On Wednesday I had the opportunity to talk with middle school students at Island Pacific Academy (IPA) in Kapolei as part of their Career Day. Thank you, Cami Nihipali and IPA, for the invitation. I met with about a dozen students in each of two afternoon sessions. For 25 minutes in each session I talked about writing, shared some of my own writing, and fielded questions.

As I talked I had one of those illuminating experiences that sometimes show up to surprise us.  I'm not sure how much the students were illuminated, but I for one began to see my writing life take a better defined shape. It was almost like another person materializing in the front of the room, or like a multi-colored ball of light that began to turn and throw a rainbow of colors around the room, turning it from a classroom into a ballroom.

Talking without notes is always an adventure, and it can be full of surprises and rewards. I began by telling about an early career that lasted two summers when I was in college. My "career" then was driving an ice cream truck through the hot residential streets of Houston. I have never been so popular in my life. I do not expect to approach such popularity again. One of the IPA students raised a hand. Ah, the first question. She asked me if I ever ate the ice cream. I had to confess that no I did not. I was too busy selling it, and I saw it all day.

I went on to talk about being an English major, loving language and literature, having inspiring English teachers, deciding to become one myself, then teaching college English in Seattle before moving to Maui and teaching English at Maui High and Baldwin. I talked about all the reading and writing I did along the way, developing skills that would help me in so many ways, with teaching and writing, as well as government work.

Writing not for work but for pleasure, whether it's fiction or essays or poetry, has always been an avocation for me. I told the students to follow their passions. Writing can be part of a career, and it can be something they do outside of their career, as an avocation. About half of the students said that they keep journals. I told them to keep writing. Keep reading.

A few of the students write blogs (a practice I have come to appreciate more and more in the past year!). I read aloud my blog about things I did not do during the tsunami warning.  We shared some of our tsunami warning memories, and we shared the joy of reading aloud.

To the first group I also read my poem "I Stay Confused," about the ethnic mix plate that is Hawaii. To the second group I read the beginning pages of a short story about three 8th-grade girls at Kahala Mall, "Pickles and Shawnilynn and Me at the Mall."  I answered a few more questions along the way. The time flew too fast. Then it was time to say goodbye and head home.

As I walked back to my car, I was ... what's the word? ... exhilarated! Exactly. I found a definition of exhilarated:  made joyful; "the sun and the wind on his back made him feel exhilarated--happy to be alive."  It's the same feeling you might have while eating a bowl of especially ono ice cream.

Oh, there's ice cream again. The ice cream I didn't eat when I drove the truck. I realize now that in my passions and avocations--whether it's reading and writing, or music, or sports--I have pursued them with a great deal of joy. In a way, I have eaten the ice cream.

If I'm ever invited again to speak at a career day, I think I'll say more about the ice cream.  Pursue your passions, find and enjoy your careers and avocations, but don't forget to eat the ice cream. Taste the sweetness.

Tags: careers, Writing

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