At the beginning of every school year I look out into the future beyond and become hopeful. All this time we have to work with, to make a difference in the lives of others. It doesn't take long for me to get to the point where I feel more like, "Eeek, This year is going by so fast!". Despite the haste of time I feel I have accomplished much in my first year. (Technically my internship...not the first year per se.)
For one thing I was far too busy to sit around and blog about my experiences all the time. That was somewhat disappointing, but at the same time tolerable because hardly anyone reads this yet anyhow. I justified my lack of blog entries with the progress I made at my job and with the kids. Oh! And I accomplished one major thing this spring...GRADUATION! Yes people it's true, I finally made it! I got my Ed. S. May 6, 2011. I finally stand on top of that mountain of time I spent being educated and am excited to jump down into the workforce of educators. And it is in Kansas where I will leave my first mark.
Now I know a lot people wish I would say, "Yes, Kansas was my destiny and I love it here." I could say that, but it would partially be untrue. I do love my job. I love the people I work with and the amazing kids who humble me and inspire me almost every single day. There is a lot to love. However, Kansas just isn't me. I'm not a country bumpkin. I miss the amenities of the city and being around people I can relate to a little bit more. I miss having friends my age and I miss my family. At the same time I feel like I've done great things here and there are so many supporters I have to thank for that. I have been lucky to have administrators go to bat for me this year. I worked in two school districts. One administrator in one of the schools was telling my coop administrators not to place me in their district next year because that person didn't want them to tear me apart (the cultural attitudes in this district are not the most positive especially towards Special Education). That person believed in me and didn't want my spirit for this job to be killed. At my other school administrators were getting on soap boxes (figuratively) to advocate for me to have a position solely in their district.
I didn't get everything I wanted out of my internship, but what I did get out of it wasn't even something I had fathomed. For so long I have been led to believe that I am worthless, stupid, can't do anything right, (thank you D.S.B.) but I found all these things to be false. People really do value what I have to offer. People really do see the passion I have for kids and this job. This is only the beginning! I am so excited to see what the future has to bring.
So this fall I will again come to the beginning of the semester with a bag full of ideas ready to kick it off as soon as possible. I will look toward the future as I try to continue making progress in areas that did not make as much last school year and I will definitely know how to better organize my schedule for meetings this time (One of those very important thing you don't learn in college). On to the "official first year"! This coming school year I start wearing some new hats as the School Psychologist for just one district. I will be serving again on the EMS Building Leadership Team and assisting that building in developing an MTSS framework for the school in the area of reading and math. I will also be able to do more mental health related tasks as I take on the leadership role for the ED Cluster Program Self-Contained Classroom. I am so excited. My job is so rewarding!
For one thing I was far too busy to sit around and blog about my experiences all the time. That was somewhat disappointing, but at the same time tolerable because hardly anyone reads this yet anyhow. I justified my lack of blog entries with the progress I made at my job and with the kids. Oh! And I accomplished one major thing this spring...GRADUATION! Yes people it's true, I finally made it! I got my Ed. S. May 6, 2011. I finally stand on top of that mountain of time I spent being educated and am excited to jump down into the workforce of educators. And it is in Kansas where I will leave my first mark.
Now I know a lot people wish I would say, "Yes, Kansas was my destiny and I love it here." I could say that, but it would partially be untrue. I do love my job. I love the people I work with and the amazing kids who humble me and inspire me almost every single day. There is a lot to love. However, Kansas just isn't me. I'm not a country bumpkin. I miss the amenities of the city and being around people I can relate to a little bit more. I miss having friends my age and I miss my family. At the same time I feel like I've done great things here and there are so many supporters I have to thank for that. I have been lucky to have administrators go to bat for me this year. I worked in two school districts. One administrator in one of the schools was telling my coop administrators not to place me in their district next year because that person didn't want them to tear me apart (the cultural attitudes in this district are not the most positive especially towards Special Education). That person believed in me and didn't want my spirit for this job to be killed. At my other school administrators were getting on soap boxes (figuratively) to advocate for me to have a position solely in their district.
I didn't get everything I wanted out of my internship, but what I did get out of it wasn't even something I had fathomed. For so long I have been led to believe that I am worthless, stupid, can't do anything right, (thank you D.S.B.) but I found all these things to be false. People really do value what I have to offer. People really do see the passion I have for kids and this job. This is only the beginning! I am so excited to see what the future has to bring.
So this fall I will again come to the beginning of the semester with a bag full of ideas ready to kick it off as soon as possible. I will look toward the future as I try to continue making progress in areas that did not make as much last school year and I will definitely know how to better organize my schedule for meetings this time (One of those very important thing you don't learn in college). On to the "official first year"! This coming school year I start wearing some new hats as the School Psychologist for just one district. I will be serving again on the EMS Building Leadership Team and assisting that building in developing an MTSS framework for the school in the area of reading and math. I will also be able to do more mental health related tasks as I take on the leadership role for the ED Cluster Program Self-Contained Classroom. I am so excited. My job is so rewarding!
