Adjusting to Life

Two days ago marked the one month anniversary of my BIG move to Alabama. So many things have changed in my life. And, that said, I've learned so many things since moving. Like, for example, how to paint, cook for myself, and, well, how to "be" a teacher. I'm not sure if I have really mastered any of these things (especially the cooking part), but I'm trying--trying to successfully be a grown-up. There have been countless instances where I have had to call my sweet mom and asked for her advice before even trying to complete a simple task. THANK GOD FOR MOTHERS. And I often wonder how people even begin preparing themselves for adulthood. I feel like a boomerang, one that is often coerced to return to the life I used to live. To think that I actually have a full-time job, bills to pay, and students to teach is unbelievable. I will say, though, that God has held my hand through it all, and, for that, I am richly blessed...

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Unfortunately, there are some people who may be reading this that I don't get to talk to as frequently as I'd like. For that, I'm so sorry. This next bit of information is for YOU, just so you know all that's happening in my life.

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 I decided to take a few pictures of my new place. I photographed my bathroom and bedroom on the first day in hopes of looking back and seeing the possible transformation once finishing what I like to call Project Renovation. Though my lovely roommate and I have not finished the kitchen and extra bedroom, my parents and I worked extensively on my bathroom and bedroom--two rooms that have been my own personal oasis since moving. Below are the before and after shots of each room. I will say, too, that if it weren't for my parents, especially my mother's impeccable vision and design execution, I would have never been able finish these projects. So, here's a shout-out to them for all their help!

By next month, perhaps, I hope to have more pictures for you as Project Renovation continues. I've enjoyed seeing the fruits of my labor, and I just know our little house will be a total jewel soon. Thankfully, my mom has also developed a passion for refinishing furniture, and, up next on her list of projects: a desk for Les! Yay!

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Not only am I enjoying the interior of my new home, but I am also enjoying the glories of living in quaint town with extremely precious neighbors. The kindness that has been extravagantly poured out to my roommate and I over the last month is nothing short of amazing! The first week we were here, all our neighbors visited us and warmly welcomed us into their community. I was even invited to my first Greensboro fish fry! I can't even begin to tell you how savory and mouth-watering the catfish was, not-to-mention the homemade cake that our sweet neighbor, Mrs. Crawford, made. I know that God is watching over me in so many ways, and He has encouraged me daily through the love of the people just like Mrs. Crawford. Like today, for example, Mrs. Collins, who lives two houses down, called me just to say she was thinking about me. WOW! Even writing this makes me smile. 

On another note, Alabama has to be one of the most beautiful states that I have ever been to, besides Kentucky that is. :) I wish I had a picture for you of the highway that we live on. I step outside and I hear the beautiful melody of cows mooing, and I see green pastures and beautiful oak trees. I've never really been exposed to farmland quite like this. It's absolutely beautiful. Tomorrow I will take pictures! 

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I spend most of my time working on being the best teacher I can possibly be. I never thought teaching would be so hard. I knew it would be challenging, just like all things that people work diligently at are, and I keep waiting for things to get easier, but I'm not sure they will. I think the hardest part is working so hard to plan a lesson and then not exactly getting the results that I hope for. Right now, I have a lot of stresses about the school year. But, there's one that is for sure: I will work endlessly to show all students that I care for them and about their futures. I pray for my students. And, I know that whatever I cannot give them, God can! So, if you are a prayer warrior, please say a prayer for my students and for me as I try and lead them to success this year. 

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Here is a picture of me at my new school: 

 It's a beautiful school, and I think highly of all the teachers and administrators that work so hard to make it so wonderful in so many ways. I am blessed to be a Hale County High School Wildcat! Go CATS! :) As of a few weeks ago, I became one of the girl's basketball coaches! Our season starts soon, and I cannot wait to fill you in on how try-outs go. I've had so many girls come in to my classroom and tell me that they are excited to play and can't wait for the season to begin. 

Sweet Home Alabama

I left Sunday afternoon. My car was stuffed with luggage, an assortment of pillows, one queen-sized air mattress, my backpack, a large pink polka-dotted bag that held a smorgasbord of household necessities, a Swiffer, and, thanks to my sweet mother, a steam mop for my hardwood floors. 7.5 hours and one audiobook later, I pulled into the driveway of my rental in Greensboro, Alabama. I arrived just before dark, unloaded the stuff in my car into the kitchen, and then went around to each window and door to assure that each was locked. The house was eerily quiet. Too quiet. I didn't have Internet or T.V. at this point, so I dug through my stuff to find a radio and surfed through station after station until I found music that didn't pain my ears. For the next 1.5 hours, I packed my stuff to my new bedroom and Swiffered and steamed mopped the entire house. It was weird being in a house all alone. Scary, even. Every time I heard a creak or a noise, I would shiver. By the end of my mopping escapade, I decided to make my bed on the air mattress, shower, and go to bed. Before doing so, though, I went through the kitchen to pour myself a glass of water. While walking I heard some thing hit the window, causing me to jump so high that I almost hit the chandelier above me. 

... My first night was, needless to say, disconcerting. 

Yesterday I had training downtown from 8:30-3:00. I enjoyed seeing smiling faces and talking to other new teachers and personnel. Throughout each session, I couldn't help but feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be a teacher in Hale County. I left the meeting overly excited and anxious to begin the year at my new school. 

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**Warning** the next paragraph is slightly graphic! 


After the sessions, I jumped into my car and headed to the local Dollar Store to pick up a few things for my house. I was driving on an unfamiliar country road and listening to the GPS give me directions when all of a sudden a small deer (with spots...it must have been a baby) ran out in front of me. I then heard a loud CRUNCH! I had ran over an animal for the first time in my life. If you've experienced this, you know what it feels like. It's gut-wrenching. I frequently teared up last night thinking about it, but I knew I had to shake it off.


Today was a better day. I finished new personnel training, grabbed lunch, and came home to a very friendly man waiting to set up my Internet. I also haven't been frightened or scared all evening. GOD IS GOOD! On another note,  I was perusing through a site earlier that posted some inspirational quotations by Max Lucado, and I jotted down some that particularly touched my heart. One of them reads "Lower your expectations of earth. This isn't Heaven, so don't expect it to be." I thought about this quotation for a while, and I think there's some major truth to it. As much as I believe we, as believers, are supposed to relish in the joys of this earth and look for the good in every possible situation, I also love knowing that this JUST earth, not Heaven. We will have trouble here on earth, and that's okay. We just need to sit back and realize that Heaven will be different! 

Happy Tuesday, friends! 

the tapestry of my life.

Hello, Everyone! 

Wow, where do I even begin? I guess I can begin by saying that I GRADUATED on May 6th.

I know that when August rolls around, I will still be in college mode--ready to head back to UK and put my nose in my books. But, alas, that's not what will happen. Well, my nose will be in books--Algebra I and Geometry textbooks instead of works by Shakespeare, Zora Neale Hurston, and Don DeLillo. 

Thinking about how I got to where I am now feels like such a distant memory. It all started in October when I went to a "Be the Change" conference with a dear friend. Being an English Education major, I was already interested in the state of our country's educational system, and this conference more than intensified my desire to work in education simply because they focused on key issues that resonate with my passions. You see, my heart has always deeply yearned to work in a place where I can truly be the hands and feet of Christ. I knew early on in my college career that education was the venue for me--a mission of which I could dedicate my time to. This conference was even more significant, however, because it planted a bug in my ear--a Teach for America bug. I had heard of this organization. But, in all honesty, I was a little leery of it. I couldn't help but question its motives, especially after hearing about there being Teach for America teachers placed in my own community in Appalachia. I questioned why college graduates would want to dedicate two years of their lives to teaching students if that's not what they want to do for the rest of their lives. I even made some huge assumptions, ones that I am embarrassed to admit even crossed my mind. Applicants probably just want to put this on their resume! I'm sure they just want the Americorps reward! THEY actually think that THEY can go into a community and completely revitalize the schools on their own! I remember leaving thinking about all of these things. I got into my car that night to drive home with a very heavy heart. In retrospect, I think my heart was heavy for all the students that were mentioned and their stories. 

A few days later, my phone rang while I was working in my residence hall. I decided to step behind the desk and answer the call. Hello... and, this is where my Teach for America adventure really began. On the other side of the phone was a very peppy, very exuberant Teach for America Campus Campaign Coordinator inviting me to go to Appalachia and observe a classroom led by a Teach for America corps member. I told her that I was not interested in applying and that I would be attending graduate school in the fall. She kind of laughed it off, saying that this was a fantastic opportunity to observe a classroom. It couldn't hurt, I thought. So, I told her to sign me up for the trip. 

This one day of observation in Appalachia completely overwhelmed me. I observed some amazing students learning from an amazing teacher. I saw enthusiastic teachers teaching enthusiastic, joyful students. I remember writing down this exact words on my observation sheet: students WANT to learn from this teacher! and they are so SMART! I left the school on cloud nine. That's what school is supposed to be like. After we observed for the day, we had dinner with one of the teachers that I observed. She was young, just out of college. And she was EXCITED, so so so excited to be teaching in Appalachia. She loved her students and cared deeply about their educational well-beings. She wanted the best for them, and she wasn't going to stop until they proved what was possible for themselves.

And, so, there you have it. After this weekend, I was in. I wanted to fight for my future students, too! I remember sitting around a big conference table with other potential applicants talking about what we observed this day and how we were feeling about TFA's mission in Appalachia (and around the country). When it was my turn to speak, I immediately teared up. In my heart I realized that I, a student from Appalachia, had been a product of the achievement gap. (I went into college with low ACT scores, having to take remedial classes.) But, somewhere in between my freshman year and my senior year, I was able to beat the odds and graduate summa cum laude. I began to think about what was different about my story and why I made it and others that I graduated high school with did not. Perhaps it was my parents that supported me, my work ethic, or, more than anything, God's mighty hand carrying me through when I felt as though I had nothing else to give. I felt personally invested in making sure that ALL students, no matter their background, receive a quality education. I applied to Teach for America because I wanted to work with a community of people that felt the same way I did. I was accepted in January. 

Since January, life has been a complete whirlwind. Like I mentioned above, I graduated, moved back to Whitesburg, and, then, in turn, moved to Mississippi for the summer to train for Teach for America. This summer has definitely been one to remember. I wanted to blog the entire time I was at training, but my sweet 5th graders took precedence. Oh, by the way, I taught 5th grade at Carver Elementary in Indianola, Mississippi. 

I had 8 AMAZING students with SO much potential. I hope to always remember them and their stories. I took SO many pictures, but I want to respect their privacy. You'll just have to take my word for it: they WERE (are) amazing. Every single day, I woke up at 5:00 in the morning, had an hour commute, left at 4:30 P.M., and lessoned planned for the remainder of the evening. It was hard work, but it was worth it. I learned what it was like to really help students become advocates for themselves. And, as 5th graders, they took ownership of their own successes. I left feeling so proud of them and thankful for my teaching team and my awesome mentors. 

Here is my wonderful teaching team. They rock--for real, though! 

After leaving Mississippi, I traveled to Alabama for orientation. I forgot to mention earlier that I will be teaching in Alabama for the next two years. And, I am SO excited. I know there is a long road ahead, but I also know that with a little bit of hard work (okay, a LOT of hard work), my students will beat the odds. 

I also found out that I (God-willing) will be teaching Algebra I and Geometry in the fall near Greensboro, Alabama. I move on Sunday, and I can't wait to get my new house situated. Thankfully, I already have a precious roommate that is also teaching math. **Funny side note: she was also an English major in college! :) I'm thrilled to move and begin my career. But, I know I cannot do it alone. Prayers are (and will be) appreciated! 

On Sunday, I will post more pictures of our new, lovely abode. 

Until then...