I can't say that every day just goes peachy keen though. Take my first day, for example. I invited all the parents to come in and listen to me read a story to their children. Good idea, because it let the parents know that I welcome them into the classroom and are not afraid to teach in front of them. BAD idea, because I was SOOO nervous. My first 10 minutes of teaching were spent with almost 30 adults in the room, 19 kids, and me with sweat dripping down my face and every other part of my body. It was an overwhelming start to the day! Then, about 30 minutes later, I had the lovely experience of getting thrown up on. Sad for my little girl, but lucky for her because she got to go home. Unlucky for me, because I had to stay at school with clothes covered in little girl throw up. That of course got all of the other kids riled up, and they had a hard time calming down after that. The entire day was just kind of organized chaos, and when I came home, I cried and cried and cried and told my sweet husband that I didn't want to go back to school tomorrow. He was so good to me, and so supportive. He let me cry for awhile and then helped me get my attitude in line so I was ready for the day tomorrow. He is such a good guy. I feel like every day since that terrible first day has been just a little better. I love my class and I love my job. I can't believe I actually get paid to do what I LOVE to do. It's a pretty awesome feeling.
One more quick story about how I got my job. Before I got this job, I had interviewed ALL over the place. I interviewed at a school in Herriman, and felt really, really great about the job. The principal of that school told me, in not so many words, that I pretty much got the job. He told me he was going to call on my references right away, and he wanted me to meet the Kindergarten team right then, and he had one of the Kindergarten teachers give me a tour of the school because he said he wanted me to be familiar with it. So you think you've got the job, right?? I felt ON TOP of the world. Someone wanted me to work for them and I was finallly going to be able to do what I've always wanted to do. TEACH! Anyway, four days later I got a letter from Herriman Elementary telling me that "they had chosen someone who more specifically fit the needs of Herriman Elementary". Talk about a major blow. I had set all my hopes on that job, and I wasn't the one who "best fit the needs". I felt terrible. My poor husband who had to deal with me that evening. I was a wreck.
The next week, I got a call from Sunrise Elementary saying they wanted me to interview with them, but that they could only interview me at a certain time (which happened to be right in the middle of my shift at the law firm). I had been rearranging my schedule the entire summer to get time off for interviews, and had to take a lot of time off work. I originally told Sunrise that I would be able to come to the interview at their specific time, but when I got off the phone with them, I decided that I was just tired of rearranging my schedule and taking time off of work to go to interviews that I never even got jobs for. I decided I would call them back and tell them I had to work at their specific time, so if they could interview me at a different time, great, if not, I couldn't leave my job. They were surprisingly flexible, and told me it was no problem and that I could come in at a different time that didn't conflict with my job schedule. So, a few days later, I went in for the interview, and actually didn't prepare very well, because in my head I was sure that I wasn't going to get the job, just like all my other jobs. I felt like the interview went well, but I wasn't hopeful at all, and went back home that evening to 3 more rejection letters in the mail. That was like the straw that broke the camel's back. I think I cried myself to sleep that night because I just wanted to teach and felt like I was never going to get an opportunity.
The VERY NEXT MORNING, I got a call from Sunrise Elementary offering me the job! I couldn't believe it. The one interview I didn't prepare for, the one I didn't rearrange my schedule for (because I was just sick and tired of it), was the one I got. They told me they appreciated my loyalty to my job and that I would ask my interviewers to arrange their schedule so I could keep working at the times I was scheduled to work. They said they also appreciated my honesty in the interview. I guess I was just so open and honest, because I had no hope for the job. Now, after working at Sunrise for almost a month, it is so incredibly clear to me that this is the school for me. I have had the overwhelming feeling repeatedly that this is where I am supposed to be. I guess Heavenly Father knows more about my life and what direction it should take than I do. I am so glad that he is in charge and not me. I am so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who lets us go through difficult times so that we can learn to rely on him and exercise faith that He will make everything right, because He always does. It may not be how we want it or when we want it, but he will always make it right. I am so grateful for that knowledge that I have.
I'm so grateful for the job I have at the school I have. To see my school website, click here. Working with young children is like my dream come true.
Stay tuned for cute/funny little kid stories. Those stories are like the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae of teaching. :)
Jen I love this post! Isn't crazy how there's always so much trial and sadness before something REALLY great happens. I feel like that's a major pattern in my life. When we don't get what WE feel is right, we think our lives are horrible, when really Heavenly Father just has something so much better in store for us :) so happy for you!
ReplyDeleteJen, congratulations! It's always a pleasure to read your life updates. I can't believe you were thrown up on, but hey I guess that's one of the job hazards right :) Keep up the great work I bet all the kids and their parents loved you from day one.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, Sami