I'm not going to lie, the years prior to this one have been a tough. Coming out of college and into a new job is a lot harder than college professors let you know. I struggled my first year trying to balance everything. I didn't get near enough sleep, I ate terribly, and I went to the gym maybe once. I spent hours and hours at school trying to prepare the best lessons and they never turned out the way I wanted. I couldn't seem to manage my class and just about everyday ended in tears.
In January of 2011 I called my dad and told him I was quitting. My dad listened to me cry for about 2 minutes and then he said, "That is not my daughter talking. You have never quit anything. You need to quit feeling sorry for yourself and fix it." So, that is exactly what I did. I began the next semester stronger and more experienced.
The next 2 years I grew as a teacher and individual. I figured out how to balance my personal life with my job. I became involved in more leadership roles and gained lots of knowledge from professionals, colleagues, and research.
It wasn't until this year that I can fully say I am able to enjoy whole heartedly being a teacher. Don't get me wrong, I have loved my job all along and there have been specials aspects and moments to every year. But, this year has really stood out. I have a different role with these students than I have had with my other classes. I am a teacher, but I am also a facilitator. I am able to stand back and let these students learn from each other. They are all a piece of puzzle and they all fit together perfectly and hold each other together. They are the sweetest kids and treat each other like family. They are constantly holding hands and supporting each other. I cannot explain in words how happy this makes my heart to see that in a world full of hatred there are 21 kids who are going to make a difference. I tell them this every day. These students can make our world a better place and they are... one kind word at a time.
