In light of Teacher Appreciation Day, I thought I would share my journey into education with you...
It was the spring of 2005 and I was wearing out my final moments in Lexington as a senior at The University of Kentucky. I was far more concerned with leaving my sorority sisters (OBIC) than deciding what I was going to do after I had the diploma in my hand, as an alumni of UK with a degree in psychology. I mean, I thought about it enough that I applied to grad school at the University of Michigan and the University of Tennessee, but not so much like, Hey, you're choosing a CAREER here. Like, what you'll probably do forever.
My acceptance letters to both schools came in the mail, welcoming me to their Social Work programs. My response: meh. It didn't excite me. It was more or less: what exactly are you going to do with a degree in psychology? I didn't know. Applying to grad school seemed like the natural progression. I didn't enroll. I forgot about the letters and threw them away when I packed up my house.
So, I moved home for the summer. I remember having a conversation with my mom about having the summer "off" to more or less figure out what I was going to do with myself. Looking back, I think 22 is an awfully young age to be making such big decisions. But, I mulled it over and it didn't take long for me to realize that I had forfeited my dream. A dream I had in Mrs. Halverstadt's 1st grade classroom. A dream I verbalized to my BFF, Lindsey, as played on her swingset when I was seven. A dream that just about everyone but me recognized.
I loved kids. I loved being creative. I loved learning.
It was obvious. I needed to go back to school to become a teacher.
So, I quickly re-enrolled at UK to pick up some courses that would allow me to apply for acceptance into the College of Education in the fall of 2005. I finished a semesters worth of classes in Lexington, got engaged to B in September, and was accepted to Northern Kentucky University for the Spring of 2006. As soon as my "real" education courses started, I knew I was right where I needed to be. In an attempt to accumulate as little student loan debt as possible (ha!), I loaded my schedule up with as many as 22 hours and spent my summers in class. Insane, right?! I was determined to finish fast because I could hardly wait to get my hands on my own classroom full of kiddos. This is where my gift for thrift began as I waded through yard sales and discount stores in search of high quality children's lit to fill my classroom library. Poor B ended up moving over 500 books to our house when we moved that spring.
Me doing my second practicum in Spring 2007.
In the fall of 2007, I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and found out I was pregnant with Becks. I immediately took on 2 back-to-back long-term sub positions while I waited for the school year to end. I ended the 2007-08 school year, telling the principal of the school where I student-taught and subbed that I was VERY VERY VERY interested in the potential part-time kindergarten position they *might* have for the following school year.
So, Becks was born in late June and just five weeks later the phone call came. The part-time K position was available. And Open House was in 72 hours. Becks spent his 6th week of life on a plastic bean bag in a kindergarten classroom.
School started the following week and I hit the ground running. I don't think I've stopped since.
And I bet you haven't either.
From the moment you set your eyes on your first class, they had you at hello. You knew that your mission was so much greater than you and you accepted it. We all have. We've adapted to new standards, to new policies, to pay cuts, to politics, to changes that we don't understand but we roll with them anyway. We're teachers and I fully, truly, 110% believe that we have the most important paying job on the planet.
I don't know if anyone has said it to you today, but thank you. Thank you for choosing education as not only your career, but your passion. Thank you for teaching letters, reading books, wiping tears, staying up late working on plans, giving a little more so that your students can get a little more, adopting and adapting, listening, filling duties, doing extracurriculars, learning, and smiling and nodding when appropriate. The list could literally go on and on and on. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I wouldn't be who am I today without great teachers - Mrs. Autry, Ms. Sumpter, Ms. Boehmer, Mrs. Dennler, Mrs. Collins, Mrs. Eckler - all of them have shaped me into the teacher that I am today.
And, someday, a student will reflect and think I am so lucky, so blessed, to have been taught by YOU. I know it's hard. I know that there are days - sometimes months - where you just want to give up because teaching is hard. But, don't quit. You are a valued asset to our community and our future needs you. Keep on keepin' on. And maybe treat yourself to a Starbucks latte or a Sonic Vanilla Diet Coke to keep you going these last few weeks. You know I will :)
Love you ALL! Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!
