My ten year high school class reunion is in a couple of weeks and no, I am not attending. I really have no interest in it, I keep in touch with several people from my class and I don't have any need to have awkward conversations with people I didn't talk to ten years go for $25 in a bar.
This approaching milestone has led me to think about what has transpired these last ten years. Here are ten things I have learned since graduating from Howell High School in 1999:
1. Home is a state of mind. Ten years ago I never imagined living on the west coast but here I am. When I had the opportunity to move west I was terrified and felt alone but over time it has become home and now I love it! I still miss the mitten state and the people but it can't hurt to have more than one home.
2. Never underestimate the value of prayer.
3. Follow your heart.
4. Don't be a pack rat.
5. Always, always, blow out candles when you leave a room.
6. Don't be afraid to ask how to do something.
7. Always look a gang banger in the eye - no matter how much you are shaking.
8. There are some classes in college that you will not remember the content of no matter how hard you try, just pass and get out. (i.e. chemistry).
9. Write stuff down. The little stuff and the big stuff.
10. Never forget how good it was and keep moving to the next thing, there are more good things in store!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Waiting
As of June 30th I no longer work for the Los Angeles School District. My tenure there was short, 10 months, but like any other assignment I met some pretty terrific kids and some odd ducks too. I could be called back at any time in the next 96 months to pick up an assignment without losing my time but I am looking into other options.
It is July 5th. I am not good at not being employed. I am good at vacationing, spending money, traveling, teaching, but not sitting, waiting, interviewing and finding a job I was not schooled in. Teachers are not in demand. Not in California. Not in the west. Not in the midwest. Not in the east. Not anywhere. Jobs are few and far between and the open ones have too many applicants to count. I am not a specialist in my field.
I have a degree in elementary education. I want to teach middle school. So I spent a lot of money I didn't have this year to get nationally certified in tecahing middle school English. I don't get the results until November. That doesn't help me now unfortunatley. So for now I wait.
All this has kicked my anxiety disorder into high gear. Part of my disorder is a need for things to be organized and clean. To the point where it gets ridiculous. This week my project was Sarah and her files of writing. She was a good sport of course, she always is and now has color coded files for all her scripts and stories in tidy boxes and a very organized closet. My room can't get much more organized, nor can the kitchen so if anyone needs anything organized let me know :-).
I am trying to be patient and wait out God's plan, I know he has one, I wouldn't be in LA if I thought otherwise and I firmly believe I have been on a path that has been leading to something. It will become clear in time. It will.
I know lots of you are reading this and had thought I had given up updating but I haven't, I have just been busy organizing and praying and thinking. Thanks for sticking it out with me.
It is July 5th. I am not good at not being employed. I am good at vacationing, spending money, traveling, teaching, but not sitting, waiting, interviewing and finding a job I was not schooled in. Teachers are not in demand. Not in California. Not in the west. Not in the midwest. Not in the east. Not anywhere. Jobs are few and far between and the open ones have too many applicants to count. I am not a specialist in my field.
I have a degree in elementary education. I want to teach middle school. So I spent a lot of money I didn't have this year to get nationally certified in tecahing middle school English. I don't get the results until November. That doesn't help me now unfortunatley. So for now I wait.
All this has kicked my anxiety disorder into high gear. Part of my disorder is a need for things to be organized and clean. To the point where it gets ridiculous. This week my project was Sarah and her files of writing. She was a good sport of course, she always is and now has color coded files for all her scripts and stories in tidy boxes and a very organized closet. My room can't get much more organized, nor can the kitchen so if anyone needs anything organized let me know :-).
I am trying to be patient and wait out God's plan, I know he has one, I wouldn't be in LA if I thought otherwise and I firmly believe I have been on a path that has been leading to something. It will become clear in time. It will.
I know lots of you are reading this and had thought I had given up updating but I haven't, I have just been busy organizing and praying and thinking. Thanks for sticking it out with me.
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