Tomorrow.

Tomorrow is my last day in the school! I am sad because I feel like I have definitely developed and grown as a teacher. It has been such a challenge to be in the 5th grade and I feel as if I am finally getting the hang of it. 

And now it is over. 

This practicum has taught me a lot about myself and how I will react to different situations. It has been such an awesome experience and I will be sad to leave Riverside.. especially since it means I now must begin all the assignments that I have forgotten been procrastinating on.Woohoo. 

Now, off to the homework. 

Let me tell you, FUN STUFF! 

Well it is official.

I am a teacher. I was hired by Riverton Elementary to be an intern in the 2nd grade! 

I am ecstatic about the opportunity I have to finally have my own classroom and to inspire these little 2nd graders to learn and grow. My journey officially begins July 25th when the students have their first day of school! I am at a year round school which is exciting for me. This means I am on a 45/15 track. Go to school for 9 weeks and have 3 weeks off.

 I am completely blown away by this opportunity and cannot wait to start this new chapter. I have loved teaching in the 5th grade during this practicum but I have realized that I am definitely a lower grade teacher. I love story time and rug time. I like singing songs and learning brand new things with my students. My only prayer is that I do not let this little souls down. I hope that I can relate to these students and help them to love to learn. 
2nd grade, here I come! 

it is out of my hands

So it is done. My interview is over. Now I sit and wait until the Principals have decided whether or not I am good enough to be apart of their school. I hope I made a good impression but I just don't know what each school was looking for. I will know what will be happening for the next year and a half of my life by 8 pm tonight. Needless to say, 8pm could not come fast enough. 

I want an internship and I hope that all my preparation has made me worthy of the honor. Check into tomorrow to know if I got the coveted internship or not.  =) 

I think about blogging more often than I actually blog

I have read other blogs and been entertained by what is going on in their lives. I just do not think anyone cares enough for me to share those inconsequential things that happen in my life throughout the week. and yet... that is exactly what I am going to do today. Tell you of those events that have filled my life that have been significant to me but may be inconsequential to you.

1. I slept in a tent last night. I made it almost all the way through the night on the hard ground of our living room. This is a big deal for me! I was quite proud. Ryan needed to test out his tent and we thought " what better way to test out a tent's durability than to put it up in the living room?"

2. I taught an entire civil war unit in my 5th grade classroom and actually saw learning happening! It was inspiring to see students, who usually barely write 3 sentences when asked to write an essay, write four pages on the civil war!

3. Marc is a child with mental disabilities who I am teaching how to swim. His simple happiness and joy of life makes me look forward to that half hour I get to spend with him. He lifts my spirit and reminds me of the simple joys in life.

4. Hunger games! I do not care what anyone else says. That movie was good. Sure, there were quite a few things that were different/ not expounded on. But just another reason why I love reading. Books are always better than movies. I loved the Hunger games series and this movie did not disappoint me. I look forward to  the sequel.

5. Sleep. I truly love sleep. It is something that I look forward to every day. Waking up before the sun on a daily basis makes me sad. I miss the sun licking my face to wake me up. Instead I am led down our latter by the light of my phone. gross.

6. Hannah got a free dog yesterday. An adorable black/ golden lab mix named Daisy and then tried to persuade us to take her. Not fair! she was adorable and small and cute and oh so very tempting. But we had to say no. Our apartment does not allow dogs. poo. So Hannah returned the dog.

7. Ryan and I are looking to move. We have loved our place and it was the perfect start to our marriage. But it is time to move to a more conventional home. (doggy friendly please!) Any one know of any place in Orem area? =)

Life is a blessing. My life is crazy and busy and yet, I am loving life and loving the opportunities that allow me to learn and grow. I am not perfect, but I have never pretended to be. I only hope to lay my head on my pillow each night with the comfort of knowing that I am one day closer to being the kind of person who kneels at the Lord's feet and has him say "well done, my child"

the weekend i needed.

Tomorrow is a big day. It is my internship interview. I will find out whether or not a school likes me enough to allow me to teach the students. I AM PETRIFIED! I want an internship so bad and I have done everything in my power to prepare myself. Now I put my fate in the Lord's hands, because I know that He will never lead me astray. My interview is tomorrow at 10 am and I will know by tomorrow night the decision that will effect the next year and a half of our lives!

This weekend was/ is general conference. It is an  excuse to do absolutely nothing and just relax at home listening to the words of the Lord. I took full advantage of this. During the week, I dont see very much of my amazingly handsome husband so this weekend has been incredible as we watched conference together, made shakes, watched Cast Away, slept in a tent in the living room, plan on making enchiladas and just hang out together. I always seem to take for granted how much my man calms me and brings happiness to my soul. Every day I am reminded of the infinite blessings my heavenly father has brought into my life through Ryan. General conference has been amazing as well. The talks so far have answered questions that I did not know I needed answered and the music has been absolutely incredible. It is impossible not to feel of the Spirit while they are singing. 

Life has so many twists and challenges. It is nice to spend a weekend being reminded of the goals and blessings each one of us has.  

i can do hard things.

I have played soccer most of my life and I love it. The adrenaline, the drive and the pressure. Everything about this magnificent sport makes me push myself to be better and there is always something to improve. 

Last night, I played with my intramural soccer team. It is a coed team and we are playing in a single elimination tournament. It was the second round and it was an intense game. We played down a player for most of the game due to a red card ( it was unfortunate but we deserved it) We held them at 4-4 the whole game and ended up having to go to PKs. Now I have played soccer my whole life and have never enjoyed taking PKs. It's just you and the goalie. They line the ball up, goalie stands on the goalie line, they blow the whistle and you should the ball. Doesnt seem too hard right? Well I tend to wig myself out. It is a completely mental aspect of soccer. Sure it takes skill, but it is the mental ability to relinquish all nerves and just be calm.. I am never calm. So when my team said I had to shoot, i freaked and said put me last. what are the odds that we would go all the way to the 5th kicker right? we would win before then.. Turns out we went to the 5th player. it was 3-3 in PKs, I was the last shooter. I had to score to win. As I walked up to the  PK line, knees shaking. All my training from my mom and grandpa came into my head 

**remain calm**

 ** dont give away where you are going to shoot** 

** its about finesse not power** 

**breathe** 

I walked up thinking "you can do this". I bent my head; not even looking at the goalie. Years of soccer have taught me where the goal is. It doesnt move, I dont need to watch it. I concentrated on the ball. I took my steps to the ball, shot, and scored! 

The euphoria from my team was astounding. We created our celebratory circle, cheering and screaming. Then thanked the other team for a hard fought battle. 

I can do hard things. 

I can do the things that petrify me if I use the counsel of those who are wiser

If I realize it is about finesse instead of power and most importantly 

if I remember to remain calm and breathe. 

Life throughs us curve balls in all sorts of places and soccer has taught me that I can do hard things. 

where is the love?

Being in the elementary school, I am reminded of how mean we can be. Students are constantly belittling and hurting each other in any way they can. It amazes me that human beings this young have found the degration of another human being so enjoyable. Throughout the day it is a constant battle to stop the snide comments and sarcastic remarks that are meant to sting. 

Since when is being a red head a bad thing? 

Why does it matter if you have glasses?

Why pick on the student who is struggling to understand the English language?

What gives anyone the right to make fun of someone because of their background? 

Why doe is matter if you are short, tall, skinny or fat?

All these insecurities are carried throughout our life. We learn our worth while in school and it is hard to shake those comments that hurt you in places that cannot be seen. Wherever you are in life: elementary school, high school, college or real life, it seems like we are programed to separate ourselves from those who are different. We are meant to do those things that will make us the same. 

When will the world realize that uniqueness and originality are a good thing? When will we realize that every person has a story, a battle we are continuously fighting? What gives any one person the right to judge another human being? Where is the Love in this world? 

These are questions that I do not have the answer to. I do not know how to change the system this world has created and yet, I will do everything in my power as a teacher, to teach the next generation the power of originality and the strength in coming together and finding unity. 

Judging a person does not do anyone any good. Those snide comments may hurt the other person but it doesnt define them. It only affects them. But every time we make those mean comments and judge another, we define ourselves. We define what type of person we are. We choose how we treat others. Everyday we make the choice to uplift or belittle.

Knowing the affects we have on other people, how can we wake up and consciously choose to hurt?