I began my adventure 23 and a half years ago. And to this day...I'm still not sure what I want to be when I grow up, and I think that's an amazing thing.
I attended public schools all my life, and was lucky enough to go to a K-8 magnet school which helped me become who I am today. Throughout high school I fought the system defying anyone who tried to tell me what I should be. In some ways I continued to do that in college, however that process of changing majors was slightly more difficult.
I started at Murray State University undecided and quickly became a Political Science major with a minor in Organizational Communication. Before my third year of school I had switched my major, minor, and whatever else I could a total of 4-5 times. I finally settled on Accounting, or so I thought. I was excelling in my classes, making connections with accounting firms, and well on my way to being a slave to a company by the time I was 22. Then I went home for spring break before my senior year...and broke down. I was completely unhappy with what my life would become, and even though I loved the content I was studying...I didn't love my future. A quick scan through my options of what I could possibly do and still graduate in a timely manner brought me to Business Education.
An extra year of school and here I am today, fresh out of college with a teaching job in an amazing district. I was extremely lucky to have found in our College of Education wonderful advisors and professors who pushed me further than I thought I could go, and asked me to constantly step out of my comfort zone. For example, having put off studying abroad earlier in my university career...I was one day away from a deadline to apply for an International Teaching Experience program in Belize. I had given up on the idea of going, for lack of money and motivation. But there I sat, at a table with professors from my entire college career (at a technology conference no less), who wouldn't take "no" for an answer. So within a day I got all of my material, some money included, and applied. This is important. Because I constantly talk myself out of risk taking and adventure...and this time...regardless of what I wanted I WAS going to Belize for a month to teach foreign students and learn more about myself than I would ever imagine.
I started student teaching at a high school this past spring, had a wonderful supervising teacher and even greater students for my first "real" classroom experience. I had ups, I had downs, but most importantly I had freedom to try new things under the guidance of a very experienced and understanding mentor. I wrapped up my "American" student teaching experience a month before my peers and set off on a journey to Corozal, Belize with 7 of my peers for a month. It was an amazing experience to be stripped of technology, resources, and my all important iPhone...and still be able to teach and affect students' lives. Also, during this experience I experienced blogging for the first time. Although I wasn't able to update often, it was a great thing for my students back in Kentucky to be able to see what I was up to after I left them. You can check it out here: Belize Blog
I returned from Belize and in a whirlwind 48 hours went to several honors ceremonies, events, and of course graduation. At this point in my life...I was content. I knew that finding a teaching job in the field of Business Education was going to be hopeless near where I was located, I didn't want to head back to Illinois to teach....but I wasn't ready to go too far to anyone else. So instead I finished up my application for my graduate program, secured an amazing graduate assistantship, and another part time job in a technology office on campus. I was in heaven (plus I'd get to stay in idealistic college for that much longer).
Not even 2 weeks later I was informed of a job opening for a computer teacher at the middle school in the town. (An absolutely AMAZING school district) I also got a call and was asked to be a reading teacher for a high school summer program. So I made the decision....to put my college life and learning on hold...and pursue an actual teaching job.
After a very busy, exciting, and fulfilling summer...here I am...almost 2 weeks until I have students in my classroom and almost ready to go. However...the last few weeks have been a bit trying. As I try to get everything ready, do the best I can, and of course not take on too much I ended up online. And let me tell you....it was one of the best things that I have ever done! ....more to come
