I'm home sick today (which I hate because I don't like to miss things), but since I'm laying on the couch, I thought I'd work on my blog. There has been a lot going on, and even my closest friends have complained that they have no idea what has been going on, so I figured everyone could use an update.
I mentioned in my last post that I was working at Sonora for the first half of my internship (student teaching). At that point, I had no idea how big of an impact that school, those kids, and those amazing educators would have on my life. Friday was my last day at Sonora, and I miss it so much, it's just silly.
For the past three months, that school has been my life. That's how I like things. I like to love something so much that I can just throw myself into it completely and be absolutely content in it. And that's what Sonora was. I got totally attached to the kids. I got so used to seeing them every day, hearing about their day, their families, seeing them work and grow. The faculty became my family. My friends have joked about my 'cot in the back' at the school, because I rarely left during daylight hours, but honestly, how many people can say they love their work so much that they don't want to leave? Someone at the school told me one afternoon (on a payday) that I was the happiest unpaid worker they had ever met. I take pride in that. I don't think your career should have anything to do with money. And as long as it took me to get to this point and as many roads I traveled to get here, I know I'm where I am supposed to be. I may not have taken the shortest or quickest or straightest path, but I found my destination.
On Friday, my last day as an intern at Sonora, my family there threw me a going away party. It was great to sit down and celebrate my time there and the end of a super stressful week with everyone (one of the first times we actuall
y had the chance to sit down together and just talk). It was a really hard day. Even though I know I'll go back and I'll still see everyone, I know I won't be going there every morning. And the kids knew that, too.
<---------------[This is me and my beautiful librarian (and friend) Allison]I got cards and pictures and letters
from my students and notes and gifts from friends. It was all I could do not to leave in tears (which by the way, I'm really proud of). The stressful week that I mentioned refers to the school dedication, which was Thursday. It required all of our time, energy, and concentration, so I didn't have all that much time to think about it being my last week until my last day.
I could go on and on about Sonora, my new family there, the kids, the phenomenal work that is going on there every day, but I'll move on. I started yesterday at Har-ber High School for the last nine weeks of my internship, which means, I graduate soon! Yay! I will be a licensed teacher and hopefully I will find the perfect job and settle down (what my mom has been praying for for years!).
[This pic is me with Regina, my principal, and
Lindsay, my assistant principal
at the party Friday. Two absolutely amazing ladies!]---------------------------------->
Har-ber is a beautiful school. It is huge! There are plenty of halls for me to get lost in, but I will most likely never leave the art rooms. There are two art teachers. I don't know which one will be my mentor yet, but I will undoubtedly enjoy it either way. They weren't expecting me this semester (despite my contacting them along with my principal at Sonora calling them last week), so yesterday was a bit odd. I'm sure we'll get it all straightened out tomorrow when I go back, but it is much different than my experience at Sonora already. It is definitely going to be a change of pace. The kids are not my little Sonora babies, but they are talented and motivated and it will be challenging (which is what I love). This experience promises to be a growth opportunity for me and I really look forward to it.
[The pic above is a group shot (minus a few) on the morning of the dedication.]
I have some events with Sonora that I will participate in and help with in the next few weeks, and I'm hoping to return after Christmas, but we'll see where my paths lead me after this internship. Until then, I am going to concentrate on putting my all into this high school experience and enjoy it as much as I can.
Thanks for reading, and keeping up with my ramblings...
God Bless!
"For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." --Jeremiah 29:11
