Art, Life, and Chess?

So school officially started yesterday, and I pretty much love my life right now. I have the coolest classes with the coolest professors EVER, and I'm a big senior now, so I have to work really hard but I pretty much get to do whatever I want. AMAZING! I've got my old job at the children's bookstore back, where I'm making signs, writing and performing puppet shows, coming up with craft activities for 10 kids with 10 minutes notice, and, my favorite, reading out loud for story time!

Life with my roommates is good--we're almost completely moved in now, minus a kitchen table (which a friend of mine used over the summer) and a bookcase (we're scouring the thrift stores). We're living in a much nicer apartment than I ever have before--it's fun! Plus, 90% of my friend are living in the same complex, many of them just a few doors down! It's a blast to have so many good friends so close. I hope I can make the most of it this year.

Finally, since the bookstore didn't need me for as many hours as I'd hoped, I got a job as a chess instructor! I know, random. I mean, I'm no expert. But this company, the American Chess Institute, had changed a lot of kids lives. Through learning, and having fun with, chess, they improve in a lot of different aspects of their lives. And...being an instructor pays $20 an hour! The people at ACI are really fun, and they don't want kids to be bored by chess. I'm actually looking forward to this job a lot! I've been spending the last few days taking mini-chess lessons online, and there is a lot to learn about this game. It's practically a whole culture in and of itself. I can see now how people can spend a whole lifetime honing their skills. Within the next few weeks, I'll be assigned to one or more chess clubs at different schools, spending an hour or two after school teaching K-8th graders about capturing pawns "en passant," and the "kiss of death" checkmate. Woot!