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.