Thanksgiving

I'm thankful for a lot of reasons...

• I'm thankful for God. He's been with me for many years, and He always leads me the way that's best for me.
• I'm thankful for my family. Even though it's been a rough two years, I'm glad to have them. Plus, I'm glad to be around to see my little siblings grow.
• I'm thankful for a job. Some days are hard, but I'm glad I have a wonderful boss/principal, and I'm blessed with two APs too!
• I'm thankful for the people, teachers, I work with, because we are there for each other.
• I'm thankful for students. Some give me rough days, but I'm especially thankful for the ones who do their best and appreciate me as their teacher. I'm especially thankful for my 7th/8th period kids, who have been better than last year's group; they also are very special to me!
• I'm also thankful for God. He's my first and my last, my Alpha and Omega. He gave us Jesus to be our Savior, and He sent us the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter. If I had to decide on a friend (which would be a tiny list anyway), the Trinity, with God as the lead, would be my ultimate friend.

I think this video clip sums up how I feel about the ones I care about.

Changes...

     July started off the journey of the several changes in my life that I have encountered so far. In July, my favorite movie series ended on a high note, but it was bittersweet to say farewell after a decade of being entertained by characters who I have loved since I first read their original book-forms.


     August was the huge change in my life as I left a job to start my student teaching for my final semester in college. It was difficult to say goodbye to those I worked with at the university's library where I worked. For three years, most there had became like family to me. I had felt as though I had made some very good friends there, so saying goodbye nearly tore my heart into pieces. However, I could not have continued working there with the more important task that I was going to take on, even though there were times near the end where I considered changing my mind. Two weeks before I left, an opportunity for work-study funds was offered, and it took all my strength to turn that offer away. I said my goodbyes and I prepared for my role as a second grade student teacher.


     I started my student teaching two days after leaving the library. I started the first week by helping my cooperating teacher and by attending meetings and preparing for the return of the students. Though my cooperating teacher is wonderful, and the school environment is welcoming, it has been quite an adjustment. It has been three years since I was jobless, so it has been a little weird to not schedule my time for work. However, the task I now have is nonetheless work. I arrive at my school, plan lessons, help my cooperating teacher, attend meetings, and is responsible for caring and educating the students just like a real teacher does. That is the purpose of student teaching and interning at an elementary school! But it is a reality that I never really grasped until now.


    The students are great, and all 60+ have been some of the best 2nd graders I have ever seen during my education journey as an elementary major student. One of the biggest tasks I have come across during my internship is trying to remember everything I have learned and done in my education classes and try to apply them to current situations I think would  provide assistance.


     However, there have been moments where I have felt lonesome, because, though everyone (teachers and staff) has been wonderful, they are still new to me, so I have to get use to them. Plus, I miss all of my education major classmates, and those I worked with as a student worker in the library. But no matter those feelings, each time before arriving at the school, I ask God to be with me, and guide me throughout the day. No matter the changes that come my way, I know I'll always have Him!