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)

Quote of the Day (request)

“It would be great if you could give it to [student name] on Tuesday morning.” - Ending to a polite letter of recommendation request from a parent of one of my students. It was sent Sunday night; I didn’t receive it till Tuesday morning. (5/29/18)

Quote of the Day (phone)

Student [bursting into my empty classroom after school]: “Hi Mister!”
Me: “Congratulations on your graduation.”
Student: “Thanks. I just wanted to come and say hi.”
She then produces something she had been clutching tightly in her hands since she entered.
Student [beaming]: “Look! I got a phone! My mom and dad gave it to me for graduation.” (5/25/18)

Quote of the Day (death battle)

Student: “Oh yeah! I forgot to tell you we had a Death Battle in our class the other day.”
Me: “Death Battle?”
Student: “Yeah, it’s a debate to see who would win? And guess what!? It was you versus Mr. Lau.”
Me: “So who won?”
Student: “You did! It was because you could calculate all his moves and avoid them.”
Thanks...I think. (5/24/18)

Quote of the Day (bird)

“Mister! Did you know that [teacher name] brought their pet bird to class today?” - Question from a high school student during the last period of the day. (5/23/18)

Quote of the Day (pig)

“If I ever get married, I want to have my wedding there.” - Comment from a high school student after learning about a beach in the Bahamas that is populated by a community of feral pigs. She continued, “One of the pigs could be my ring bearer!” (5/22/18)

Quote of the Day (motto)

Student gets frustrated while working through a tough problem and eventually finds success.
Me: “See! You give up to easily.”
Student: “But that’s my motto.” (5/21/18)

Quote of the Day (stairs)

“Ugh. I’m not going to miss those.” - Comment from a high school senior on her last day of school as she pointed to the stairs she had just climbed. (5/18/18)