Quote of the Day (map)

“I’ve got it all mapped out. Get an A in first quarter. Get a B in second quarter. Get a C in third quarter then go straight to an F in fourth.” - Comment from an unconfident AP Calculus student after she saw that she was getting an A despite a challenging beginning. (8/31/18)

Quote of the Day (nemesis)

Student 1: “Mister Lau, why do you hav-”
Me: “...”
Student 2: “Oh WOW!”
(8/30/18)

Quote of the Day (almonds)

Student 1: “Mister, do you still have the can?”
I searched my closet for the empty can of almonds that Student 1 filled with paper clips last year. She then wrote “Help yourself” on the lid and left it in a very visible spot in the class. After finding it and reminiscing about her prank, Student 1 asked if I could leave it out on my desk for old times’ sake. Just a few minutes later...
Student 2 [holding up the can]: “Can I really have some?” (8/29/18)

Quote of the Day (copy and paste)

Student: “Oh Mister, before I forget, could you write a letter of recommendation for me?”
Me: “I already started since you asked me for it a while ago. I’m sorry that I just haven’t had the time to finish it.”
Student: “That’s OK. I’m fine with you just copying and pasting it from a good one that you wrote for someone before.” (8/28/18)

Quote of the Day (trimming)

“I spent the weekend helping cut tree branches in our neighbor’s yards.” - Response from a high school student after I asked him how his weekend was in preparation for the inbound hurricane. (8/27/18)

Quote of the Day (hurricane)

The following are various quotes from students in regards to the approaching Hurricane Lane.
“Be safe Mister!”
“Don’t die Mister.”
“I would actually feel safer in this classroom than in my home.”
“No school tomorrow or Friday? I’d better go to the library to stock up.”
“I only want the hurricane to hit [teacher’s name]’s class.”
“Hopefully I’ll see you on Monday.” (8/22/18)

Quote of the Day (hike)

Me (to Student): “Stop skipping school.”
Student: “Sorry. Do you know why I was gone though?”
Me: “No. Why?”
Student: “It’s for a good reason. It was [former student]’s last day.”
Me: “And?”
Student: “And we went on a hike so I know you would understand.” (8/21/18)

Quote of the Day (age)

Student 1 (to Student 2): “Hey! Happy birthday! How old are you now?”
Student 3 (to Student 1): “You’re not supposed to ask a girl how old they are.”
Student 1 apologizes.
Student 3 (turning to me with a smile): “But you can ask them when they were born or what year they graduated.” (8/20/18)

Quote of the Day (AP)

AP Calculus Student: “Ugh! I hate my [course name] class.”
Me: “Why?”
Student: “Because [teacher name] said that we could expect it to be harder than an AP class.”
Me: “Wow! Is that a challenge? That sounds like a challenge.”
Student: “No, no, no. It’s OK. I’m sure she didn’t mean it.” (8/14/18)

Quote of the Day (cross country)

Student 1: “Ugh. I really don’t want to go to practice after school today.”
Student 2: “Practice? For what?”
Student 1: “Oh, cross country.”
Student 2: “...oh, um...do you have to go to the mainland for that?”
Student 1: “Huh? No, most of our meets are on Oahu.”
Student 2: “So how do you...you know, go across the country?”
Student 1: “Oh my God! Did you really just think that cross country means we have to run across the whole United States!?” (8/14/18)

Quote of the Day (Squircle)

Student 1 (to Student 2): “So yesterday, Mister was helping me and he asked me how I would solve one of these (trigonometry) problems. So I said we had to use the Unit Square.”
Student 2: “Unit Square!? I don’t think there’s even such a thing. Isn’t it the Unit Circle?”
Student 1: “Yeah, but I was just...”
Student 2: “OK, let me ask [Student 3] for help instead.” (8/14/18)

Quote of the Day (greeting)

Student: “Hey Mister! Do you remember a time over the summer when you were walking or about to go running by the big yellow gate and someone yelled at you?”
Me: “You mean someone from a tinted truck that was so far away that I couldn’t see who was saying hi?”
Student: “Yeah. That was me!” (8/10/18)

Quote of the Day (clothes)

Student (that I’ve taught for more than one year): “Mister, I like that (white) shirt. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear it before.”
Me (kinda creeped out): “That’s because I just bought it. It’ll probably have a stain by the end of today.”
 Student: “Oh, is that why you wear dark clothes all the time?”
Me (really creeped out because it’s true): “...” (8/9/18)