state grant) and became a Math and Science Lead teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District. I coached teachers in using the state’s Math Replacement Units, which called for inquiry-based instruction. We were the first to use FOSS, which came out of UC Berkeley for special needs children. I taught a number of teacher workshops for GLATSA, LACTMA and district, which also hired me to train 2nd career professionals seeking a teaching certification. Administrative Work: I hold a BCLAD: Bilingual Competence in the Acquisition of Language Development. I also have a Master’s degree in School Leadership and Administration. As such, I was responsible for hiring field experts for programs I wrote for our GATE program. I was the GATE and Bilingual Coordinator and was responsible for maintaining up-to-date many state mandated records and spreadsheets. In multicultural education, while California is known for its diversity, not until I became a Fulbright Scholar as a teacher at St. Michael's Roman Catholic school, that I knew I still had much to learn about diversity. Spain also offered some in respect to that, but being the product of an immersion curriculum myself, in Panamá, I was also tickled by the different-ness in Spanish. Marriage brought me to Texas, and still, there was such a difference. I went into parochial teaching, where I spearheaded numerous programs to inspire, to motivate, to help others dream big dreams! These were: In the area of academics:
Mark Twain states, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” Because of this, find here my visits and travels, near and far. |
The Indubitable Millennials and Gen Z
So, what about them? They are spoiled. They lack coping mechanisms. They just whine and opine. Not so, for, in my sample, I have met some extraordinary ones. My son and his classmates, my nieces and my nephews, and their friends are quite remarkable. Using their passions, talents and treasure, each has secured a pathway to live their best lives. No connections? No legacy? No problem. No money? No problem. Each has found a side hustle, a passion to cover the dorms, the rent. Each has found a gig to make it through the Christmas break. Each has found a venue to sell and market his product. Each has learned to monetize his talent to multiply his treasures. While each continues to carve out a niche, I have decided to carve out one to include my books and things. My Books As much as parents hide fruits and vegetables in brownies, I hide complex topics in whimsy and fun. Through noise-making activities, hands-on or across the disciplines, I have always managed to reach all my students. Learning takes place through many oohs and aahs. Whether it is a soccer ball, a beaver, a pet on foreign soils, or far-away soils, diving deep and wide is a philosophy that characterizes my mode of operandi. Today, neuroscientists are shouting out the benefits of this philosophy. Going deep and wide means that children, now retirees, must also go deep and wide through new learning paths. Neuroplasticity. The science of stretching those little lines across the brain is neuroplasticity. These little lines, known as highways, but scientifically, dendrites. When new tasks are taken on, these dendrites naturally spring up, but the longer the dendrite and the deeper the dendrite, the better it is for the brain to naturally massage itself. I submit to you my books, for they do just that:
My Designs The Indubitable Millennials and Gen Z have taught me the monetization of my passion. Baking. Struggling to present and transport my baked goods, I once used materials around the house to create my own trays, my own pedestals, and my own containers. They are now finding their way to you. Travels. Travels Five of my books are now published. I am hit up near and far, for as much as I am trying to monetize on my passions and talents to increase my treasure, so are others. I received several calls with proposals of $500, $7000, $15000 to promote just one book. I investigate. I find new inspiration in Mark Twain’s quote and embark upon my own travels.
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The truth came back to me like a boomerang. Luke 21:12-19, cautioned me that I should notprepare any defense beforehand, for Jesus himself will give me the wisdom to speak, (in my case), to write.
