the first day??????

It's hard to pinpoint the "official first day".  Maybe it's just me, but my "first day" felt like the day I walked into new staff "training".  It really wasn't so much training as it was getting to know the handbook and my co-newbies.  I appreciate it though.  Being able to meet fellow noobs, even though only one was a School Psych and she's actually in her first year as opposed to an internship, really helped me feel a lot more at ease.  At least I like to believe that.  In complete honesty I really think that my program worked me to the bone and I was ruthlessly prepared for my internship to be more like my first year.  As many tears as it took and nights of doubtfulness, I have to say (with MUCH REGRET!, simply because I hate admitting other people are right) that it really was worth it....that I really did come out of this a stronger, better person & practitioner.

Today I finally learned "the process", like when I get a referral what next?, if it's a re-eval what next?, etc.  It varies from place to place.  I think I am lucky to have such a supportive team of fellow School Psychs who are willing to help me out.  They had to go through their first years in utter distress and don't wish that upon me.  I appreciate that!  Wow do I appreciate that.  I don't understand why it is that I come to find these golden opportunities, but alas I do and from them I learn so many things I can't even count.  I can't do enough or say enough for them to truly know how much I appreciate them.

So, here I am.  It's Monday and tomorrow I start my sort of-official first day.  I plan to travel to my district school, hang out at the elementary for half the day then mosey on over to the high school.  So far there is controversy, a little apprehension, and opportunity blazing the horizon of my life and I couldn't be more excited and nervous at the same time.  But here I go stepping into the future that is my own...and I couldn't feel more prepared.