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.

Thursday Thoughts

Today is Thursday and at almost any other point in my life, I would love this fact because it would mean ... it was almost... FRIDAY! BUT not this week. It's Spring Break, a week in the lives of school teachers everywhere that teases of summer... helps us remember why we do what we do... because there is always an 'end,' which, in turn, creates a new 'beginning.'

I am an instant gratification type of gal. If I want it, then I want a LOT of it and I want it NOW, not tomorrow, not in a week, NOW! It's just who I am.

I think this fact makes me a good teacher... or, should I say, makes teaching a good career for me. I get to instantly see children bloom before my eyes.... and it is REALLY almost instant. Also, teaching is never boring. People that seek instant gratification are often bored easily. Teaching is definitely not that! Plus, think about it. Teachers get to take 18-22 new kids...no, scratch that, 18-22 new FAMILIES into their lives every August. They get to know them, teach them, love them, then send them into the world (or in my case, 2nd grade) and then get a whole NEW 18-22 families the next August.... it is ever changing and no two years are the same.... did you hear me? NO TWO YEARS ARE THE SAME!

This is the best job I could have asked for. I was totally led here by God, as I was NEVER the type to set out spending 7 hours a day with other peoples' children for a living (not to mention an additional 10+ hours PLANNING for above mentioned children weekly).

So there. My Thursday Thoughts on teaching :)