Darin L. Hammond

As I sit down in the host’s chair for the first time, I am grinning, honestly excited because I have a sense that my first interview will be a lot of fun for both Darin L. Hammond, the reader and myself. I hardly know where to start. Have you looked at the list of his blogs on BC? If that does not intimidate you, go look him up on Linkedin. This fellow is brilliant. Of course the clincher is that he is not an arrogant, cold intellectual but a husband, father, approachable teacher and patient mentor. I know this because in a few short weeks of commenting on BC and BrooWaha, Darin has offered information, encouragement and praise to me,  a 57 year-old, green writer.

Darin: You may think you are green, but I am certain that I am blushing red. Thank you for the chance to engage with you, and I appreciate your kind words. As you mention, I am an English professor, teaching at Idaho State University currently. When I say that, I feel nerdy and old. My specialties include American literature and advanced composition, but my secret interests are more fun. My passion in life is learning, about everything.

Seriously, I study the spectrum, from quantum physics to bonsai. I enjoy getting the four kids involved with my eccentric learning habits. Yesterday, in the snow, I shot baskets with my only boy, and we pruned several bonsai during our breaks. We stepped inside every half hour to check on my two youngest daughters who are down with colds. I lead a crazy, strange life.

In my blogs at ZipMinis, I always have to force myself to stay focused.I blog about social media as it intersects

with writing, science, technology, and life. I tend often stray, however, to other subjects I just have to write about.

 Melanie: Can you tell us a bit about your family?

Darin: My four children range in age from 6 to 13, one boy and three girls. Yes, this is a little unusual, by which I mean crazy, insane, frustrating, and irritating.  Seriously, I love them very much, and they are the center to my existence. I won’t gush about them too much, but they are perfect. Literally,  as I said that, all four were screaming at the top of their lungs outside my office door. Through fatherhood, I am learning what it means to be fully human.

Melanie: All this makes me wonder what you were like as a kid. I am curious about your childhood. For example, where did you grow up? What was your home life like? What sort of kid were you? You could give us a glimpse of who you were by relating one childhood memory.

Darin:  My favorite memories are of rubbing my mother’s back in the evenings, after she had worked all day at Hewlett Packard. I could feel her tense shoulders relax and see the pleasure in her eyes. She enjoyed it so much. She told me one time when I complained about doing it that “one day I would remember the moments fondly.” She passed away in 1996 of breast cancer, and she was absolutely right. I’m with her again when I remember those moments.

I experienced a lot of anxiety and depression as a child because I was very introverted, and any kind of social activity stressed me out. School was especially bad, even though I was a decent student. I could handle the classroom fine if I didn’t have to speak or make myself conspicuous. Recess and lunch terrified me because I didn’t know what to do with myself. I felt uncomfortable playing with other children, but I felt even worse standing by myself because then I was conspicuous.

I loved summers because we lived in the country, the nearest neighbor with children miles away. The last day of school, I would throw off my shirt, put on my shorts and sneakers, head out into the sagebrush covered hills in southern Idaho and basically not return until the end of summer. I enjoyed wandering, adventuring, and imagining.

I did not overcome the introversion and anxiety until I had been a teacher in college for about five years. I still do not like social activities, but the classroom environment works for me.

Emily’s Tree by Darin L. Hammomd

Melanie: How did you ever manage to stand up in front of so many young people?

Darin: With great difficulty. I felt as young as the students back then, and I remember looking out at a room full of 30 students, already bored and daring me to keep their interest. The only confidence I possessed came from my academic and writing skills. I forced myself each day into that small space of security and taught from there. My lesson plans were ridiculously long and detailed because I charted every 5 minute block of class. The students seemed indifferent to me, and I endured. After years of repetition, gradually I eased up, and I think some of the students even like me now. I am very comfortable in front of classes and can be myself.

I did NOT imagine the students naked or any goofy tricks like that, nor would I recommend them. Writing skills gave me the first bit of courage, and I have found that blogging has the same effect. I have only been blogging since July, but I find it empowering as I overcome the fear of sharing my inner self.

Melanie: No one would ever guess that you are shy because your writing is so smooth. It flows like a strong river with a purposeful current. Your writing voice is calm, natural and open. It is not stunted or self conscious. I would say that when you write, your true self rises up and speaks, leaving your shy society persona behind. I also would guess that it was your natural gift of writing that saved you at school, chose your profession and really has defined who you are. What do you think?

Darin: Part of the power that I find it in writing is just what you describe: if I am able to write skillfully, readers are unable to detect my fear and shyness. The voice you describe is not the same that would hear in speaking with me in person where I tend to be jumbled and flustered. My communication skills are slow and deliberate, and verbal discussion does not allow me the time I need to clarify and smooth the language, caress the words until they feel right. I  do believe that my written words are my true voice, the voice that I cannot speak.

The ability to write has certainly helped me along the journey, but I did not realize this until late in high school. Dr. Mooney was my crazy English teacher my senior year, and he mentioned to me while passing briefly in the hall that I was a good writer. I had never considered myself proficient at anything, and I latched onto those few words as if they were a lifesaver. I began to believe in my writing because he gave me permission to, and I will forever be grateful to him. We often times do not know the power for good or evil that a few words in passing can have.

Melanie:That is an incredible testimony to the power of words both written and spoken. No wonder you are so affirming and encouraging as you comment on other’s posts.You are giving other people the same healing words that were spoken to you.  Is this why You became a teacher? I also noticed on Linkedin that many students seem to admire you as a prof and mentor.

Darin:

Yes, I try to be hyperconscious of the feelings and needs of others. I enjoy trying to understand how others feel and why, so that I can then nurture. Because of this drive, I

have turned to some pretty intensive study of the neuroscience of empathy over the last two years. I’ll save that discussion for another day, or blog.

This is certainly what led me to writing and teaching, though subconsciously and quite by accident. I don’t think my conscious mind would ever have allowed me to pursue teaching. The fear was simply too intense. However, I finished my bachelor’s degree in English, firmly committed to being something other than a teacher. Only, I could come up with nothing for a career. All I knew was that I enjoyed school, so I decided to continue on to the master’s level. There, I was shocked to find out, teaching was a requirement.

I fell into teaching by default because I couldn’t think of anything else to do and the opportunity presented itself.

Melanie: Although you were coerced into teaching, it is not just a job any more is it? It has become a vocation.  A vocation to teach the art of writing and composition. I was wondering about your experience  on BC. You have only been here a short time.

Darin:I really love Blog Catalog, as I found blogging prior to finding it quite lonely. The community is so supportive even to new comers, and if you are willing to stay involved, you make some great friends. Without BC, I don’t know if I would continue blogging. A person needs to feel connected to something other than the self to write well. I think.

Melanie: I know you have written about social media.

About Melanie Jean Juneau

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