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My hope with this post is, in large part, to create a way to continue chatting with all of you who I met and to answer any questions you still have. If you are reading, please feel free to comment below!
Speaking with a mix of Government, Biology, and Environmental Science classes, we covered a variety of topics including invasive species (also called aquatic nuisance species), hazardous materials and marine pollution, Coast Guard roles and responsibilities, and the process by which a system based on rule of law principles incorporates international engagement, law making, policy formulation, implementation, and all of the external inputs to generate the "playbook" by which government agencies (such as the Coast Guard) get their job done.
I was challenged by the need to balance science and government topics, particularly in our discussions where two classes from each department came together, but I loved the dialogue that students in each were able to get underway once we dug deeper into the way that multiple disciplines come together. With most of my teaching experience having come from working with adult learners and college students, I admit that I was somewhat nervous going into the first discussion, but I was quite impressed at the level at which many of these students engaged with a very new and higher level topic.
I write often about service and the importance of seizing one (or more) of many opportunities that we have contribute to our communities and to our country. I was happy to meet two students that are answering the call before even leaving high school. One was a student in AP Government who I learned is an Army Reservist, having already attended basic training last summer before her senior year. She's smart, and apparently tough as nails too, as she described basic training as being "not really that hard."
The other was a student that I spoke with a bit later in the day. He came to class wearing a shirt embroidered with his volunteer fire department's logo on it, and I learned chatting with him at the beginning of class that he serves alongside his older colleagues whenever he has a chance because he "loves it."
Thank you both for your service, and for being a great example to follow.
Again, I am in large part posting to open up a line of communication with the students I met. If any of you read and have questions, comments, or just want to get in touch... I hope that you'll do so in the comments below or through one of the many other ways to find me. If I can help you with anything in the future, don't hesitate to let me know.