What I Learned About Perspective from Marvel's Civil War

Marvel's Civil War was a 2006-07 crossover event that involved the entire Marvel Comics universe choosing sides in the aftermath of a national tragedy. The United States government, faced with growing public pressure, sets a mandate that all super-powered people must register (and reveal their identities) or face imprisonment. It divides the large roster of heroes and villains right down the middle, with Captain America leading a rebellion against registration, and Iron Man leading those who have been tasked with enforcing this policy.

What I really enjoy about this event (in addition to the prominent featuring of Spider-Man) is the depth of storytelling, where we get perspectives from individual characters on each side as well as the civilians on the front lines. Also, there is such a deep moral and philosophical quandary being played out a midst the epic superhero fights. From a certain point of view, Civil War was ahead of its time, dealing with the overreach of the federal government, surveillance, privacy, and freedom before such matters were national debates in light of recent revelations surrounding things like social media, and our government listening to our phone calls.

While reading through the different comics in this event, you witness the debate between Captain American and Iron Man especially, as they try to reconcile with each other. Both have their own values and beliefs, but as they take their stances, neither is entirely right or wrong. It's all a matter of perspective, which makes the dilemma that much more intriguing to me.

I love having these sorts of debates. I'm a very relative person when it comes to taking sides on things. I can see stuff both ways and understand where people are coming from. Often people can get very dug into their points of view, and can't relate at all to where someone else is coming from. It's important to be open to different perspectives, and even if you don't agree with each other, you can perhaps get to a compromise since typically each side will want the same thing in the end. Patience, open-mindedness, and empathy are all traits we all should embody as we work together to improve our teams, our departments, our communities, and our world.

We'll see this story arc adapted for the upcoming film, Captain America: Civil War, which I am very excited for. I hope it does the comics justice, and from the first trailer, it seems like it has the right angle.

Thanks for stopping by!

5 Classic Books That Are Actually Great Fun

If you're a literature nerd like me, you've probably read buckets full of classics and found something to love about most of them. But objectively speaking, it's fair to say that a lot of books that have made their way to the "classic" distinction over the years can be a little long, dense, or dry. On the other hand, a lot of them are a lot more fun (and quicker to read) than some people might expect! So for anyone who's ever wondered what the fuss was about with some of these titles, I'd start a reading list like this:

1. "For Whom The Bell Tolls" by Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway's name is often included in a long list of early-20th century authors with lasting impact. But he might just be the most unique one of the bunch, largely because of his typically abbreviated prose. Hemingway approached his work armed with a so-called "Iceberg Theory," which basically means that he found the true beauty in writing to be in what's left unsaid. As the theory goes, the "dignity" of the movement of an iceberg is due to only one eighth of it being above water. So goes his writing: compared to many of the other authors of his time, Hemingway explicitly says very little but achieves great power with the words he does choose to write.

The result is that his novels are pretty easy to consume, lacking clutter but profoundly impactful nonetheless. That, plus the subject matter— "For Whom The Bell Tolls" is about the Spanish Civil War and among the most realistic war novels ever written—makes this a perfect book for a classic lit skeptic.

2. "Sula" by Toni Morrison

Considered one of a number of modern classics by Toni Morrison, "Sula" might blend in on a first glance, appearing to be one of a great many novels about race relations in the South. But to dismiss it as such is a mistake on multiple levels. For one thing, Morrison is pretty much the queen of black feminist literature, so even if it feels like this book is part of a crowded genre taught in schools, consider it the best of the best. Moreover, "Sula" isn't so serious or so focused on message that it isn't fun to read. In fact, it almost reads at times like a fable, with vivid characters and events that simultaneously border on fantasy and horrify you with their realness. It's a quick, astonishing read.

3. "Around The World In 80 Days" by Jules Verne

Jules Verne will always be recognized as one of the more fun or entertaining classic literary figures, and that's actually been evidenced in recent years by the fact that this particular novel has become a source of inspiration for video games. An "Around The World" title is featured among the games at Gala Casino, and it's enjoyably rooted in themes from the novel. It's basically a guessing game with betting components, but it also simulates a trip around the world in a hot air balloon. Similarly, there's also an "80 Days" app by Inkle that turns the bulk of the novel into a playable mobile experience.

The point is, they don't just go making video games about dry, boring old literature! "Around The World In 80 Days" is simply a blast to read. It's an adventurous and wildly inventive tale about a wealthy man and his valet as they attempt to circumnavigate the globe (in the 1800s) to win a bet.

4. "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

"To Kill A Mockingbird" is a vital read for a number of reasons you may remember hearing about in a classroom. To me, it's the preeminent novel in depicting everything from racial injustice in the deep South to the loss of innocence that inevitably exists as one grows up. Those are some heavy themes, but as with "Sula" (though in an entirely different voice), this novel is oozing with the near-mystical elements that seem to come to the surface when a writer captures the deep South.

It's a quick and easy read and it remains extraordinarily thought-provoking over 50 years after its release. It's also become newly relevant thanks to the surprise release of a lost manuscript called "Go Set A Watchmen" in 2015. It doesn't directly follow the narrative of "To Kill A Mockingbird", but the new book is viewed as something of a distant and slightly disconnected sequel.

5. "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville

I suspect that "Moby Dick" will be the most daunting title on this list to those who don't habitually read classics. It's a massive book, commonly mentioned as a cumbersome classroom requirement. It also may be the most surprising book to read among popular classics, because once you get into it you realize that it's an extremely colorful adventure. "Moby Dick" is undeniably long, but it seems to have been written as much to entertain as to preach, which is something a lot of us want a little bit more of in classic literature. There are themes of race, perception, conquest, morality, and much more, but there are also deeply unique and fascinating characters that keep this novel interesting from cover to cover.

These are just a few to start with if you've ever wondered where the fun is in the classics. If you have any more to suggest, share them in the comments!

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John Bergman is a New York City-residing freelance writer. When he isn't obsessing over his book collection (and trying to trim it down), John enjoys playing The Witcher 3 and watching Daredevil.

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 01/22/16

Greetings!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

• Agent Carter

Some of my favorite shows are coming back this week, which makes me very happy. One of them is the limited series Agent Carter, which like last year, is covering the mid-season break of Agents of SHIELD. Season 2 premiered with a two-hour event on Tuesday, and I'm excited to continue to explore the story of Peggy Carter. These first two episodes (out of a total of 10 this season) were great and I'm looking forward to where the rest of the season goes. They have done her very well in the past, and she is a hallmark character of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so I'm optimistic that they'll continue this trend. There is so much of her story to tell too, since we know she has a big role to play the in the creation of SHIELD, and based on the beginning of Ant-Man, is still influential up until at least the late 1980s. So that means we still have over 40 years of story to cover for Peggy, and I hope we at least get to glance at some of that at some point in some form or another. I'd be totally down for some deep, Cold War Agent Carter action!

• The Dark Knight Returns

I checked out this two part animated movie on HBO Now the other day in anticipation of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, which takes some inspiration from this story. I had some cursory understanding of what this pivotal comic book was about, but I never read it so I was really excited to delve into the story deeper. The setting is a dystopic 1980s America, where a older, grizzled Batman comes out of hiding to free Gotham from the grips of a new wave of criminals. There are a bunch of nods to the rest of the DC Universe's fate in this timeline, which is cool, and I overall enjoyed everything about this. The action is good, the animation is solid, and the performances are good too. It's a unique interpretation of classic characters and settings, but I liked it's take on everything. These alternate universe stories always intrigue me since they allow for very fresh interpretations of well known tropes, and at times have no responsibility to be accountable to what came before or what comes after. Seeing this also has me even more excited for what Dawn of Justice will entail, and we're only like two months away now!

• Legends of Tomorrow

This brand new series just premiered last night and sets up a tantalizing premise of what boils down to Doctor Who with superheroes. The first episode has me excited for what is to come, and the time travel inherent to the show will allow for some cool DC Universe nods, like Jonah Hex. It will exist outside and alongside it's sibling shows of Arrow and Flash, since, again, with the time travel ability, the characters can come right back to where they left their timelines (a clever trick) which I'll be intrigued to see how that exactly works in practice versus in theory. For the next couple of months, we'll be spoiled with new weekly episodes of Flash, Arrow, and LoT, further bolstering their already robust shared DC TV Universe. As much as I enjoy Agent Carter and Agents of SHIELD, DC has them beat here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Energizing Through Different Entertainment Mediums

I've been thinking lately about how I consume entertainment. I'm mostly a visual person; enjoying movies, television shows, and the occasional comic book. Next is probably audio, since I have a fair amount of podcasts I listen to on a normal basis. Last is the written word (ironic since I write myself pretty regularly). I'm not a huge reader but I try to keep up with at least a book a month. In a sort of transcendent additional category is video games, since a lot of the entertainment comes from participating in the narrative. I've been a lifelong gamer, but have fallen off on that too as of late. I'm hoping to get back into it soon, but all of this thinking got me exploring the benefits of diversifying our entertainment medium consumption. Especially in the era of on-demand everything, we can explore all sorts of new ideas and stories while engaging different parts of ourselves in the process.

What I like about movies and TV is how everything comes together to create a beautiful piece of art. The visuals, the music, and the story all coalesce to make for an engrossing entertainment experience, especially when you go to a theater for a big, fun movie. I like to get to the theater pretty regularly. Even with the absurd prices, it still feels worth it for the big screen, surround sound, and perhaps enhanced visuals. I tend to go especially when the movie is built for some good enhanced visuals from 3D or IMAX. Something else that is great about the theater is the communal experience of seeing a film with a room full of people. I'm not much for concerts, so this is the closest I'll probably regularly get to enjoying some entertainment live with other people. While it can also be a burden, for a big comic book movie or something with a passionate fan base, the community experience is awesome!

What I like about podcasts is how you can focus entirely on the spoken word. In its simplicity, it can be immensely powerful to hear someone speak their own words. Also, I often listen to podcasts alone or with headphones so the experience is very intimate almost, which creates a very personal connection between me and my podcasts. I listen to informative, funny, and emotional podcasts. The medium is one of the most unique and diverse forms of entertainment, with thousands (if not tens of thousands) of shows telling different stories and providing a platform for people to speak to their niche communities.

What I like about books is the nuanced exploration of a single topic. While podcasts or movies can do much of the same, I'm not going to sit with either for as long as I would with a good book. Plus, there is something uniquely cool about the analog quality of an actual book. I tend to purchase a hard copy of books I especially like just so I can have it in my hands and on the shelf. Otherwise, I am all digital since it helps to keep all of my books portable on my iPad. I've also gone all digital with comic books lately, since it helps with the problem of being able to read them whenever and wherever while also helping me travel light. I honestly think I'll start reading comic books more than regular books since I have been feeling an itch to explore some different stuff, like the Marvel Civil War story line in anticipation of the new movie (which I just finished, and it was excellent!) and the new Star Wars comics. Also, the way a good frame can capture emotion or action with an artistic, illustrated visual style is unparalleled.

As much as I enjoy any single medium at a given time, it has been enlightening to explore stories through all sorts of different platforms. The beauty of the time we live in now is that all of these mediums are easily available to us. We can embrace the diversity of stories, mediums, and people behind them, which I think can make a hugely positive impact for the world.

I look forward to indulging in all of them so that I can share some good stories with the people I care about.

Thanks for stopping by!

Digging Deeper into Nerd Masculinity

For a long time I have considered myself a nerd; an avid reader and true academic from an early age. I embraced the term “nerd” more and more during the multiple summers I spent at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth summer programs, where I learned that it was cool to love learning, comic book characters, abstract television shows, and the unique brains of those around me. In my adult years, I have retained many of those endearing qualities that made me such an oddball little kid. This is an important piece of my origin story, because I believe this love of knowledge and asking hard questions led me to Women’s and Gender Studies, and then Higher Education, academic disciplines where I get to constantly question ideological structures and challenge people’s preconceived notions of identity and being. I had the opportunity to take a course in my Masters program titled “Men and Masculinities”, in which I explored the multiple masculinities that exist within our society. Since the course didn’t reference “nerd masculinity” within its material, I chose to write my final research paper on the topic, and uncovered some insightful information. So all of this (and my relationship with the one and only Higher Ed Geek, who eagerly pushed me to write about this topic) is what has brought me to this blog post.   

I’ll preface this by saying that I recognize there is a difference between nerds and geeks, however there are enough similarities between the stereotypes of the two that for the purposes of this blog I will be referring to “nerds” and a generalized “nerd masculinity” for some simplification.

I started with analyzing some research of school-aged children, since those formative years shape who we become as adults (I suggest checking out NERDS; American Nerd; and The Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth if you are interested in children’s perceptions of nerd identity). Stereotypically, “nerds” in elementary and high school are social outcasts, these tend to be the students who have a high intellect, a touch of social awkwardness, and those who find comfort in rational thought. What struck me was that high intellect and rational thought are coveted traits in hegemonic masculinity (the traditional norms and standards society has constructed and expects men to act within); however, nerds are assumed to lack desirable physical traits or social or athletic skills which enable them to fit in with hegemonic standards. These traits may carry on into adulthood, and can become defining characteristics of men’s personalities.

Nerd masculinity is confusing; you might be thinking, “If nerds don’t fit into hegemonic standards of masculinity, how could things like Gamergate or hypersexualized comic book characters happen?” What I’ve learned is that specifically because nerds are ostracized by society (women and other men), they have to perform in a hypermasculine way to attempt to be accepted. This of course, is a generalization, but many nerdy men often feel marginalized within our society’s hierarchical structure, and thus feel the need to marginalize others in order to gain back some sense of power. Every social group (think: religion, ethnicity, national status, sexual orientation) has a hierarchal system in which someone gets oppressed.

Dr. NerdLove has a great article about these toxic notions of masculinity that enable this system of domination and oppression to work in our society. He defines it as a specific narrative about the ways men should act: “emotionally repressed, thuggishly violent, sexually aggressive”. Because toxic masculinity has seeped into every crevice of society, including popular culture and the media, even men who aren’t seen as highly masculine still subconsciously engage in hypermasculine behavior. This is cyclical—nerds are inherently oppressed within the hierarchy of hegemonic masculinity, so they seek out alternative spaces and create their own hierarchy by attempting to emulate behavior that will hopefully gain them more privilege within the hegemonic power structure.

As in all other masculinities, nerd masculinity cannot be understood as a simple blanket identity. There are definitely subtle variations of nerd masculinity that either embrace, or push away from, specific practices of hegemonic masculinity. While nerd culture is not the perfect alternative to hegemonic masculinity, it is certainly becoming absorbed and more accepted by popular culture (read: Marvel and DC movies are dominating the box office, board game sales are steadily increasing, and did anyone see how much Star Wars advertising there was?). Nerd culture is revolutionizing this technological age we live in, and the once ridiculed interests and hobbies of nerds and geeks are becoming popular and in high demand.

While there are still some downsides to nerd culture, including the sexual objectification of women (like women being groped and photographed without their consent at Comic Con, and the few women who are even represented in comics often have ridiculous body shapes and are in in ridiculous poses), as more men begin speaking out against this behavior, and as more women continue joining the nerd ranks, this behavior can and will readily change. Nerd culture has the potential to be a diverse and inclusive environment; just think of all the different characters, superpowers, magical lands, and origin stories that exist across its many different genres. Nerd culture also creates a space for imagination, fun, and creativity, which people of all ages deserve to have access to. Those who embrace nerd masculinity has the ability to subvert hegemonic masculinity and fight the good fight, they just first have to become conscious about what they are standing against.   

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Jennifer Osolinski is a New Jersey native completing her last semester in the University of Maine’s Student Development in Higher Education Masters program. Jenn’s passions are academic advising, feminism, and social justice. She spends her free time looking at puppies on the internet, trying new recipes, and watching a myriad of TV shows and movies. You can follow her on Twitter: @Jenn_Oso

Geeky Office Décor Series: Mauricio Gómez Montoya

This week we're featuring the awesome office of Mauricio Gómez Montoya, Retention Specialist with the Office of Multicultural Affairs at the University of Kansas.

Here's what Mauricio had to say about his space:

"I love my job. It’s challenging, rewarding and ultimately really fun. However, if I’m going to spend over 40 hours per week at work, I’m gonna make this place look and feel like home. I’m a huge Marvel & Star Wars fan, I also love sports and cultural artifacts. I’ve tried to blend these interests into the look of my office. Initially, I did this because of what I thought these items said about me. It made me feel “cool” and express my interests. I’ve noticed that the decoration of my office has inspired my students to trust me more if I put myself out there. I they feel like they really know me.

Over the last year, I’ve asked students if I should “rebrand”. I’m progressing in my career and it has made me questioning if there is room for a Tie Fighter or a Spider-Man poster in the office of a Senior Student Affairs Administrator. After many conversations with my students, I realize that there is. My students (and some colleagues) made me promise to not get rid of my “nerdy stuff” when I advance. They gave me a different perspective on the issue. It’s not what my office says about me, it’s about how students feel when they’re in it. One of my students said: "I feel intimidated when all I see are degrees and encyclopedias in my faculty’s office. But Spider-Man? I can talk about Spider-Man.”

Good practices in Student Affairs rely on relationships across campus. Relationships are based in trust. If your students (and colleagues) know you, they will trust you and if they trust you, they’ll listen to you. I’ve bonded on several occasions with students because of the conversation starters in my office. Whether it is the giant Spidey poster on the wall, the Gumball dispensing Yoda on my desk or the Jimi Hendrix portrait, students feel like they can relate and ultimately, feel more comfortable.

These conversations have lead me to think it’s time to redefine the idea of professionalism in student affairs."

What I really like about Mauricio's office is that it features Spider-Man (a personal favorite of mine), as well as the other diverse interests that he showcases in his space. I also appreciate how Mauricio shared the doubt he experienced as he thought about moving up professionally. I think we can all be our genuine selves no matter what we want to do professionally. Especially in our field, we should be encouraging professionals to be themselves so that we showcase a positive example for our students. I know it was transformative for me to accept that I can be myself and also be an effective leader and professional. It's awesomely poignant that Mauricio's students helped him realize that he should keep his geeky decorations up in his office.

Many thanks to Mauricio for sharing his space with us.

Stay tuned for more awesome offices in the coming weeks!

Thanks for stopping by!

Movie Review Monday: Back in Time

Welcome to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's film is the 2015 documentary Back in Time highlighting the fan-base around the beloved classic Back to the Future.

Like some of the other fan documentaries I've reviewed here  for the cult followings of shows like Star Trek and Firefly, this movie is a fun look at the passionate community that has come up around this simple movie from 30 years ago. The majority of the exploration focuses on the original movie, with some lesser emphasis on the second two parts of the trilogy. I love the Back to the Future series of films, and this was an entertaining way to explore the enthusiasm others share for these silly sci-fi films.

The documentary features fans, actors, and the people who made Back to the Future to examine every aspect of the film's reception and production respectively. I did find that the direction was a bit aimless at times, especially towards the middle when the documentary seems to get lost a midst different details of the production and stories from fans. Nevertheless, the documentary is fairly comprehensive (some cast members are absent), and as we celebrate a milestone anniversary for the franchise, this is a must watch for any fans like myself.

What I love about these sorts of films is how they highlight the positive aspects of passionate geek/nerd communities. People meet their spouses through them, they do good for the world through them, and they find peace as well as kinship through them. It always warms my heart to see stuff like that and reminds why I'm so proud to be a part of this global community, even in my own small way.

Check out the documentary's website for more information and stream Back in Time instantly right now on Netflix!

Thanks for stopping by!

Finding Yourself & Geek Identity Theory

During my first semester of graduate school, I took a course on theory development within college students.  I learned about theories grounded in career development, religious development, and personal identity development.  Within personal identity development I noticed a commonality between all the theories.  I was taught to use theory as a base knowledge to understand a student better, being able to assess where each person was on the developmental level.  As a self-named geek, I was determined to find other applicable identities for students to develop.  Here is the "Wagner Geek Identity Development Model" (WGIDM) as seen through my own development.

Stage 1: Non-geek

During this stage, students do not consider themselves to be geeky.  This was reflected during my first year of college.  My interests were of movies and not much else.  I did not have an overt affection towards video games, superheroes, or anything deemed “geeky” by society.

Stage 2: Open to Geek Culture

During this stage, students are opened up to the geek culture.  In my second year of college, a fellow resident assistant took me to a comic book store and opened my mind to my favorite superhero, Green Lantern.  This moment sparked an internal revolution into geekdom, leading into stage 3.

Stage 3: NooB

This stage is when geeks begin to make meaning of their identity.  This can be seen through a new variety of one’s Netflix qeue, frequent trips to comic book stores or GameStop, and enhanced research on the geek culture.  It is during this stage that individuals seek out groups of fellow geeks to validate their feelings and share in experiences.

Stage 4: Leroy Jenkins

During stage 4, individuals dive into the culture in an attempt to figure out what type of geek that person wants to be.  For me, that resulted in watching YouTube videos about video games, downloading podcasts about Star Trek, and buying midnight premiere movie tickets.

Stage 5: Geek Chic

This stage revolves around individuals refining the type of geek they want to be.  Folks have searched every outlet in an attempt to whittle down what geek really means to them.  I finally decided that I did not know enough of World of Warcraft to try and become a level 70 goblin, however I knew I enjoyed superheroes and video games, so I stuck to where my true passions were.

Stage 6: Live Long and Prosper

This final stage can only be accomplished when a person fully admits to their geekdom.  This stage occurs when one has accepted that they are a geek and has begun to integrate their geeky tendencies into their personal life.  I was finally able to walk into the comic book store without feeling like an outsider, using superhero inspirations for door decorations for my residents.

Obviously with this theory comes one major critique: what does it mean to be a geek?  This notion is relative for each individual person.  To someone, a geek can only refer to science fiction novels, however to others being a geek can mean they are excited about woodworking.  The term geek is open to interpretation.  My own definition is that a geek is a person that understands a topic incredibly well and has become a true passion.  No matter what the definition, this theory can serve as an opportunity for folks to assist their students in the development of their identities.

Remember, with great power comes great responsibility, so use it wisely.

Hey y'all!  My name is Julie Wagner and I am a current graduate student in my second year of the College Student Personnel program at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.  Currently I am working in Campus Activities and get to work with fantastic students and their organizations.  I began my obsessions with higher education and geek culture in the fall of 2012 and have not stopped since.  My bookshelves are equal parts graphic novels and development theory books. Connect with me on Twitter!

Geeky Office Décor Series: Tyler Miller

This week we're featuring the awesome office of Tyler Miller, Assistant Director for Housing & Residential Services at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Here's what Tyler had to say about his space:

"As you can see my office isn’t the typical “professional” looking office. I have a ton of stuff. The reason for this is during my day. Most of the people who come into my office are students and/or people who work with students. My office is meant to be a “conversation starter.” Generally someone comes in and finds something they can right away connect with me about without me digging and asking a lot of questions. Whether it’s my Dunder Mifflin shirt, my Batman, Star Wars, Doctor Who stuff, or my sports memorabilia, there is generally something for everyone. You can’t see it in my pictures, but I even have a working 8 track player with 8 track tapes. There are also tons of pictures of my previous staffs. Again, you can’t see it, but one of my former staff members was such a Doctor Who fan, as part of a secret Santa gift exchange she designed a painting where she wrote my families name in Gallifrayen. The people who come into my office and connect with me aren’t always the people who would connect out in the halls. It is a “safe space” for discussing all sorts of pop-culture questions such as “what do you think about Ice-Man coming out?” or “Did you hear what happened with the Bat-woman comic book?” I am able to discuss social justice issues in the safe context of pop-culture and comic books, and it opens a new world for me. Finally – I love sharing the process of critical thinking as we discuss topics such as “who would win – Batman or Superman?” (Batman, obviously) or “is there anyone Batman couldn’t beat?” (No, obviously).

So there ya have it."

What I really like about Tyler's office is the diversity of interests showcased as well as Tyler's emphasis of critically analyzing pop culture like comic books (I always joke that I take my entertainment very seriously). Looking for the deeper meaning in the stories we all share is an amazing way to connect. Those emotional bonds are a powerful positive force for us to feel understood, not just through the story but also through others understanding it (and us) as well.

Many thanks to Tyler for sharing his space with us.

Stay tuned for more awesome offices in the coming weeks!

Thanks for stopping by!

Geeky Office Décor Series: Michael Chavez

This week we're featuring the awesome office of Michael Chavez, On-Campus Recruitment Coordinator at the University of Kansas.

Here's what Michael had to say about his space:

"My love for Batman (and movies in general) has always been a part of who I am. I'll never forget the day I settled into my current office because I knew that I could deck it out in all the ways I always wanted.

I meet with a lot of students, almost every day. Each time a family or student comes in to my office, they always look to the poster of the Dark Knight or the Legos. That's an instant conversation starter and we could talk for a good 5-10 minutes just on those two things in my office. I always somehow work in a Marvel/DC movie reference into conversations with students and families and it always seems to break the ice quite a bit. It's memorable for them. I think it's also fascinating to see that their reactions when they see how much of a geek I am in regards to Batman."

What I really like about Michael's office is the big impact even just a small item can have. Something as small as a Lego figurine that someone notices and connects with creates a bond of shared interests that allows for a positive interaction to be had. I also love the Ghostbusters stuff and the Back to the Future Delorean Legos in Michael's office (I think I might have to get some of those toys for myself!). Hopefully this post inspires folks to put even a small bit of themselves into their offices so they can help bridge gaps with their students and colleagues.

Many thanks to Michael for sharing his space with us.

Stay tuned for more awesome offices in the coming weeks!

Thanks for stopping by!