Thursday Thoughts- career

ca·reer   

/kəˈrɪər/ Show Spelled[kuh-reer]
–noun
1.an occupation or profession, esp. one requiring special training, followed as one's lifework.

I could go so many directions with this one...

I am a teacher. I wasn't born into this profession like so many others... No, my mom did not teach school, nor my dad, grandparents, etc. It was pure coincidence that this happened to me. On July 1, 2004, Stacey and I took Grace the the Children's Museum. It was her first birthday so while Stacey chased the other kids around the big kid areas, I sat in the toddler with Grace and a grandmother, there with her granddaughter, who I now know as Audrey. Audrey was also a year old and the girls had lost of fun throwing foam blocks at each other (and at us, as I recall).

It was this meeting that changed the course of my life... seriously. The grandmother struck up a conversation with me and learned quickly that I was in college. She asked all the questions (Where do you go to school?, What year are you?, What is your major?) and made all the usual comments (That must be hard with 3 kids!,etc). When she asked ' What do you plan to do with a history degree?,' I couldn't answer her. What was I going to do? I had a passion for history from my grandfather and loved that we had that to share, but other than having more educated conversations with an 80 year old man, I had no idea. That's when she told me about her job as a reading specialist, and before that, a 1st grade teacher. I had never even considered education before... never, which I think is strange because as a child, I always wanted to teach... didn't we all?

We talked for an hour about teaching, reading, her school, how it effected her as a mother, a wife, and much more. The following week, I went to my advisor and transferred to the college of education. That was almost 6 years ago. I now teach at the very school the sweet woman talked so fondly of ... I teach first grade, the same as she did... and I have the privilege of teaching WITH her, as she is still the reading specialist at Pebble Creek Elementary.

It just goes to prove that God puts you places for a reason... and God put me with Judy that afternoon.... I am forever grateful that she took the time to talk to me that hot summer day and even more grateful that I get to work with such an inspiring woman and teacher.