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It was drizzling as three college educators from Dawn Mist University got together for their weekly coffee date at Brooke's Brew coffee shop. It was a quaint little coffee shop, and it served some damn good coffee. The first to arrive was Zia Angelo, who taught philosophy at the local educational institution. She was beautiful with her short caramel hair in a pixie cut and her captivating hazel eyes. She wore a stylish beige top and pants, showing off her gorgeous tattoos.
She quickly uncovered a large enough table for her associates to sit with her when they arrived. Her fellow professors, Fawn Sexton and Sequoia Bastion, came shortly after. Each of her fellow teachers was quite attractive. Fawn had light black skin, adorable brown eyes, and dyed copper hair in an Afro. She was wearing a remarkably stylish dark green jumpsuit. She was the music teacher/ fashion design teacher who believed it was essential to look your best.
As for Sequoia? She had fair skin and short sandy hair in a bob cut. She was wearing a light blue romper today and helped teach drama. They're both slightly younger then Zia and have only been teaching for two years. But it didn't matter to them. They greeted each other warmly before requesting their favorite coffee and bagel sandwiches. They took a few moments to savor them before they started chitchatting.
“So, I hope you two haven't had a stressful week with your lessons. Teaching philosophy isn't uncomplicated or assisting people in learning to think outside the box,” Zia remarked as she sipped her latte.
“None of us have it effortless, Zia. I've challenged my students more then Heidi Klum ever did on Project Runway, which is a good inspiration. However, I'm not as blunt when critiquing their work.
I encourage them and kindly point out where they need to improve. I don't like how offensive the other designers can get with one another on Project Runway. Furthermore, I find optimistic feedback benefits more then humiliating someone,” Fawn described her class's problems.
“Yes, we desire to motivate our students, but kindly inform them where to improve. We don't want to coddle them. Individuals need to know what they did right so they feel heard and not bluntly told, like they don't have feelings of non-constructive criticism. There is a significant difference between constructive criticism and being plain malicious. Even with my drama students, I don't humiliate them. I'll put my foot down if they get out of line.
However, I would never invalidate someone or treat them without respect or consideration. Negativity has no place in my classroom,” Sequoia replied as she enjoyed her blueberry bagel sandwich.
“Yes, it can be challenging occasionally to draw the line between being a teacher without crossing over to the friend zone. Still, everyone deserves respect and encouragement. Especially when they don't receive it from either family or friends,” agreed Zia.
“So now that we've discussed that, what else do you wish to discuss?” Fawn asked her colleagues. They took a few moments to drink more coffee before resuming their conversation.
“Well, I had yet another man make a pass at me. I wish that men wouldn't only focus on my attractiveness when they approached me. Instead, I wish they could have an intelligent conversation and see the real me,” Zia responded disappointingly.
“I'm curious, Zia. Just how many times have you encountered the wrong guy? Or why don't you ever give them a realistic chance?” Sequoia questioned her friend.
Zia sighed, “I've been sexually harassed ever since I hit puberty. In high school, so many boys tried to touch me inappropriately. It carried onto the university as well. Yes, I would like to find a partner. Yet again, I desire someone who sees past my good looks. I prefer them to see who I genuinely am,” Zia said while a lovely waitress replenished their coffee cups.
“Well, you both know I swing both ways. Yet, being bisexual has its own problems. I'll put it that way. Mainly when the ridiculous government thinks it's their place to tell those of the LGBTQ what they can and can't do!
This is America! We're not supposed to discriminate people. However, for the last several decades, we've been moving backward. Far too much outrage and hostility. It makes me sick,” Fawn replied before shoving the rest of her sandwich in her mouth.
“I've to concur. It's not the government's place to tell individuals what to do in their private lives. There should've never been book banning, taking away a woman's rights to abortion, or anything that the messed up government has been doing.” Sequoia replied calmly.
“I also disagree with them attempting to rewrite history, promoting white supremacy, and all that other crap myself. It's repulsing that the individuals we've elected to support us are self-serving and only care about themselves. They should care about the citizens they're supposed to be aiding! Instead, they would much rather go on a bogus goose chase then do their position of protecting our democracy! Furthermore, assisting the country's inhabitants,” Zia added bitterly.
“It's also sickening that hundreds of individuals didn't take COVID seriously or vaccinations in general. We have strict regulations in our city and our sister city: unless you're allergic to the immunizing agent, you must be immunized or can't go to school. We need to safeguard and prevent infections. Not encourage them to come back. Which is what's transpiring rapidly because people get misinformation online,” Fawn pointed out angrily.
“I wish the system would take gun violence seriously. How many people perish from firearms each year? Just how many more mass school shootings do there have to be before they cease the sale of assault rifles?” Sequoia pipped up, thinking about all the shootings they'd seen on the news.
Everyone agreed that the issue should have been at the forefront of what was happening in Congress. There are too many mass shootings and too many lives lost, many of them innocent children. Why people thought handguns were a good idea, none of them understood. They didn't buy the argument that it wasn't the guns that were the problem but the people. However, anyone who did purchase a gun, even the most responsible, was guilty whether someone was killed intentionally or not since a firearm has only one function: to kill.
They quickly finished their coffee and sandwiches. They'd decided they needed to unwind. The drizzle had stopped for now. So they thought they should go for a quick stroll around the park before it decided to pick up again. So they paid their tab and headed off to enjoy the park.