First and foremost I graduated college--praise Jesus, Joseph, and Mary. Of course there wasn't a moment that I was ever worried that I wouldn't finish (granted there were plenty of days that I wanted to quit) but graduation day with my parents and closest friends is one of the happiest days that I can remember in all of my 21 years. After graduating, I was able to go home and spend time with my family. It was the longest amount of time that I have been at home since my freshman year of college and everything about it was just wonderful--I cried when I left--not a bad cry, just an, "Oh my god I want to live with my parents forever because they feed me, clothe me, and love me all day" kind of a cry. My mom is also excellent at this from a distance (her snail mail skill is unstoppable). When I left Gruver, I headed to the Valley for two weeks where I was immersed into the TFA world of Rio--I met my future colleagues and had a wonderful week talking about the goals we have for our kids in the upcoming years.
After leaving Rio I traveled to Houston and walked into the most wonderfully rigorous environment that I have ever been in. I have been at Rice University for the past month basically going through the teacher military. We wake up around 5:30 AM, get to school at 7:30, teach all day, attend classes all day, go home for dinner, attend more classes, then lesson plan for the next week and day--this is real life, this is Houston Institute. Teach For America requires that every teacher go through the five week intensive program where we are in sessions, teach summer school, and learn many of the ups and downs of being a teacher. I have met the most amazing people, have been pushed to the furthest limits of my comfort zone, and have been blessed beyond words. The kids that I teach every day are the most amazing group of high school students that I have ever met and I don't even like to think about not being their teacher after the end of next week. I honestly keep having this moment where I know that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing and as mushy and cliche as that sounds, I wake up every morning and am legitimately excited to go to work.
While I was at Institute another blessing happened to spring upon my path. Teach For America partners with many grad schools and I was researching the programs one night and came upon the John Hopkins School of Education application. I decided to make the move and sent in my application (about three weeks ago) not really thinking what could happen. I woke up Tuesday morning to an email that said that I had been accepted to the MSED program--it was like Christmas morning times ten. Now it's back on the role--scholarship applications. However, this time around, applying for scholarships and going to college is different. I am working with my kids on writing scholarship essays and the importance of writing and literacy. After pushing my kids to see the impact that reading and writing can have in their lives, I begin to think past the buzz of Institute to what I want to do after completing the masters program. I know that I don't have to know what I want to do now--and honestly, I doubt I will leave the classroom anytime soon (it's my sanctuary, I love it too much) but it is a window of hope--which is something I talk to my kids about every single day.
In the Valley (I think I might have said this in a previous post), I was given this quote, which is now the mantra of my life and of my classroom:
“Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.”--St. Augustine
This quote really does explain what is happening in my life and I hope each day to be able to have the courage to work to change the things that need to be changed. The people that I work with think that I am crazy (because we work eighteen hour days) but I really am sad to be leaving this place at the end of next week. The group of ELA teachers that I work with all day have become my family and my kids have such a special place in my heart. I am excited to see what hope holds in the next few weeks.
