How are you spending your Summer?

I hope you're all enjoying your time away from the classroom whether that means spending extra time with your family or visiting new places with your friends.

Although my summer technically has not started (teachers are still to report to the building this week) I did get to kick off my time at the beach in different way than you might expect, especially if you still haven't read up on how your math teacher spends his free time. 

This weekend I got the opportunity to participate in the culminating event that was a fundraiser for the National Breast Cancer Foundation hosted by a group of people who call themselves Team Farm. 

Yup, you read that correctly. Just as the picture above suggests, the team is made up of individuals who wear animal masks during enduring challenges, like the GORUCK events that I've already told you about. And, just like, you - I thought the idea was pretty silly idea to try and complete an event in an animal mask. Were these guys trying to draw attention to themselves and expecting people to take them seriously?

As the months went by and I began to be more involved in the GORUCK community, I started meeting some members of Team Farm who ended up coming to the same events I happened to be participating in. They seemed like pretty normal people and I began to follow their activities on social media. Facebook friends? Yup. Instagram friends? OK. And then I found out that some of my friends attended a fundraiser that they held to raise awareness for Breast Cancer and my interest began to rise, especially since I know people who have suffered from one form of cancer or another. I looked forward to seeing them in some of my events. I realized that the masks they wore were a form of drawing attention away from their personal identities and rally around a cause in a fun and interesting fashion. Eventually I was invited to participate in the second annual fundraiser that would benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation and I could not resist the chance to join. 

Do Right By People. Not only is it one of GORUCK's maxims, it was part of this shirt I designed to help the cause. Photo courtesy of Joanna June

Participants were strongly urged to wear pink and raise money for the event. The goal was set to raise $10,000 and I felt very compelled to not only participate, but contribute my talents toward the fundraising effort by selling some patches and a few t-shirts that I designed specifically for this event.

The culminating event consistent of 50+ participants carrying rucks loaded with 25 - 30+ lbs of weight over the course of 13 hours in Long Beach Island, New Jersey led by two former special forces men. The event started at 9PM Saturday and lasted until about 10AM the next morning. What did we do that entire time? You'll have to ask me about it in math class - or, if you're old enough - sign up for the event next year. I will tell you that we spent a lot of time playing on the sand, building pyramids and laughing at a man dressed up as a mermaid. I'll also mention that throughout the event we encouraged residents and vacationers to participate in contributing to the cause by donating whatever cash they had on hand in exchange for either the entire class having to complete a physical challenge or a mystery challenge. Ask me about the mystery challenge I failed. That part was not as fun. Neither was being "killed" and being carried by a teammate like a casualty of war.

Can you name at least one interesting thing about this picture? Like I said - ask me later - just not while I'm teaching. Photo courtesy of Joanna June

I'll tell you what was fun - and this will be the last detail of the event I'll share here. Sometime after the introductions and near the beginning of our event we were given an individual test. Tests are fun for me. No, not the kind you need a pencil and answer sheets for. Those are boring. I like tests that promote character building and are more physically demanding than mentally frustrating. We were given a chance to complete as many push ups and sit ups as possible in two minutes, after which we had to run for two miles in the sand for time. You can ask me about my personal results later, but they were each a personal record for me. What I'm proudest of all is that after all of the contributions are accounted for we were able to collectively raise over $11,000 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. And I bet you thought I just played FIFA14 and watched the World Cup this weekend. 

Photo courtesy of Joanna June

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who followed us throughout the night - known in the GORUCK community as Shadow Company - most notably Joanna June, who has graced three events that I happened to be a part of. You can check out more of her work here.

Believe it or not, the Mathquez cares

Every year, our school provides surveys to both students and families that include a number of statements that respondents can objectively answer by choosing Always, Usually, Sometimes, Not Usually, or Never. Toward the end of the 2013-2014 school year I got a chance to look at the results of the survey results attributed to my name, and I was, quite frankly, somewhat surprised by the results of some of the questions. 

The data displayed below is likely the spark that ignited a desire to publish this blog, and certainly the subject matter of the video posted here. I don't suspect 100% of all my classes will truly understand or appreciate the efforts of all their teachers, but the idea that three children entrusted to my care would state that I "never" care about them is not only worth noting, but demanding in a strategic response.

Although I do not feel compelled to detail the variety of ways I care (Do you think that if I did not care that I would bother teaching in a high-performing charter school for at least nine hours a day? Consider this: If I did not care, I would not bother to notice your bad habits and offer you precise, consistent feedback.) the fact of the matter is that I care deeply about the future of every student who sits in front of me.

I understand, however, that my behavior, my ideas, my perspective on matters of content and character will not always be the popular thought. As an adult, I can appreciate the notion that, in the moment, it's hard to enjoy the rainbow in the midst of a storm. I can understand, then, when some of my current students will make false claims about the status of my care. So please, don't just take my word for it. Here's what some of my former students (these are students who are now headed toward their freshman year in high school) had to say:

And here's a word from a former student who is now an adult (save the old man jokes, Leo):

"I knew he cared because he took the time to listen - something not often seen in teachers, or even our own parents ... for some odd reason Bs were not good enough in his grade book for me. At the time I thought of it as harsh because a B grade is nothing to be shameful of. Mr. V. saw the A student I was - the A person I could become if I gave it my all and he was not going to settle for anything less. So Mr. V's 'demanding' of a better me was something I couldn't understand then as caring, as I understand now. Thanks, Mr. V." -Jamie Morales, a 25 year old Dominican-American registered nurse and youth pastor at a Christian church.