My Journey

Yes! I am a teacher! Growing up, I always knew that one day I would teach-I would play school with my friends (of course, I was always the teacher) and I would set up my toys to teach them how to read and write. No doubt, I was going to be a teacher! WAIT! No.... this is NOT my story. So many teachers knew from a young age that they were meant to be teachers, but that was not the case for me. While God always intended for me to be a teacher, I had other plans! So, sit back and enjoy the story: My Journey!

My brother and I grew up with the understanding that school was very important! Our education and doing the right thing were instilled in us from the very beginning. We rarely missed a day of school (not even when the Atlanta Braves had turned the page on their lengthy losing streak and EVERYONE else went to the Championship Parade). We went to school! Our mom was a teacher. You got it! She was one of the very best! Long hours, dedication like no one I had ever seen! As teacher kids, we knew our after-school chores included straightening the desks, erasing the chalkboard, going outside to bang the chalk out of the erasers, picking up trash off of the floor, sharpening pencils, well... you know... the list goes on and on. Watching how our mom poured so much of herself into her profession, from my perspective as a child, it sure didn't look like she got much in return-just more work! So, NOPE, NO WAY! I made up my mind. I was not going to be a teacher!

I was always that quiet, creative kid that some folks saw as the "strange one" or the "wall flower." We all know the type :) I did very well in school, but that was not important to me. Creating, building, dreaming-those were my passions!

Flash forward to high school and things were about the same-just more creating, building (now trying out woodworking with my dad's tools-yikes!), and dreaming. Two of my teachers planted a seed. They embraced the creative side in me and found ways to strengthen and direct that drive within me. They worked together to keep me on track academically, but that wasn't what I gained most from them. I will always be thankful for a much greater gift: acceptance of me. They pushed me to the best with my talents and abilities. They even led me to getting an art degree! "Why not?" I figured. Because I didn't know what else to do and I loved making things! (Remember, teaching was not my plan LOL!)

Off I went to art college and I truly learned a LOT! I had a BLAST, but I will never forget that one day when things began to change all of a sudden. Sitting at my table in drawing class, I was hard at work on a sketch when I had this strong feeling inside, "Enjoy what you are doing now, but just know that you won't be doing this forever because you're going to teach." Nope, no way... but... I finished college, and had some great opportunities to come my way. Teaching was the furthest thing from my mind!

And then one day, there it was again, "I know you are enjoying your travels, but remember that you are going to teach." It was at that moment that things began to really change. Don't get me wrong-I still loved creating and travelling, but somehow those things were not enough for me. Something was missing. Then, I got a little job working at a summer camp because swimming, field trips, and movies while getting paid sounded too good to be true! You see where I'm going here... the teaching bug was about to start nibbling at me! Slowly but surely, that empty hole that creating and travelling didn't fill, well, that hole wasn't so empty anymore.

But, all good things must come to an end and so did summer camp. Time to grow up and get a real job. And that's exactly what I did! My first REAL job working at the airlines. I could travel and dabble in creative avenues on the side. There it was again, though... That empty hole was back! "I'm not sure what you're waiting for, but you're going to teach!" Again, the voice inside. No, summer camp was one thing, but teaching??!! A FABULOUS opportunity fell into my lap! I got the chance to travel to Nova Scotia to work on a missions trip. I had no idea what we were going to do, but that didn't matter! Nova Scotia! Beautiful! I got there and guess what? I was given a "classroom" to teach some precious little kiddos! WOW! That hole was filling back up! You would think I would get it by now, right? Nope... excuse after excuse after excuse... I returned back to my airlines job and kept going. Until one day, another AWESOME opportunity to go on another missions trip! This time to Culiacan, Mexico. You're probably thinking I was going to get another "classroom" to teach kiddos. NO! Not at all! This time I, in my early twenties, was given the responsibility to stand under a pavilion (a make shift roof on posts) and keep some lemonade made in the coolers for anyone that came by and needed a drink. Okay! I can do that-Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy LOL!! It was hot, hot, and more hot while we were there. Before you knew it, a few curious folks stopped by and saw that I was drinking some lemonade (so it must be safe), and they wanted to try it too! The few folks grew into a small group which grew into a small crowd! Day after day, lemonade was made and the crowds came: young and old, boys and girls, dogs and goats (yep, even goats!) Now, I didn't speak Spanish, but learned creative ways to communicate until I picked up on some of the language. Then, one day as I was showing some of the kiddos how to make some simple things (of course I didn't realize I was TEACHING!), adults began to join in and some even brought chairs with them! WHAT was happening??!! Before you knew it, I was teaching all kinds of things under the pavilion! Math, science, art-my first class! I LOVED IT!!!!

As soon as I returned home, I KNEW I WAS A TEACHER!! I went back to school and couldn't wait to get back to teaching! I started teaching kindergarten, then fifth grade, gifted students, intervention students, special education students, and then a math intervention teacher for first through fifth grade! Long hours, dedication to give my best to my students, and getting to know each of them on their level for WHO they are.... I finally got it! Why did my mom teach? The same reason I teach! It's a passion, a calling, it's WHO I am and not what I do. There is a huge difference! I have my good days and my not-so-good days like everyone else, but at the end of the day when everything is still and quiet, I still hear that little voice inside. But now, the voice tells me a different message, "You ARE a teacher. You are right where you are supposed to be."

My journey has led me to some incredible experiences! I can use so much of my creativity and opportunities in my classroom. From the little kiddos in Nova Scotia to the crowds under the pavilion in Culiacan to the students that sit in my classroom, it's all the same: teaching is teaching. It is my calling and I am so thankful that God doesn't give up on me, but He quietly watches over and guides me to the right path. My journey is far from over, but I know that I do not walk alone!