I have completed my requirements and graduation is tomorrow. As this long awaited moment approaches, I am feeling a kaleidoscope of emotions: relief, regret, exuberance, and gratitude.
I am relieved because I am finally done. I survived my Research Methodologies class and even though I may have made my first B, I am glad it is done. It is the only class I have taken as part of my Master's program that I did not feel will benefit me in some way in the future. I learned a lot about the research process, but I do not ever want to conduct or write a real research paper. I am looking forward to having some spare time without homework looming in the back of my mind.
I am a little sad because I love taking classes and do not know what to do next. I looked in to the PhD program, but that would in fact require the above mentioned research paper and I do not want the Dr. prefix bad enough to do that. I would like to take other classes, learn more, and possibly become eligible to teach dual credit classes, but most of the classes I would consider or fit within my certification are not offered online. However, if I don't find something else to take in the fall, I have to start paying back my student loans and that makes me even more depressed!
I am, of course, excited about graduating and finally having that evidence of learning in my hand. This accomplishment is not something I take lightly and realize I am the first in my family to achieve this type of degree. I am also moving on to a dream job in a library next year which would not be possible without this certification and degree.
I am also feeling very thankful. There are so many people who have helped push me to work on this and I have taken some time to write a few thank you cards to hand out tomorrow. My first thanks would have to go to my family and students for putting up with my, "I can't do that, I have homework" excuses for the past four years. I would also have to thank the high school librarian for pushing me and assuring me I would make a great librarian even if the positions were hard to come by. I would have never dared believe I would have gotten a job like this without her faith in me. Then there are the administrators who not only believed I could and should complete my Masters, but who took a chance on me when I transitioned from an office secretary to an alternative certification teacher. There were also plenty of co-workers and friends who all recommended alt cert and the Master's program and believed I could accomplish this goal. I appreciate their support and faith in me.
I have learned so much over the past few years and consider myself one of the luckiest people in the world. I work for a great district with amazing people and have been given unbelievable opportunities to grow as an educator and a professional. I will miss my high school kids but trust they will be in good hands next year and I am looking forward to working at a new job on a new campus.
For now, I am going to focus on my graduation and celebrate it. I still refuse to think about the student's graduation that is coming up in a couple of weeks. I am not yet ready to let them go.
Note: In my last post, I mentioned how and why I turned down the librarian spot I have now decided to take. I am just going to say, a girl has to reserve the right to change her mind. My kids are still a higher priority, but I realized there will always be a reason to stay where I am and I can love them and annoy them with my hovering from one campus over. I am satisfied my robotics kids will be loved by their new teacher and I will still have the opportunity to watch them compete and shine. It is hard to go, but I have faith it will all work out for the best.
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Sunday, March 12, 2017
What a Year!
I am feeling the need to post here again - not just to keep my readers informed, but also to get a few tears out of the way. Maybe it is the wintery weather or the time of year, but as this year comes to a close, I find myself wanting time to slow down so I can enjoy every moment for a bit longer.
This has been a crazy year - do I say that every year? I am on my last two courses now and am looking forward to graduating in May, but I am already wondering what to do next. Computer Science? PhD? So many options and still so much left to learn!
I became the robotics coach this year. I wish I could adequately describe how proud I am of those kids and their accomplishments. I felt like a freshman being dragged along by the seniors who already had all the answers and were willing to take me along for the ride. Being a part of the robotics program has really shown me the power behind real world applications of core subject knowledge. These kids have no problem pulling out paper, pencil, and calculator and figuring out a problem. It would make any one of their math or science teachers proud. We have intellectual discussions about perpetual motion or computer programming. They are just so smart! They amaze me every day.
Beta Club has reached an astounding 140 members. We just took 105 to the state competition in February. We have such talented kids and they proved it over and over again. We are now furiously fundraising to finance 76 kids going to the national competition at Disney World in June. It takes up so much time, planning and fundraising.
They say teachers hit their stride in the third year and it becomes easier sailing. I guess that is true. I have my lesson plans and curriculum under control and I feel more confident in my content areas now (I didn't especially in the Physics area originally), but I still have tons to learn about robots. I hope to spend my professional development in that area this summer.
I have turned down a librarian position at the middle school to stay where I am at the high school. I know several of you just gasped and now think less of me. Librarian jobs come along so rarely and I must be nuts to turn one down. I debated a lot about what to do that was best for me and finally decided to list my priorities from the top down. I won't bore you with the entire list, but we can suffice it to say my kids are listed above my career. My kids are in high school (or will be really soon) and I get the joy of seeing them every single day. I have the advantage of knowing their teachers and friends, being right there when they need me, and being involved in their day to day activities. Those were just things I couldn't give up. Couple that with my love for my robotics kids, I just couldn't go. I know there will be an opening in a few years at the high school and I will hold on to that option as long as I can.
Graduation. What a dirty word. Can we just skip it this year? I wanted to be a teacher (as opposed to a school secretary) to spend more time with the students, but no one ever told me it would break my heart to see them go. I am so proud of everything they have accomplished and now they are going to go out and make the world a better place by becoming lawyers, engineers, and Marines. But I am going to miss them and don't want them to go. I know this feeling will only get worse as my son and daughter move closer to their year. Graduation fills me dread. I hope by pouring my heart out here and other places I can prevent a complete breakdown on May 25th. That would be embarrassing.
One thing I really like about being a teacher is the fresh start every year and a definitive end to each one when everything changes again. But I really wish my friends and colleagues would stay put! Every year a few more respected teachers retire or move on and leave our school worse for their leaving. Sure we have gained other great teachers, but sometimes you don't need to fix things that aren't broken! Mr. Martin and Mr. Wooldridge are great mentors for me and I will miss their friendship. Who will I torture now, Mr. Martin?!
This has been a crazy year - do I say that every year? I am on my last two courses now and am looking forward to graduating in May, but I am already wondering what to do next. Computer Science? PhD? So many options and still so much left to learn!
I became the robotics coach this year. I wish I could adequately describe how proud I am of those kids and their accomplishments. I felt like a freshman being dragged along by the seniors who already had all the answers and were willing to take me along for the ride. Being a part of the robotics program has really shown me the power behind real world applications of core subject knowledge. These kids have no problem pulling out paper, pencil, and calculator and figuring out a problem. It would make any one of their math or science teachers proud. We have intellectual discussions about perpetual motion or computer programming. They are just so smart! They amaze me every day.
Beta Club has reached an astounding 140 members. We just took 105 to the state competition in February. We have such talented kids and they proved it over and over again. We are now furiously fundraising to finance 76 kids going to the national competition at Disney World in June. It takes up so much time, planning and fundraising.
They say teachers hit their stride in the third year and it becomes easier sailing. I guess that is true. I have my lesson plans and curriculum under control and I feel more confident in my content areas now (I didn't especially in the Physics area originally), but I still have tons to learn about robots. I hope to spend my professional development in that area this summer.
I have turned down a librarian position at the middle school to stay where I am at the high school. I know several of you just gasped and now think less of me. Librarian jobs come along so rarely and I must be nuts to turn one down. I debated a lot about what to do that was best for me and finally decided to list my priorities from the top down. I won't bore you with the entire list, but we can suffice it to say my kids are listed above my career. My kids are in high school (or will be really soon) and I get the joy of seeing them every single day. I have the advantage of knowing their teachers and friends, being right there when they need me, and being involved in their day to day activities. Those were just things I couldn't give up. Couple that with my love for my robotics kids, I just couldn't go. I know there will be an opening in a few years at the high school and I will hold on to that option as long as I can.
Graduation. What a dirty word. Can we just skip it this year? I wanted to be a teacher (as opposed to a school secretary) to spend more time with the students, but no one ever told me it would break my heart to see them go. I am so proud of everything they have accomplished and now they are going to go out and make the world a better place by becoming lawyers, engineers, and Marines. But I am going to miss them and don't want them to go. I know this feeling will only get worse as my son and daughter move closer to their year. Graduation fills me dread. I hope by pouring my heart out here and other places I can prevent a complete breakdown on May 25th. That would be embarrassing.
One thing I really like about being a teacher is the fresh start every year and a definitive end to each one when everything changes again. But I really wish my friends and colleagues would stay put! Every year a few more respected teachers retire or move on and leave our school worse for their leaving. Sure we have gained other great teachers, but sometimes you don't need to fix things that aren't broken! Mr. Martin and Mr. Wooldridge are great mentors for me and I will miss their friendship. Who will I torture now, Mr. Martin?!
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