The First Few Days

Having really enjoyed looking back at my blog from teaching in Taiwan, I decided I am going to try and blog some of my first year of school. So, here's what's happened so far...

After applying to over sixty school districts and hearing "for sure" that the position at the school where I had student taught wouldn't be filled, I completely ruled it out of my mind. However, in mid-June, I recieved a phone call from my mentor teacher letting me know that they had decided to fill the 7th and 8th grade English teacher position after all! I was completely elated, and had forgotten how much I loved it there until that moment, when I hung up the phone and began screaming and calling everyone I knew. Following was a six-week long interview process, and then..............

I GOT THE CALL THAT I HAD THE JOB! I had been questioning a lot, wondering if maybe it wasn't meant to be, but once I got that phone call my eyes filled with happy tears and I felt so lucky that I would be able to be a teacher after all. Then came another month of hard work at AU, while trying to prepare little things here and there on the side, and then last week it all became a reality.

I loaded up my car with all of my "teacher stuff" that I have been collecting since I was fifteen. It had seemed like so much crammed into closets, dorm rooms, and finally my car. However, when I finally got everything into the classroom I realized that it really wasn't much at all! I began making a list of things to buy ($$) and bustling around the room. I really didn't know where to begin first, but I just couldn't stop smiling because it was MY classroom. MINE....every person I passed in the hallway stopped me and said, "Woah, you look WAY too happy for the first day back."

After spending several full days preparing the bulleting boards, shopping for supplies, etc. the phyiscal stuff is finally complete. I have a renewed appreciation for all the time and money that teachers really do put into their classrooms, and must say I am quite pleased with how mine turned out.

Today, I went into school again to begin some of the planning. Everyone was ultra-friendly, welcoming, and helpful. I talked with many of the teachers and met my new principal. He was actually a teacher and had already began setting up his fourth grade classroom when they asked him to move up and fill the position!

A couple volleyball girls ran up to me in the hallway and exclaimed "Ms. D, you're our new English teacher!!" and one girl pretty much leapt into my arms, which was a little weird, but I like the enthusiasm, I suppose. It'll be a huge asset to know so many students already.

Anyhow, it's funny how things come full circle. Never, IN A MILLION YEARS, would I have EVER guessed I'd be winding up here in Ashland. However, it couldn't feel more right. I know it'll be crazy-busy hard work, with some rewarding days and some awful, but I LOVE my staff, LOVE, my students, LOVE my new house, and LOVE my new life, so it'll all be ok :-)