Hello all!!
Talk about a whirlwind couple of weeks!! Things are moving along with my trip but I find it hard to celebrate such exciting news when life of a college student takes over and interrupts!! I feel like I belong in a circus or something I am juggling so much, but that should come as no surprise to myself or anyone who knows me well. I tend to load my plate up of stuff and pile it on with seconds....
Funny thing is as I began to think back on my abandoned blog I browsed through some old posts to find the whole meaning and purpose of my blog name. FOLLOW THROUGH; I instantly started blaring the song again and while belting along with it I came across myself unconsciously singing this line:
"These reeling emotions they just keep me alive,They keep me in tune"
This line doesn't answer the million questions racing through my mind or the somewhat endless to-do list from being checked off however maybe these questions and concerns are all there for a reason and to keep me in tune. I have to keep reminding myself why I was ever pulled into this field and to give a completely honest answer right now I'm not sure why, but I felt compelled to do did it and to work with these students... I am just realizing now that it is not easy and it truly does take a special person. Yes there have been days when I will come home from school very shaken up and on the verge of crying. The reality is that this profession is a tough one, people will never respect teachers and students won't either.
Here is my current life in a nut shell!! I have just wrapped up a bridal shower for my future sister in law Betsy we spent last Saturday afternoon surrounded by a lovely group of women to celebrate the future of my brother and Betsy. My mom and hosted a lovely afternoon that turned out great, thanks to all who joined!
I have been working with my crazy little boys and have been loving it! They sure know how to make me laugh. Between the potty training, lunch time, and naps things on that end are going well! They are expecting yet another boy in June--- a little bundle to look forward to just a few weeks after I get back on U.S soil.
A couple weeks ago I helped move Bradley into his new 'bachelor' pad in Farmington Hills, he is all grown up now and working on the east side for a company that deals with foreclosures and computer stuff. I am so happy for him and his new life over there, yet again we experience distance but I think we are accustomed to it. I will say his apartment is very cute and coming together quite nicely I look forward to spending time with him over my spring break!!! I miss him around k-zoo! But extremely proud and happy he is enjoying his new work!!
I have recently joined a new organization called First Day Shoe fund [this is what I'm talking about when I say I fill my plate with seconds]... I am volunteering to be a chair on a board for high school students are trying to raise funding for a local program in Kalamazoo Public Schools (KPS). A brief idea of what they do every new school year First Day Shoe Fund and KPS give out a free pair of shoes and socks to students K-3. It is an absolutely amazing foundation!! I will be working with another woman and a high school board with helping them find ways to plan and execute fundraisers to raise money to fund shoes and socks! This board has so much potential and I look forward to see where it is headed. It's kind of like student senate all over again, but this time I'm on the other side!!!
As far as school goes well if you could look at my room right now or apartment for that matter. The pile of clothes that is heaping over my hamper, or the endless to-do lists, stacks of papers, children library books, textbooks, notebooks and lesson plans. Did I mention lesson plans---oh yeah I have a ton of them on top of exams papers and the endless other busy work they make us do. I will say that is the most challenging semester I have had so far, and not in regards to my grades but in work load. I could probably pull all nighters consecutive nights in a row however I refrain because sleep to me is ah-mazing! School has been so time consuming (obviously) and has really given me a run for my money. There have been many obstacles thrown in my way however at the same time many wonderful things have fallen into place. There have been many times this semester where I have questioned everything I am doing, and am questioning whether or not I am going into the right profession. Let me tell you being a junior and experiencing this confusion is quite frightening!!
I am realizing more than ever now that I am n.e.r.d but I am also trying to work ahead because of Matt & Betsy's wedding, so that just adds on a little bit of school stress. Aside from that I am working in a middle school in a cognitive impairment and emotional impairment (boarder line resource room) room this semester and boy oh boy is it something else. My placement is a challenging one, it is toxic to work in, yet I am finding rewards within the cracks. I am working with a student who just melts my heart and puts everything back into perspective why I am going into this profession, however he challenges me and makes me face tasks that are new territory and somewhat scary to face. At first I was hesitant about it, and no I still do not want to work in a middle school however the student I get to work with is amazing and has come so far than the first day I began working with him. I already can tell I will have a challenging time saying good-bye to him. But through all the lesson plans and behavior issues I have been dealing with it is all worth it to see him smile to see his improvement!
I think working in the school I am in is good for me it gives me raw experience and helps to sort of put into play what I will semi-experience in Dakar. I have been told by my professor that it will be one of the most challenging, most rewarding experiences. It will impact and change me as an educator if that doesn't make you want to go I don't know. I look forward to reviewing my notes from tonight's meeting and collecting all the information and thoughts to share with you all to keep you more informed. But I think it is important to catch you all up to speed to make sure you all know where my life has taken me to get to where I am today--I'm headed to Dakar!!!!!
