Finis

“Hi, is this Doris?”

“Yes it is.”

“Oh hi, it’s Dana.  I forgot if I was supposed to call you today or tomorrow for the Comps scores.”

“Oh, well I have them right here in front of me, if you want to know…”

*deep breath*  “Sure!  Let’s hear it.”

“Let’s see…  Dana…  You got a pass.”

“I passed?”

“You passed!”

“I passed!”

Me and Molly right after taking the Comps
We both passed!

Well, my friends, after 19 years, I’m finally done with school!  This semester I have completed the English Literature Masters Program by finishing up my last class (hooray for Beowulf!) and by passing the Comps exam with my dear friend Molly by my side; and at the same time I have also completed the Multiple Subject Credential Program for teaching grades K-8.  To all those who think that you can’t complete both programs at the same time: you can.  If you have the will, the patience to apply yourself, and a positive attitude, you can.  I have.  But it certainly wasn’t a cake walk.  I worked very hard for the last two and a half years.  This last semester was perhaps the hardest I have ever worked.  I didn’t draw and I didn’t read for fun and I didn’t have a social life outside my one masters class and student teaching.  I lived in my own world of constant lesson planning, teaching, TPA3 and TPA4 preparation and writing, Beowulf-reading and essay writing, and Comps exam preparation.  The week before Thanksgiving was the week where I began sprinting toward the end of the semester because all TPAs and essays were due and the Comps test date was looming—and I made it!  So it’s possible, guys.  I’m living proof!  I want to thank all of those who have supported and encouraged me through this final semester: God, my dear family, my master teachers Donna and Vickie, my professors Dr. van Elk, Ilan, and Mimi, my dearest friends (you all know exactly who you are :D), and my awesome student teacher girls Kasey, Kari and Jenny.  I couldn’t have done it without all of you—thank you!

Me and Donna

I’ve grown up so much in this last year, and especially in this last semester.  I’ve discovered new strengths I didn’t even know I had until I was taking charge of 30 first graders and 33 sixth graders.  And I’ve discovered that I really love teaching—especially the little ones.  Before I started student teaching I wasn’t sure if I would even like teaching.  I remember being so nervous about embarking on this journey that I didn’t sleep much my last weekend of summer vacation because I was fretting so.  It turns out that all the anxiety I felt was unnecessary.  My experiences in both primary grade and upper grade were wonderful.  I love both my master teachers.  I love the kids.  I love the school environment.  I love teaching.  The principal of the last elementary school I was at has given me paperwork to become a sub for the district and I am well on my way to making my subbing license official (as are the rest of my student teacher friends who completed this amazing journey with me)! 

Jenny, Kasey, Phoenix, Vickie, Me, Michelle and Kari

So what’s next for me now that I’m done with school?  Well, getting my subbing license is first on the list.  Passing the RICA is next.  Then getting a full-time job with (hopefully!) a primary grade.  But until then?  Right now I’m basking in the glow of knowing that I’m done with school.  I’m really enjoying Christmas vacation (I’ve just finished decorating the Christmas tree!  I wound over 1,500 lights within the branches and lovingly nestled all my favorite ornaments in perfect places while I sang along to Celine Dion’s Christmas album).  I’ve been mentally and physically resting.  I’ll be getting back to exercising and eating more healthy.  I’m working on commissions and I’ll finally be drawing for myself again.  I’ll be reading novels that are on the “Once I’m Done With School” list.  I’ll be hanging out with my friends.  I’ll be going to work at my family’s company and I’ll be thanking God every day that I have a job. 

One phase of my life is over and a new one is just beginning.  Every time I think about the future ahead of me I get so excited.  Bring it, world!  :)

<3

Happiness

Even though I’m stressing about so many things right now I’m trying to take the time to find happiness in every part of my day and acknowledge consciously that I’m happy—and honestly it hasn’t been that hard!  I’m loving what I’m doing with my life right now.  Being a student teacher is so much fun!  It’s a lot of work, yes, but it’s one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.  I love the kids, both the first and sixth graders, and my master teachers.  They all make me smile and laugh every single day.

When I was with my first grade class their sweetness, “love notes” (little mementos they drew or wrote to me…I have a huge pile!), hugs and stories brightened my days.  I even got a written marriage proposal from one of them—my first marriage proposal ever!—and I quote: “Will you mere me.  Can we have a date.”  And he drew a house with me and him together in it.  It was so sweet.  I received it on my last day and the boy who gave it to me didn’t put his name on it, but I remember thinking to myself that I had never gotten a "love note" from this boy before.  I wish he had written his name!  My last day with my first graders was perhaps one of the brightest days in my student teaching experience.  It was bittersweet, of course, but so many good things happened that day: my master teacher and I had our traditional Starbucks together, we gave each other gifts (she gave me a framed picture of us together with our first graders), there was a feast of autumnal goodies put together by all the master teachers since we student teachers were leaving, I was given presents and more love notes from my kids, and they were all especially wonderful the entire day.  Earlier that week I had made up little parting gifts to give to each of them (one Disney pencil and pen per student tied together with curly yellow ribbon, an Achievement Certificate: the Outstanding Scientist Award, personalized for each student and signed by me, and I also gave each of them a really cool holographic African animal sticker, or “scientist badge,” made by National Geographic to wear the entire day).  As I called up each student to give them their present and award, I got hugs from them all, including the boys who tended to be so shy!  Not only did I get hugs, I got “I don’t want you to go” “I’m going to miss you” and “I love you” from everyone.  I had the biggest lump in my throat but I was able to hold it together fairly well (my master teacher and I had already cried twice that day, so I was trying to keep the threatening tears back as best as I could) but once the bell rang for dismissal and all my kids surrounded me, hugging me so tightly that I couldn’t move, I completely broke down and cried.  I reassured them that I was okay, that I was crying just because I was going to miss them so much!  And in response they hugged me all the harder.  I promised them I’d come back and see them as often as I could—and I will!  Even though it was a sad day, it was also one of the brightest and happiest days, if that makes any sense at all. 

I haven’t had as much time yet with the sixth grade class I’m in but I’m starting to get to know the kids better day by day—and they’re growing on me, for sure!  I really like them.  They’re at that age when their senses of humor are starting to come out and they have me smiling and laughing all the time!  When I look at them, I see myself in them—the kid in me.  I love it when they find any excuse to get me to talk to them.  They’ll raise their hands, ask a question, and then make a comment, which of course turns into a conversation…one that I usually have to cut short, but I love that they do it!  I remember doing the exact same thing to my teachers (whom I loved!) when I was in sixth grade and to see that they’re pulling the same stuff I did when I was little to show me that they like me really makes me happy. 

I’m learning so much about how to be a successful teacher and I’m learning all over the place: in the classroom, in the lounge, in parent-teacher conferences, in staff and grade-level meetings and in talks with both my master teachers.  These two women inspire me, and I mean that with all my heart.  It’s hard to explain why they inspire me…but I’m going to try to put it into words…  They’re witty, clever, intelligent, funny, honest, genuine, caring, appreciative, supportive, encouraging, positive, multi-talented and open-minded.  They’re great story-tellers.  They give me really awesome advice, and not just about teaching but they also offer it to me in other aspects of life.  They make me smile and laugh and I’m really happy when I’m around them.  There is no doubt in my mind that God had His hand in placing me with them at this point in my life and I’m blessed to know them.

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