Sunday, April 22, 2012

30 Day Challenge- Day 22 Getting my first big kid job

I went to college for Elementary Education. I have wanted to be a teacher since I was in third grade. I even had my own classroom set up down in our basement. It is the only thing I ever wanted to do. My internship in 4th grade was amazing! It was an amazing experience. Seeing as I graduated in December, I knew I wouldn't find a job until the summer for the next school year. So I substitute taught, and learned a LOT. The economy was already starting to go downhill at this point and it was REALLY hard to find a teaching job in Michigan. I mean like there was one job opening and 800 applicants. Then one day my mom called me from Florida and said a lady she knew taught at an elementary school and was willing to giver her principal my resume because they had quite a few openings for the following schools year. I was super excited! I sent her my resume and made sure my application was filled out online.
The day I was helping out with a field day at the school I interned at, I got a phone call from that principal asking me to come in for an interview!!! I was soooo excited! My mom and I worked it out and I flew down to Florida to meet with them. I also sent my resume to almost all of the elementary schools in the area. I thought I could teach at least one or two years down here and if I didn't like it then I could move back home.
Well, I went to my interview with about 1 million butterflies in my belly. I made it through the interview with no major mistakes and even made them laugh (they asked me where I was from and I told them the town and pointed to it on my hand, it's a Michigan thing). I guess I stuck with them. They gave me the line that they had a few more interviews and would call me in about a week. Ahhhh! They wanted me to wait that long??? Geeze!
The next day I was laying in my mom's pool reading a book, it was about 4pm and the sky opened up and started down pouring on me. (that summer the rains were like clockwork, every day at 4 it would rain) As I got undercover, my cell phone rang. It was that principal, she was calling to offer me the job!!!!! Holy cow!!!! I think I repeated myself like 10 times, then finally said yes and thank you! I literally started jumping up and down! I had to call my mom and dad of course, who were very excited for me. It literally was the best day ever!!!
I then had to do all of the paperwork and such in two days before I had to fly back up to Michigan and pack up my apartment. I taught one year at that school, it was the hardest year of my life, but I learned a lot. I then moved schools due to surplussing and found I was much better suited to teaching the upper grades and have liked teaching middle school ever since.
But I have to say it was one of the best moves I have ever made. It's scary moving to a new place where you know only one person. But living closer to my mom has been amazing. Also if I hadn't moved down here I never would have met M and I wouldn't have Little L or Baby E. I still can't imagine doing anything else with my life other than teaching. There are times that I cannot stand it, but for the most part, I really do love it. I feel very lucky to have found a job I like and can do for the next 25-30 years. :)

2 comments:

  1. My first major was elementary education. It is hard. I give props to anyone that "deals" with other peoples children day in and day out. Sounds like moving to Florida was a good move though!

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  2. Love this. I had always wanted to teach since I was little too. I used to set up a classroom with stations in my bedroom growing up and teach all of my invisible students. My parents must have thought I was wack. LOL!

    Teaching is an awesome profession, knowing your touching lives and helping with development. Kudos to you for being a teacher!

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