Writing a new chapter in my life.....

After an exhausting two days worth of moving, I don’t think there’s a better way to relax my body than to blog. The past three weeks have been jammed packed with so many events and deadlines that I just haven’t had time to blog like I want too! I promised my faithful followers (more like two of my ls’ (my ace and 9 lol)) that I would do a better job of updating. I’m a woman of my word, so I’m updating you on my hectic, yet exciting life.

The week before graduation, I had my first job interview. My laid-back personality doesn’t get nervous about much, but for some reason this interview had me on edge. I got the call on a Thursday and I think I was a nervous wreck until Tuesday right before I walked into the room. I was home for my cousin’s senior prom, and drove back to Fayetteville that Monday. Due to the flooding, I had to take the extended route to Little Rock which added forty-five more minutes to my already four and half hour drive. When I drive back from home, I like to listen to all of the local radio stations before they go out; this is usually very enjoyable. I tried not to think about the interview at all that day, but it seemed like every radio commercial had something to do with an interview. One commercial was giving interview tips, one was an actual interview, and one kept advertising the biggest job fair of the year where you sign up for interviews. After six commercials, I decided to get my money’s worth and listen to XM radio. Made it back safely to Fayetteville, and I was fine the rest of the day. Early Tuesday morning around 3:00 am, I had these stomach pains. I mean they were really bad. I kept going back and forth to the restroom…..NOTHING changed! An hour and four trips to the bathroom later, I still didn’t feel any better. Around 5:30 am, the stomach pains went away. I figured it was something I ate, but it was nerves. Getting about four hours of solid sleep, my body’s natural alarm clock decided to wake me at 8:00 am. I closed my eyes and rolled over….tossed….turned to the left….turned to the right….laid on my stomach….NOTHING helped me go back to sleep. So, I just decided to wake up! I went ahead and rehearsed my facial expressions and talked to myself for about an hour in the mirror! I wish yall could actually see me doing it! It’s quite a hilarious! I decided to pick out my clothes and eat breakfast. The hours seemed to go by so slowly! FINALLY 1:00pm, I put some last minute touches to my make-up and headed to get my fall English unit bound. It’s now 1:15 and I’m headed to my interview. I arrive around 1:35. I hate to be super early for anything, so I sat in my car and listened to some music that would calm my nerves, yet still keep my energy level up. I decided at 1:45, I would walk into the school. I give myself a last look over in my car mirror…yep…I look good! (lol) So, I’m walking to the front door and my shoes somehow rub each other too closely, and I tripped. I mean I really tripped hard! It was hilarious! Luckily no one was outside because that would have been bad…real bad! Haha I check in and wait which felt like an eternity….and finally the interview was happening! It took all of fifteen minutes. I felt really good after it! Along with the good feeling comes the waiting….at times, I can be impatient! I would rather them just say no you don’t have the job or yes you have the job after the interview.

After a week of waiting and wondering, I get my official letter saying I didn’t get the job! I knew others were interviewing for this position, so I knew ahead of time that I may or may not receive the position. Still when I received the official word, I was in some sort of shock. At this point I’m in a panic because now I have to figure out what’s next. Do I apply for other schools in the area, or do I just go home where I know I have a high chance of getting hired…… I think about it for a couple of days, and I know for a fact I don’t want to move back to West Memphis. Don’t get me wrong, I love my hometown and I’m glad I was raised there, but I just don’t want to move back. Second, if I went back home, I don’t feel like I’ve accomplished much. Although I know I’m capable of holding my own ground and I could get a job based on my own credentials, I still have that feeling that I’m being hired because my mother is well known in the district. I’ve always liked to challenge myself, so I decided to do some more jobs searching and apply for other positions in the NWA area before submitting things to West Memphis.

I received the letter last Tuesday; the following day, Wednesday, I went to visit my students from the first semester. It felt so good to be back on team silver and stars! I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I was having one of the normal conversations with my mentor teacher and another teacher on the team. It was like I had never left. I was so happy to see my students! They’re still awesome and well-behaved! At the end of the day, I was talking with some students, and got a special message that there was a co-teaching language arts position open if I was interested. I had a semester’s experience of co-teaching, and I loved it. I got the contact information for the person who was hiring for the position, and I set up an interview with her. I interviewed this Tuesday; I received my official call Wednesday, and signed some paperwork on Thursday! I’m officially employed in Rogers Public Schools. I’d have to say the most exciting part about Thursday was taking my id picture, and it had teacher, not intern, under my name! I wanted to take a picture of it, but I left my phone and camera in my car!

It’s kinda hard to explain to people what I’ll be doing next year if they’re not familiar with teaching. I’ll be teaching at two different schools. I’ll be teaching at Lingle Middle School 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd period and Oakdale Middle School 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th period. 4^th period will be my planning, traveling, and lunch. The schools are a block away, so it’s not a bad commute between the two. Here’s the last twist to the puzzle, I have to go back to school because co-teaching requires a regular English teacher and special education teacher. I’ll be the special education teacher. I have to take five classes so I can be certified to teach special education. I’ve always said I wanted to teach small classes, and God gave me my prayer. With special education, I can’t teach more than eight students alone in a classroom. It’s going to be amazing! The weird part is…. I’m actually excited about taking the classes! I’m a nerd; I swear!

It’s so hard to believe that I’m about to start my career, or in my friends words…my big girl job. I was laughing in my head Thursday when we were discussing insurance plans. REALLY! INSURANCE PLANS! I’m about to have my own insurance plan! It’s even more amazing how God works in mysterious way. After the first interview, I was praying for direction if something didn’t go right. I wanted to make the right decision and not just an impulsive decision that I would later regret. I kept praying for a sign or feeling to let me know that this is the job for you. One unexpected talk led me to a new position and interview that I wouldn’t have known about without help. It was God’s way of showing me this is it by putting me in the right place at the right time.

I’m gonna close with a few pictures of my testimony house that is now officially empty! I’ve had some amazing times in this house this year! I can’t believe it’s already time to move into my own place without a roommate. I’m excited about living by myself, but at the same time it’s gonna be weird because I won’t have someone inside the house with me to talk too.

Until next time….

no table :-(

empty kitchen!

a few spots but no couches

my empty closet

my empty bedroom :-(

prom picture!