Jono Starsmore (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
furnaceface) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2014-01-10 08:59 am
furnaceface) wrote in fandomhigh2014-01-10 08:59 am
Entry tags:
Coping With Change, Friday, Period 3
//Change,// Jonothon said, stepping into the classroom and starting his lecture without preamble today, //happens. Winter turns to spring, puppies turn into dogs, people come and go. There are very few constants in the world. But, I hope, you knew that. Anyone who's had me as a teacher in semesters past can likely see that I'm no stranger to the idea, either.//
He leaned back against the front of his desk, arms crossed over the bandages that kept his flames from licking out from his chest and face into the room.
//If you're in this class, it's likely you've either recently gone through a major change in your life, or else you're expecting one.// Pause. //Or else you'll be telling me the office has made a terrible mistake. In which case, congratulations on having some stability in your life. We're all terribly jealous.//
And also, your teacher was a bit of a snarker. You'd have to cope with that on top of all of that change in your lives.
//For those of you who mean to be here, expect this class to be just as much theory as candid discussion of how you might apply it to your own life. I'm not going to make anyone discuss what change they've been through if they're not comfortable sharing with the class, mind, though obviously anyone is welcome to come talk to me if they need someone to confide in. I respect your right to privacy and I do keep rum on hand for squirrel bribes if need be. And, for what it's worth, this telepathic voice of mine doesn't mean that I'm rooting through your brains looking for your deepest secrets. I have much better things to do.//
Much, much better things. Like keeping his own brain in order.
//Today we're going to start off simple. Introductions, because there are new faces here I'm not familiar with. Name, class, and why you're taking this one. Feel free to share any recent changes you might be adjusting to - coming to this ridiculous bloody island absolutely counts - and we'll get into the real meat of dealing with those changes next week. For example, I'm Jonothon Starsmore, Fandom High graduate, 2011, and it's been a very long three years since. Call me Jono or Jon. Please. I'm here teaching this class because when I was your age, I was stuck figuring out how to handle everything that had turned upside-down for me on my own. And if you're wondering just what I know about change…// His psionic voice took on a wry tone. //Remind me to bring a photo album with me to class sometime.//
He waved a hand at the room.
//Any questions or volunteers to go first? I'll pick for you, otherwise.//
[OOC: Open! Have at!]
He leaned back against the front of his desk, arms crossed over the bandages that kept his flames from licking out from his chest and face into the room.
//If you're in this class, it's likely you've either recently gone through a major change in your life, or else you're expecting one.// Pause. //Or else you'll be telling me the office has made a terrible mistake. In which case, congratulations on having some stability in your life. We're all terribly jealous.//
And also, your teacher was a bit of a snarker. You'd have to cope with that on top of all of that change in your lives.
//For those of you who mean to be here, expect this class to be just as much theory as candid discussion of how you might apply it to your own life. I'm not going to make anyone discuss what change they've been through if they're not comfortable sharing with the class, mind, though obviously anyone is welcome to come talk to me if they need someone to confide in. I respect your right to privacy and I do keep rum on hand for squirrel bribes if need be. And, for what it's worth, this telepathic voice of mine doesn't mean that I'm rooting through your brains looking for your deepest secrets. I have much better things to do.//
Much, much better things. Like keeping his own brain in order.
//Today we're going to start off simple. Introductions, because there are new faces here I'm not familiar with. Name, class, and why you're taking this one. Feel free to share any recent changes you might be adjusting to - coming to this ridiculous bloody island absolutely counts - and we'll get into the real meat of dealing with those changes next week. For example, I'm Jonothon Starsmore, Fandom High graduate, 2011, and it's been a very long three years since. Call me Jono or Jon. Please. I'm here teaching this class because when I was your age, I was stuck figuring out how to handle everything that had turned upside-down for me on my own. And if you're wondering just what I know about change…// His psionic voice took on a wry tone. //Remind me to bring a photo album with me to class sometime.//
He waved a hand at the room.
//Any questions or volunteers to go first? I'll pick for you, otherwise.//
[OOC: Open! Have at!]
Re: Introductions!
Re: Introductions!
//I can't quite understand that, not coming from the same place you are,// he noted, half-apologetically. //I am really just another white bloke, in that sense. I pop in a video and everyone I look at looks like I do, from the nose up, at least.//
He got all the representation, in that regard. And growing up in a place where he was a minority with majority status, he was well aware of that fact, too.
//I've had to adjust to other things, obviously. I've got differences that mark me as not quite the same as everyone else, and I think I can start to understand when I approach your observation from that angle. You don't see many mutants in blockbuster hits, say. Back where I'm from, many choose to live near one another, so they're not one of a kind in a sea of baseline humans. But cultural identity and genetic identity aren't even really the same thing. The venn diagram that describes the two doesn't necessarily have much overlap.//
Re: Introductions!
Re: Introductions!
//You're very welcome, then,// he replied, relieved. //And if you ever feel as though you need to talk to somebody about it, I usually hang around here after class for a while. We can go on at length about how much I don't get it.//
There was a smile in his voice at that, something light, and lightly joking.
//More seriously, though, if there is anything that might help - I don't know. But if you want or need help with whatever you think might, don't hesitate to ask, luv. That's what we're here for.//