I've always wanted to be a teacher. Since before I can remember. I was one of the rare college students that didn't change her major, or panic about what I wanted to do with my life. I knew. I was born to teach.
The road to get through college was a tough one. I was pushed and grew immensely both professionally and personally. Graduating was one of the scariest yet most exciting moments of my life. I was so ready to begin teaching, I had been waiting my whole life! But yet the idea that I would now be turned loose with a class of young minds waiting to be molded by me was terrifying.
I had no idea where my journey would take me, but I was excited! I couldn't wait to finally be living my dream. What I didn't really account for was falling in love, and with an active duty soldier, no less! A few months after graduation, we were married and I was waiting for the okay from the Army to be able to move to California to be with him. So I held off on getting licensed in Indiana, knowing we didn't plan on ever returning. And since my husband had just about a year left of his enlistment for Fort Irwin, I didn't waste the time or money getting licensed in California, either.
Fast forward a year later. We were waiting on our official orders sending us to Colorado. But of course, the army works on its own time and not ours. We had one month (to the day) notice of our move, so needless to say getting licensed to teach in Colorado fell to the wayside, amidst the chaos of finding a new home and packing up the old home with such little notice. I've been working as a site director for a before and after school program this past school year, and let me tell you...this job has been a god send. I love that I get to stay within the field that I love, and I was so blessed to get hired two DAYS after we got to Colorado! My kids are wonderful, and I've gotten so attached to them. But at the end of the day, this isn't what I went to school and worked so hard for. I feel more like a glorified babysitter rather than a teacher.
So while I love my kids, and dread the day I leave them, I know that what I truly want is to have my own classroom and full time teaching job! So I've started the process of becoming licensed here. I am taking the Praxis II in two days...(the Praxis I took in Indiana isn't the test I need to get licensed in Colorado, of course) and I am so nervous! The fact that I haven't been in school for two years scares me. I hope I'm ready for this!
I guess this blog is just to document my journey. It has been a crazy one so far! And while I'm terrified to get back into it, I'm giddy with excitement at the same time. I'm daydreaming of how I'll set up my classroom, the first days of school, getting my own classroom of little kiddies...I can hardly contain myself!
But I don't want to get ahead of myself. First, I have to pass the Praxis, which is a big task on its own (I really hope I'm just over-hyping this in my mind). And then begins the task of applying for jobs, which I have started somewhat...it. is. tedious! And then I have to interview and actually land a job. It's going to be a long road, but I know once I finally do land a job, whenever it may be, it will all be worth it. One day at a time...wish me luck! ;)
