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Back To School
Most of you know that I've been working at the latest museum built by the Smithsonian Institute, The National Museum for the American Indian (NMAI.) What you might not know is that both my boys' teachers got wind of what I was working on, what I did for the museum and other tidbits of what I do for a living in general. Based on this, I was "Invited" (perhaps too kind of a word) to come and speak to the classes about my career.
My wife had done the same thing about a month ago so she was able to give me a good idea what to expect. I was also able to get a collection of "swag" from the museum that included NMAI stickers, Opening Day fans, NMAI lanyards and unused "Staff" badges used for the opening event. I wrote up and printed an outline so I knew exactly what to say and how to lead into the different subjects that I was to cover. I even brought my collection of badges from all the shows and rides that I've worked on.
All this preparation helped, but didn't totally prepare me for the inquisitive nature and stunned attention that I received from these children. "People actually get PAID to test rides?", "You worked on [put any show here]...that's my favorite!" and my favorite, "My dad works at Universal Studios, if you see him, can you tell him 'Hi?'" I swear, that was NOT one of my kids....they would never say that to my face!
After I left, the kids were told by their teachers to each write a thank you note. Nathan brought his home last night and after reading these I figured it would be a fun email story to type up some of them and share the funny things they said. I've left the spelling and grammatical errors in. Hey, it's grade school!
Dear Mr. Hartwell I very much much enjoyed hearing about your job. You have an amazing job. Your very lucky to have it. I realley enjoyed your talk. Thank you for the stuff. We hope you had a good time. From [Name withheld]
Dear Mr. Hartwell Thank you for coming to my class and telling us about your career. I really enjoyed the things you do. I think you really cool and nice carrer you were very well spoken. Thank you for the gifts you brought from the musem. I think it was neat that you got to travel around the world. [Name withheld]
Dear Mr. Hartwell, I think your job is cool because you get to travel to different places such as Washington DC, California, Las Vegas and Japan. Also you get to work in the Kennedy Space Center, Universal, the National Museum of the American Indians! Thank you for coming to our class and I hope you come back again. From [Name withheld]
Dear Mr. Hartwell, Thank you for coming into our class, I really enjoyed your stories. Hopefully I can grow up to be just like you. Then if I do become successful I can travel to a lot of different countries. Oh, and a special thanks for the gifts. (Smiley face) Your friend [Name withheld]
Dear Mr. Hartwell, Thank you for coming to our classroom. I really enjoyed you telling us about your job. I did not know that you did all that cool stuff. I wish I could travel all around the world like you. Your friend, [Name withheld] (Smiley face with tongue sticking out.)
Dear Mr. Hartwell, Thank you so much for coming to talk to us about your job. Thank you for all the neat souvenirs. You have an awesome job! Your badges are cool too. I like the ride "waffles" and the movie too. I hope you had as much fun as we did. Thanks again, [Name withheld]
Dear Mr. Hartwell, I really enjoyed you coming to our classroom. thank you for the fans and key holder things. We really enjoyed it. Someday I may want to do the same thing as you. I think that you have a good career. I think that you should keep working there. Sincerely, [Name withheld]
It warms my heart that they had a good time listening to the stories of the work that I do. I knew that I had a good job but I didn't realize that it was as "Cool" as they made it sound. All these years I just thought that I was having a good time.
If you have a cool job and an "in" with a grade school that would enjoy hearing about it, I'd strongly suggest going and telling the kids about what you do. It's our opportunity to inspire them to stay in school and work hard to get a job that they will enjoy. If you have a boring job that you hate, please make a point to go in before all the cool people. Not only does this make the cool seem even cooler, but it will inspire them to stay in school and avoid whatever life-choice mistakes you incorrectly made.
Have fun at work, it will drive your boss crazy!
Chris Hartwell
My wife had done the same thing about a month ago so she was able to give me a good idea what to expect. I was also able to get a collection of "swag" from the museum that included NMAI stickers, Opening Day fans, NMAI lanyards and unused "Staff" badges used for the opening event. I wrote up and printed an outline so I knew exactly what to say and how to lead into the different subjects that I was to cover. I even brought my collection of badges from all the shows and rides that I've worked on.
All this preparation helped, but didn't totally prepare me for the inquisitive nature and stunned attention that I received from these children. "People actually get PAID to test rides?", "You worked on [put any show here]...that's my favorite!" and my favorite, "My dad works at Universal Studios, if you see him, can you tell him 'Hi?'" I swear, that was NOT one of my kids....they would never say that to my face!
After I left, the kids were told by their teachers to each write a thank you note. Nathan brought his home last night and after reading these I figured it would be a fun email story to type up some of them and share the funny things they said. I've left the spelling and grammatical errors in. Hey, it's grade school!
Dear Mr. Hartwell I very much much enjoyed hearing about your job. You have an amazing job. Your very lucky to have it. I realley enjoyed your talk. Thank you for the stuff. We hope you had a good time. From [Name withheld]
Dear Mr. Hartwell Thank you for coming to my class and telling us about your career. I really enjoyed the things you do. I think you really cool and nice carrer you were very well spoken. Thank you for the gifts you brought from the musem. I think it was neat that you got to travel around the world. [Name withheld]
Dear Mr. Hartwell, I think your job is cool because you get to travel to different places such as Washington DC, California, Las Vegas and Japan. Also you get to work in the Kennedy Space Center, Universal, the National Museum of the American Indians! Thank you for coming to our class and I hope you come back again. From [Name withheld]
Dear Mr. Hartwell, Thank you for coming into our class, I really enjoyed your stories. Hopefully I can grow up to be just like you. Then if I do become successful I can travel to a lot of different countries. Oh, and a special thanks for the gifts. (Smiley face) Your friend [Name withheld]
Dear Mr. Hartwell, Thank you for coming to our classroom. I really enjoyed you telling us about your job. I did not know that you did all that cool stuff. I wish I could travel all around the world like you. Your friend, [Name withheld] (Smiley face with tongue sticking out.)
Dear Mr. Hartwell, Thank you so much for coming to talk to us about your job. Thank you for all the neat souvenirs. You have an awesome job! Your badges are cool too. I like the ride "waffles" and the movie too. I hope you had as much fun as we did. Thanks again, [Name withheld]
Dear Mr. Hartwell, I really enjoyed you coming to our classroom. thank you for the fans and key holder things. We really enjoyed it. Someday I may want to do the same thing as you. I think that you have a good career. I think that you should keep working there. Sincerely, [Name withheld]
It warms my heart that they had a good time listening to the stories of the work that I do. I knew that I had a good job but I didn't realize that it was as "Cool" as they made it sound. All these years I just thought that I was having a good time.
If you have a cool job and an "in" with a grade school that would enjoy hearing about it, I'd strongly suggest going and telling the kids about what you do. It's our opportunity to inspire them to stay in school and work hard to get a job that they will enjoy. If you have a boring job that you hate, please make a point to go in before all the cool people. Not only does this make the cool seem even cooler, but it will inspire them to stay in school and avoid whatever life-choice mistakes you incorrectly made.
Have fun at work, it will drive your boss crazy!
Chris Hartwell