I blinked and it is December 31st. This year has
been a wild ride for sure, full of firsts as well as a few lasts as I finished
college and entered the real world. Scary. As I was thinking about all of the
things that have happened this year, where it began and how it ended, and how I’ve
changed and grown as a person, there is a theme that stands out. Trusting the
familiar, while having faith in the unknown.
Trusting the
Familiar: January 2-April 6, 2017
This is the day I began Student Teaching. To some, that
might seem pretty unknown, but to me it was familiar. I was blessed enough to
get placed at an elementary school I had spent quite a bit of time at my Junior
year, observing outstanding educators, learning the ins and outs of the school,
and working with the children. On January 2nd, one of my best
friends and I drove to this school to begin our 13-week Student Teaching
journey. We were going to finish our College of Education adventure just like
we started it: Together. I was minimally nervous, but mostly at peace. The
building was familiar both inside and out, administration was familiar, and I
knew a few teachers from my previous stint at this campus. Trusting this
familiar was easy, and I felt at home immediately. During this time, I got to
meet, watch, converse with, and learn from even more phenomenal educators that
I had not previously known. Little did I know, my Spring Semester was not going
to end with the familiar.
Faith in the Unknown:
March 31-June 2, 2017
March 31st was a pretty typical Friday. I student
taught all day and was babysitting for the evening when my aunt called. She
said something along the lines of “Do you remember {neighbor} that is a
principal at an elementary school in BISD? He wants to hire you for the rest of
the school year as a long term sub/aid.” I said yes without having much
knowledge of what I was getting myself into. I did not really ask a lot of
questions other than where to be and when, got my fingerprints done and
paperwork submitted, and showed up the Monday after I finished Student
Teaching. To be honest, I was terrified at first. Not only did I take a leap of
faith saying yes, he took a leap of faith as well hiring me (no pressure,
right?). We had met a few times at my aunt’s house over the years and I had
sent him my resume since I was beginning the process of applying and
interviewing for teaching jobs. That was enough for him to take a chance on me
and I am beyond grateful. Not only did I gain experiences and insight that were
unparalleled to any of my previous work, but the relationships I formed played
a major role in me getting a full time teaching job (interview skills gained,
references, etc), and those people mean the world to me. Having faith in the
unknown when it might have been more comfortable to say “no” was so worth it.
Trusting the
Familiar: Summer 2017
After looking for adventurous summer jobs in Florida and
elsewhere, I decided to trust the familiar and work for my boss from the
previous summer alongside one of my really good friends. Although I did not
spend the summer taking children to amusement parks or looking for the next
mountain to climb or trail to hike, this was a good move. I knew the expectations
of my boss and my job was flexible, allowing me to come in late or even travel
when necessary to interview, and take important phone calls. Sometimes it is
better to trust the familiar and play it safe than look for the next crazy
adventure.
Faith in the Unknown:
July/August/September 2017
If you have been following me for a while now, you know the
story of how I got hired as a Kindergarten Teacher in LISD. I interviewed over
FaceTime, sitting in the Busch Stadium Parking Lot in St. Louis, wearing a
Cardinals T-Shirt, and was hired less than 24 hours later. I accepted the job,
sight unseen. Another two-way leap of faith. I had not met anyone from my
campus or district and they had not met me (in person). The team of staff
members that hired me used what I said over FaceTime, my resume, and my references
to take a chance on me and I will be forever thankful for the opportunity I was
given. I spent July and August moving to a new city (I know Plano is only an
hour from Fort Worth, but still), attending trainings, making connections,
setting up my classroom and finally meeting my team. The end of August and all
of September were spent meeting and getting to know the little people that live
in my classroom.
Trusting the
Familiar: Home for the Holidays
I have spent the past week and a half at my parents’ house
with my family to celebrate Christmas and spend time together. It has been a
time to rest and get rejuvenated for the upcoming year. For me, 2017 is ending
like it began: with the familiar.
My hope for 2018 is that I once again find the balance
between trusting the familiar and having faith in the unknown. Sometimes it is
better to play it safe, and other times, in order to truly live, you have to
dive head first into the adventures of life.
Have a safe and blessed New Year!
Yours Truly,
Steph
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