Optimism

The Teacher Recruitment Fair went very well. 10 interviews in one day. Whew. I'm determined to get a job for the 2011-12 school year. Hopefully I won't have to relocate too far because I still have this one class that I'm not 100% sure about getting into this summer. If I cannot get into that class this summer then I'll have to take it in the Fall and it would be impossible for me to make it to class on time if I am more than an hour away. Otherwise I would be alright with packing up and moving 2-3 hours away for a job. I am single with no attachments and my main focus right now is on my career. (Although I do have a special someone but visits can always be arranged ) Here's to praying that it all works out.

Quote to Live by...

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

~Marianne Williamson

Teacher Recruitment Day Spring 2011

Today is the big day. I have polished off my resume and personalized my cover letters. I have pressed my suit and shined my heels. Now I am ready to let my personality shine. I was born to do this and today is the first step in obtaining a position for the 2011-2012 school year. Optimism is in the air and the time is right now. I have signed up for 8 different interviews with various school districts within an hour's distance from where I currently reside. I may be willing to move later but for now I am limited in how far I can go because of my graduate studies. Giving it all to the man above and stepping out on faith.

A New Day

I woke up telling myself that today would be different. I say it with conviction in my heart and it worked. Having a mentor in any profession goes a long way. Having a mentor in the teaching profession has really helped me. When there are times that I seem misguided or questions that I cannot seem to answer alone, my mentor comes in very handy. Today I shared a story with my mentor. I am a substitute teacher and everyday I encounter different situations that add new tools to my toolbox. I am currently getting certified to teach Special Education grades 1-12 but I have always been leaning towards teaching the lower grades (PreK-2). Because of this preference I accept jobs that are in this range. When I arrived at the elementary school this morning, I was informed that I would be needed to sub for a fifth grade class instead. I usually prepare myself and my bag of tricks for the grade that I will be subbing in that day. I was supposed to sub in a 1st grade class so the tricks and activities that I had packed would not help any in a fifth grade class. I was a bit apprehensive about the new assignment because I was suddenly thrust into the room with minutes to spare before the students arrived. My day went off very well and I was surprised by how well I did with the little that I was given. The students responded to me very well and they even asked if I would be back to sub for them. I shared this story with a lot of added details, with my mentor this evening and she told me that she was not surprised by this outcome. She said that I should look into teaching the upper elementary grades because I have a talent for earning the trust of these kids. Now I am wondering if this is true and how I feel about this. It feels great when someone has faith in you and your abilities and it makes me want to work harder than ever. I will start to take on substitute jobs for these middle grades and see what happens...

I Was Born To Do This

Today seems like the perfect time to post. Yesterday I was granted an interview with a school system and I am on my way to interview number 2. I am really excited and hoping to land a job in this district. Even though I will have to commute an hour for my classes, I am really praying for this job. I am preparing my portfolio and hoping to make a great impression. I can do this. I was born to do this...
"Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve." Mary Kay Ash

Rocky Roads

2010 has not been as smooth sailing as I hoped it would be. Things have gotten off to a very shaky start. January was normal and I got through the month better than I'd thought. February had lots of tricks up its sleeve and everything started to crumble. I was returning home after class one day and got into a car accident. A ladder fell off the bed of a truck on the left lane of the interstate. I tried to swerve to avoid the ladder but I still hit part of it and my car spun out of control. Luckily I was unharmed except for a burn on my arm caused by the airbag. I am thankful that I am still here though. My car was totaled and according to my insurance company, my policy did not cover a rental car. This was very bad news because I live 45 minutes away from the university that I currently attend. A few days later, my boyfriend of 3 years told me that he had feelings for another girl and he couldn't be with me anymore. In one week, my whole world came crashing down. I had counted on him being there for me throughout this situation and possibly helping me out and suddenly, he was turning his back on me. This hurt more than anything. The man that promised to marry me one day was leaving me for someone else? I desperately searched for something to turn to and I decided to turn to smoking. Even though it isn't good for my health, it certainly helped take the edge off. Nothing is ever certain in life and sometimes you just have to roll with the punches. Que sera, sera.

Well things haven't been off to a really good start this year. January wasn't really good for me, but I made it. It's been 7 years since my first love was killed in a car accident and sometimes it still hurts like yesterday. I made it through most of January and was looking forward to February as it approached. Four days before the month ended, I was driving on the interstate heading back home like any other day. Unfortunately, this day someone loaded a ladder onto their truck and unfortunately it fell off and hazardly blocked the left lane of the road. I was driving in the left lane of the road traveling between 60 and 70mph. The car in front of me was the first to come across the ladder and they swerved last minute. As I approached, I also attempted to swerve but my left tire still hit the ladder. My car began to swerve and I tried to straighten it out. I was unsuccessful in regaining control of my car and I swerved to the right side of the road and into the bridge. The impact was very hard and the airbags were deployed. The passenger side airbag exploded against the windshield causing the glass to shatter. My left arm instinctively went up to protect my face and made contact with the airbag on the driver's side. The airbag burned my arm but I was otherwise unhurt. I immediately tried to get out and found neither front door would open. I climbed in the back seat and jumped out of the car and immediately began to panic. I was alone and I was scared. Some good Samaritans stopped to help me and I am so thankful to them. These men called the police and held me and waited with me during my ordeal. This small gesture meant the world to me. It's good to know that there are some really nice people in the world that are willing to take time out of their day to help someone. Losing my car was very upsetting but I'm just glad to be alive and unharmed. I'm hoping that things turn out better for me...