So much for the daily updates...

...but at least it isn't the 3 month absence like last year. Ha.

Happiness Journal (Sept 19):

• breezing through so many great scripts on the train rides to and from school; over the years I have gotten so many scripts but then never read them, so now is the perfect opportunity! 
• talking with several more service sites for the Loughlin students to volunteer at, and actually setting up different times that we can head over and SERVE! 
• Melissa and I both bringing Mallomars for lunch, and Melissa "sharing" hers with me, not realizing that I brought the same amount in the same plastic bag. Needless to say, another laughing fit in the CM office! 
• finally setting up and figuring out how to log my hours for Americorps, and then exclaiming loudly for all my students to hear, "That's how Mr. Hueg gets things done. For America!" 

"Life is not about kissin' @$$, it's about kickin' @$$!!" - Anonymous

Happiness Journal (Sept 20):

• the first Lasallian Youth meeting being so successful, with a room full to capacity! 
• talking all about my awkward OCD tendencies at lunch with my boss and students
• attending our JV/Varsity volleyball games (which we won!) and seeing all the students cheering on their peers with such #LoughlinPride
• having some Lasallians from Rhode Island make there way down into NYC for a meeting they had on Friday, and getting to catch up and chat with them

"Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it eludes you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it comes and sits softly on your shoulder" -Henry David Thoreau

Happiness Journal (Sept. 21):

• enjoying delicious bacon for breakfast as I went sprinting out the door for the train
• getting to play with Keynote at work for a presentation we want to do with classes next month! 
• Student (while looking in the mirror): "If I could pick anyone up, it'd be myself. I look good."
• talking and catching up with Jo in the PLT about life, etc and sharing an awesome play suggestion to read! Literally, this bullet point is the highlight of my WEEK! 

"We must be willing to let go of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us" - Joseph Campbell 

Happiness Journal (Sept. 22):

• "sleeping in" aka waking up at 830 am! 
• getting the linen closet in the community all straightened up and sorted for the year (I am in charge of hospitality, and so making sure all that is ready feels pretty good)
• going to a FREE Yankees game, courtesy of my awesome LV Alum Mentor! 
• skyping with Kristen and Liana in San Fran, and  catching up on all the latest LV gossip, etc. Laughter truly is the key to life, for sho! 
• receiving an AWESOME postcard in the mail from my #bromance down in Tulsa! 
• watching Joseph Gordin Levitt host Saturday Night Live! 

"Every day may not be good...but there is something good in every day." - Anonymous

Skankees game...I mean, Yankees. Pretty awesome seats and stadium! 

Happiness Journal (Sept. 23):

• going back to St. Francis Xavier church for #ServiceSunday with my students, but this time volunteering with their Welcome Table Soup Kitchen! Every time we go on service, I get more and more proud of my students! :D. 
• getting 3 new pairs of awesome dress socks for work! #teacherswag
• going to Mass as a community after we completed our CAP (Community Annual Program) for the weekend
• watching the 'season finale' of Broadway or Bust with Br. Bill and predicting, yet again, all the right winners - I really have to start playing the lottery
• laughing at a bunch of YouTube videos with Stephanie while trying to put together the LVs Run weekly newsletter

“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively” 

I'm kind of digging this whole Happiness Journal thing...

...and hope you are too! :).

Happiness Journal (Sept. 17):

• knowing that I successfully made it through the first official week of school for my 2nd year as an LV!
• hanging up all of the Campus Ministry/Lasallian Youth signs around school that we made Friday at our planning event
• receiving our first large donor sponsorship for the LVs Run 2012!! (Thanks DENA District!!)
• Interested in donating to my personal page to benefit the great works of the Lasallian Volunteers Program? Click here!
• catching up with my bud Sean Ruane from Lewis, who is currently serving out in Yakima, WA!
• watching the season premiere of the new tv show on NBC, Revolution!

"When our time is up...will we say we've had our fun? Will we make a mark this time? Will we always say we tried?" Rooftops by Lostprophets

Tuesday

Today was an awesome day. Granted it started a little sketchy with this man on the train doing his "preachin'" to me about how I "look a f****n' fool readin' like that, and the only true way is the bible". At dinner, Ed told me I am turning into a true New Yawk-er by ignoring him and realizing all that is going on around me while doing a particular task on the train! Hooray for me? Lol. Anyways, at work, my boss Melissa and I got the BEST laugh of the year courtesy of one of our religion teacher's, Mr. Woody. To put it short, we gave a lesson last week and what it means to be Lasallian, and they took a quiz today and what they remembered. One of the questions was "Name the two adults who work in Campus Ministry here at Bishop Loughlin?" Simple enough I'd say, seeing how we introduced ourselves. The pictures below though show a different side to the story. Gotta say, at least these kids are honest...

Happiness Journal (Sept. 18):

• Basil's Birthday Bagel Bash (Theology Dept. Chair's birthday was last week, so we had a little party!)
• laughing SO HARD at the responses to the quiz via Mr. Woody [see pictures below]
• finishing this AWESOME script I started yesterday on the train ride home today
• predicting both contestants right for the winners of this season's So You Think You Can Dance! 
• realizing the joy of blogging, and how exciting this will be to look back and see all the wonderful memories I had during my experience as an LV! 

"You can't deny laughter; when it comes, it plops down in your favorite chair and stays as long as it wants" -Stephan King

And now...the pictures...

Jhon and Cristina

Ms. Altman, and chubby red hair about 5'7" 

Mr. Frank (our librarian) with orange hair, and a lady with curly brown hair

The Loughlin Volunteer guy, the lady who sung the pledge.

There is a woman who look usually happy and with brown hair and a fat man with a high pitch voice and he is a volunteer

One is a chunky white male with male with red hair. The other is a skinny women with brown hair

Mr. Eugene and Ms. Howlsmen 

Kevin and Sally

The woman with brown curly hair and the chubby man with short dark blonde hair.

I got to hand it to the students, they had me laughing for a good 5-7 minutes. Evaluating the situation, as a teacher would, this has taught me that I need to wear a 2 ft. long by 1 ft. high name tag on retreat with all of these students. ;). Lol.

Live Jesus In Our Hearts. Forever!

Sunday "Funday"...

...and by "Funday" I mean Lazyday!!

Happiness Journal (Sept. 16): 

• cooking delicious breakfast for myself and feeling grown up reading The New York Times. 
• watching football all afternoon (with the excitement of a 5 and 3 year old the whole game)
• lighting my pumpkin spice candle for the first time this autumn season
• baking delicious cookies
• watching the season premiere of Boardwalk Empire with Br Bill, Ed, and Michael. 
• finally skyping with the bromance, Sean (it's only taken us 3 weeks, but it happened...)

"LiVe the life you LoVe. LoVe the life you LiVe." -Anonymous (see all that LV taking place?!)

Life is a definite roller coaster!

Happiness Journal (Sept. 12):

• finding the Cities 97 Acoustic Mixes on my iPod on the way to school -- definitely made for a peaceful train ride
• FINALLY getting to see "Wicked" on Broadway; it was a pretty decent show, but of course, watching all of the technical elements were my favorite! :)
• drinking Vanilla Barq's root beer at Five Guys before the show
• knocking out the minute I got home from the show (hence writing this post a day late...)

"Life is a song - sing it! Life is a game - play it! Life is a challenge - meet it! Life is a dream - realize it! Life is a sacrifice - offer it! Life is love - enjoy it!" -Sai Baba

 Thursday

So today started off as a pretty sweet day. For the past 2 days, we have been teaching the freshmen all about Saint John Baptist de La Salle, what it means to be Lasallian now that you are a part of Bishop Loughin MHS, and what Campus Ministry/Lasallian Youth do and how to join! The students have been so awesome and I can see a change in them already in becoming Lasallian. With all this said, my day took 180 degree turn on the way home; my phone was stolen from me on the subway. Now, if you've been keeping up with my blog, that is 2 things that have gone from me in the past month (my wallet was returned to me, however). It was a pretty sucky situation, but I got it all taken care of to suspend the phone and order a new one. After talking with both my mom and dad, we realized that it was pretty great that these all at least happened in my second year of being out here vs. my first because I probably would've packed my bags and left, not getting to experience all that I have over the past year!

Happiness Journal (Sept. 13):

• after watching a short movie about JBDLS, we ask the students what they learned, and of them responded, "De La Salle only taught 4 children." It took me a minute to realize what he meant, but he heard poor as 4; needless to say, at least he was paying attention to participate
• this same student later responding to "What are the 3 main values all Lasallians believe in?". His response: "Faith, Community, and SURVIVE!" (its really getting difficult to hold in laughter, but that's what this Happiness Journal is for). 
• #ThursdayForDunkin; i've become addicted to Dunkin Donuts Iced Pumpkin Coffee, but living on a stipend made me realize I can only go once a week aka Thursday hence the hashtag! :D
• Glee Season 4 Premiere. 

"Don't let life discourage you; everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was." - Richard L. Evans

Happiness Journal (Sept. 14):

• having more service sites contact me for project with our students! 
• talking for a good, long while with my boss, Melissa, about all the opportunities to apply for after LV-ing
• spending the afternoon with my Campus Ministry students, planning out our year together, and all the fun activities they want to see happen! 
• going out for some delicious authentic German food and beer with Melissa and Foley (my professional mentor) after all of our students left to catch up on the first week of classes!
• coming home to my new phone and getting to set it all up again

"Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." - John Lennon

Happiness Journal (Sept. 15):

• sleeping in until I wanted to get out of bed
• cleaning up my room after "Hurricane BOTSY" (beginning of the school year) blew through this past week
• not really doing anything else but watching sports and movies all day

"My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can." -Cary Grant

And the school year begins...

It was so great to have our first official day of school yesterday, however, I will have to readjust back into wearing "teacher" clothes all the time again. (I really need to find a job wearing gym shorts and t-shirts all day like I had during the summer!). 

Happiness Journal (Sept. 10):

• seeing the full student body returning to school with excitement and anticipation of the upcoming year! 
• student quote: (walking into our newly painted office) "So this is the new crib...I like." [not sure how I feel about my office being called a "crib" but if it gets more students to come and visit, I'll take it...]
• having a delicious Minnesota delicacy for dinner : Tater Tot Hot Dish!! yummmm.
• buying Dunkin' Donuts Pumpkin Spice ground coffee so I can make my own at home and save on money #lifeofavolunteer

"The influence of a good teacher can never be erased" -Unknown

Happiness Journal (Sept 11):

• having the whole student represented through unity of the terrorist attacks wearing remembrance pins all day
• presenting to some of the freshmen religion classes about "Who is John Baptist de La Salle?" and "What does it mean to be Lasallian?"
• finding "Headless (Lasallian) Horseman" in our house tonight after dinner [see picture below...]
• receiving a package from one of my college campus minister's, Sabrina, with an awesome shirt from one of my favorite mission trips we do! 

"525,600 minutes. 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes, how do you measure, measure a year?" - RENT (it has officially been 1 year since I have started working a Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School; where has the time gone?)

"Headless (Lasallian) Horseman"

Live Jesus In Our Hearts. Forever!

Gots to catch up...

Happiness Journal (Sept. 6):

• wearing my new Cordero House shirt 
• participating in Freshman Field Day with the Cordero House (even though we had the least amount of participants, the students did awesome!)
• seeing all the freshman get excited about participating in our service project on Saturday
• Finishing the new bulletin board in the office over Melissa's desk 

"You must also lead them to practice well all the good of which they are capable." -Saint John Baptist de La Salle

The awesome bulletin board that is above Melissa's desk! 

Happiness Journal (Sept. 7):

• being able to participate finally in #LVPoloFriday (we received a polo at Orientation that people talked about wearing during the school year every Friday; being that we haven't started school yet, today we had students in the building, I figured I could wear it!)
• more eager students coming to find me at the end of the day to get permission slips for the service project
• 3D's: Dinner, Drinks, and Dessert with my LV Alum mentor Amanda at my favorite restaurant in the Bronx --> Bronx Ale House! 
• watching Hot Rod as I fell asleep (Andy Samburg is the man!)

"Never doubt that a group of thoughtful, committed citizens could change the world. Indeed it's the only thing that ever has!" -Margaret Mead

Happiness Journal (Sept. 8):

• #ServiceSaturday at St Francis Xavier Food Pantry with #BLMHSCampusMinistry2012
• meeting up with JenCoe and Jake (Freeport, NY volunteers) for the afternoon/evening/early Sunday morning
• attending Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and stopping by to say hi to "Jack" at his shrine
• Tator Tots for dinner at one of my favorite bars! 
• Our waitress for the night/"my second cousin" Stella Galosh! 
• seeing Stephanie's awesome rap skills with "Newsies Got Swag" for never having listened to/liking rap music (Click here to watch the video)

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy!" -Benjamin Franklin (a very wise man for sho)

Happiness Journal (Sept. 9):

• having breakfast on the deck with Jen and Jackie when a woman was riding her automated wheelchair rode past on the sidewalk BLASTING music from a boombox on her lap. Jen's response: "She definitely pimped out her ride!"
• jamming to A Day to Remember and Jimmy Eat World while completing more bulletin boards in the office (we have a total of 5 this year...)
• getting my #LoughlinPride in check for the school year which OFFICIALLY STARTS TOMORROW! :)
• watching Billy Madison as I type this/get ready to sleep! 

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." - e.e. cummings

Live Jesus In Our Hearts. Forever! 

Let the craziness begin...

Today marked the first day of having students in the school for academic related activities. We began the day getting the freshman into school, and ready to go be a part of our house system. It was great watching all of them slowly walk into school, scared of where to go, where to sit, what to say, etc. I am so excited to be back in the wonderful Cordero House with my family! I can already see a sense of maturity and growth from just the summer. Don't get me wrong, I still had my trouble students but was able to ask them to do what I need only 3 times versus the old 10-12 times. Baby steps...

Spending only a half day with the student body provided for a bit of time in the office to work, but really not sure if I got anything done. :/. After painting the office this past summer and having everything packed in boxes, I am still getting used to where everything is and where to go when I need something. I also received a delivery of more miscellaneous items to store in the room, and was able to condense and hide away for the time being. When I looked back up at the clock, I realized it was 4:30, and definitely time to head out and get some rest before the rest of the hectic week.

There is a sense of excitement and renewal though with the student body present again for the school year, and I can't wait to see where it goes...

Happiness Journal (September 5):

• seeing my Cordero Family after a great summer vacation apart
• singing the Bishop Loughlin school song at our Principal's Convocation
• having pumpkin iced coffee from Dunkin' Donuts again (2 days in a row...better stop it)
• Conversation with the students during family time today (trying to explain the new schedule system) - Students: "Mr. Hueg, this is mad hard to understand" Me: "Well I'm going to make it mad easy, so here we go...". As I posted on twitter --> #teacherswag! :)
• the great work all of our student leader, house representatives did today to help make the day as smooth as possible 

“Do you build on the affection that the young people have for you to lead them to God?” - Saint John Baptist de La Salle (Med 101.3)

Live Jesus In Our Hearts. Forever! 

Zig-A-Zag ZEAL!

During this year's LV Orientation, we spent a great deal of time focusing on the twelve Lasallian virtues in education and living the mission. One virtue that stuck out to me was zeal - the teacher instructs students by their good example and dedication. This morning, we celebrated our "Back to School Mass for Teachers", and as I mentioned in my "Happiness Journal" yesterday, I selected an awesome LaSalle meditation for post-communion. 

194.3 Third Point

To bring the children whom you instruct to take on the Christian spirit, you must teach them the practical truths of faith in Jesus Christ and the maxims of the holy Gospel with at least as much care as you teach the truths that are purely theoretical.

It is true that a number of doctrines are absolutely necessary for us to know in order to be saved, but what would it serve to know them if we did not take the trouble to practice the good to which we are bound?

Faith, Saint James says, without good works is dead. Saint Paul also says, If I knew all the mysteries and had full knowledge and all the faith such that I move mountains from one place to another but have not charity (that is, sanctifying grace), I am nothing.

Is your main care, then, to instruct your disciples in the maxims of the holy Gospel and the practice of the Christian virtues? Have you anything more at heart than helping them find their happiness in these practices? Do you regard the good you are trying to achieve in them as the foundation of all the good they will practice for the rest of their life? The habits of virtue that are cultivated during youth encounter less resistance in corrupt nature and form the deepest roots in the hearts of those in whom they have been formed.

If you want the instructions you give to those whom you have to instruct to be effective in drawing them to the practice of good, you must practice these truths. You must be full of zeal, so that your students may be able to receive a share in the grace that is in you for doing good and your zeal may draw down on you the Spirit of God to inspire your students in the same way. 

-Saint John Baptist de La Salle

I felt a particular joy when I read this reflection, because it reminded me of why I am doing what I do: I enjoy being a part of the education world, and touching the hearts of students. I want my students to feel that same feeling when they go out into the community doing service. Can you imagine what the world would be like if all this came full circle? Hmmm...

Happiness Journal (September 4):

• seeing all of the teachers come back to Loughlin today and sharing in the excitement of the new year
• hearing the reactions of some of the student leaders when they walked into my office and saw me there: "Mr. Hueg, you're here another year?" "Mr. Hueg, I'm so excited to see you!" etc. (what a great feeling, legit)
• pumpkin iced coffee is officially back at Dunkin Donuts (better padlock that wallet when walking to the train after work...)
• watching Robin Hood: Men In Tights with Jen tonight and recasting the whole movie based off the brothers and volunteers in the DENA district! 

"The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it." -Mother Teresa

Live Jesus In Our Hearts. Forever! 

Where did August go?

Well here I am on the night before the new academic year begins wondering where that month of August went? It is crazy to think I am already a month into my second year as a Lasallian Volunteer!! It would be too much to state all that happened in that month, but let me just say: IT WAS GREAT! Lots more exploring, hanging with friends, a visit from family, and checking more things off the "Stuff to do before leaving New York list" <-- still have a long way to go though with this list. Maybe I will post it to keep everyone in the loop, knowing what I am trying to get to. :).

So with a new year comes a new feeling to this blog. I want to continue clueing everyone into what is happening with my life, but will also begin to try and update more regularly. My friend Carly, currently serving in Providence, RI, is doing something I absolutely love on her blog that I have decided to "borrow". A great brother, Brian Henderson, said that the real meaning of the Brothers letters "FSC" means: Find it, Steal it, Copy it. :). That is exactly what I am doing. I am going to try and post every day some things that made me happy or smile throughout the day. So often I rush through my day, getting the tasks completed without actually stopping to look at what makes this experience so beautiful. To sum up my "happiness journal", I will include a quote from poetry, songs, movies, etc. on how I am feeling about the day, and what impacted me! I really look forward to seeing the growth throughout the year, and being able to truly look back and remember this second year of being a Lasallian Volunteer!

So...let's begin:

Things that made me happy today (this past weekend):

• seeing all my wonderful DENA (District of Eastern North America) volunteers at the A-Frame for a final weekend of relaxation before the hectic school year
• jamming out to mixes on the car ride up and back, remembering all this "old school" music
• finding the perfect reflection for tomorrow's "Back to School" Teacher Mass by St. John Baptist de La Salle
• having the smell of campfire remain present in my room after unpacking my laundry from the weekend - a stepping stone into the beautiful smell of autumn! 

"Plan your hours to be productive; Plan your weeks to be educational; Plan your years to be purposeful; Plan your life to be an experience of growth; Plan to change; plan to grow." -Iyanla Vanzant