real world v. 1

Well, well, well...

after 3 unprecedented snow days and delayed "first day" start to my job...it finally happened. I entered the real, working, teaching world today, starting nice and bright and early at 5 AM. you know, it wasn't SO bad....i would like to mold myself into a morningish person. and now is my chance, i suppose!
i don't think i could have hand picked a better place to begin my experiment as a school teacher. which is why i'm glad i didn't hand pick it. Someone else obviously did. and for that i am thankful. i went in today not knowing a single thing about what i should be teaching, how the school runs, anything. i have an asst. principal is like a little mother. she checked on me and told me everything would be fine. i have a team of teachers that's spunky and laid back. all of them seemed to just trust me right off the bat. i mean i guess they didn't really have a choice....but i certainly didn't expect the profuse "thank yous" that i got from everyone for being there. THAT was a surprise.
8th grade is my calling. of that i am certain. i can't pinpoint what it is about the age, but i absolutely adore it. all of my classes were successful today and full of really enthusiastic, funny, goofy kids. it's fantastic. i am so excited to get to know them and share the next 4 months with them.
i think i could contribute my complete lack of nervousness to the Lord. it's true that when you spend more time in His presence, you go through life with a kind of protection, this comfort that nothing in the world can get to you. isn't that what He says in His word? kind of a crazy concept, something i wish i'd taken advantage of a lot sooner.

favorite quotes of the day:
"Ms. Cochran, can I ask you a question? I mean, I'm afraid you'll get mad."
"Go ahead."
"You won't get mad?"
"...No, it's fine."
"....What's your dating life like?"
seriously...8th graders. gotta love it.

2009

and so begins a new year and a new me....
HAHA
that was so cheesy.
but seriously. i am in the real world now people. like the REAL one. because up until this point, i've been in a fake world. what will the people be like in this new one? will there be trees? a sky? buildings?
ok, again, seriously, this year is going to start out very different for me than it ever has before. that is because i am no longer in school, and now i must get a job that will pay for my bills. honestly, i was worried about being able to make enough money to pay for things, but now, i am very excited. i have no one to answer to, no one to turn in things to, no grades to worry about. in essence, i am my own boss. i feel a great degree of responsibility but i have to admit i kind of like it! it is going to be very interesting to see where this year leads me, but i'm looking forward to it and hope i'll be able to enjoy every minute of it.