Earthquakes, Birthdays, and an Educated Guess

Semester change for me meant dissolving my 3rd period, I really liked 3rd, losing my 5th period prep, really liked that too, making a 5th period, and getting new students in 1st and 2nd. I teach two semester geography classes, the rest are yearlong. I wasn't sad to see my 2nd period go, in fact I will wager my new 2nd will be one of my faves. All of this meant I would have to learn about 60 new names.

I am good with names, especially students, I work hard to make sure I learn them as quick as possible. One of things I do is ask each student to tell me something 'interesting' about them. I have to preface this request by saying that just cause you like to eat or sleep that alone is not interesting. I get some ordinary stuff they try to deem as interesting, such as I play soccer, to which I have to coax something more interesting. I get some weird ones like for a girl "I have a good man voice." Or a kid that claimed he had 26 brothers and sisters, when in reality he had 2 brothers.(After some prying, turns out he was counting his inlaws entire families as his own.)

Every once in a while I get one like the following: One of the girls said she was born during an earthquake. I replied with, "Are you sure that wasn't you punching and kicking on your mom's belly?" She elaborated saying, "There was a really bad earthquake in Los Angeles that day."

This got my mind running and I thought,"Why not?" I continued, "I bet I can guess the day you were born." Of course with that I had everyone's attention. "You were born in 1994." (That part was easy, although I had them riveted.) "You just celebrated your birthday a few days ago on Jan. 17th" At this she nodded and the class sat in awe. After I let it sink in and they were postulating their own radical conclusions to my 'lucky guess'. I decided to tell them how I knew.

I knew that she was born in 1994--nearly all the students are. The only earthquake I remember was Jan 17th--it was the day I was flying to New Zealand. I was flying out by myself and was concerned that my flight might be postponed. It wasn't, but I spent the better part of the day trying to figure out what I would do if it was. That day will always be etched in my mind. It won me some points taking a chance with that educated guess, no one would really remember if I got it wrong, but getting it right, that won't be forgotten.