the almost Graduate Journals

In. Two. Days. I. Will. Graduate.

From. College.

How good it feels to say that! I still don’t really believe it. I mean yes I know that later today I know I will get into my car and drive back up to school to begin the festivities with my friends, but seriously, me graduating from college? Get outta town! Ok, well then I’ll get out of town.

So I am graduating from college. On Saturday I will be the proud owner of a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education. A degree- I will have a degree!!! I think I forgot about the whole degree thing many times during college. I mean college was always part of my plan and my parent’s plan for my life so going to college wasn’t an odd or weird thing. It’s what was supposed to happen. But I think I forgot about the whole, when you graduate you get a degree thing. Until now. Bring on the degree baby!

My student teaching wrapped up wonderfully. Yesterday was my last day. They had a “suprise” party for me in the afternoon. I say “surpise” in quotes because do you know how hard it is for 7 and 8 year olds to keep a secret? Yeah, it’s not the easiest thing. They spilled the beans. Multiple times. Each time I just pretended not to hear.

So my cooperating teacher announced in the afternoon that we were going to have a little celebration for me. She had each of the kids come up and give me the cards they were supposed to make at home or a hug. I love hugs.

They wrote the cutest little things in their cards. Here is a sampling:

“I hope you have fun at your new job. You was a nice teacher. Love you.”

“Thanks for being the best teacher. I will miss you. I will miss you. I will miss you.”

“Dear Ms. R. I do not want you to leave. I will miss you so much.”

“Dear Ms. R. Thank you being the best assistant (they got student teaching/assistant confused all the time) teacher ever. p.s. I hope you have a class when you leave.”

“You are funny, nice, proactive (big word for a second grader!) and you always had lots of patience (so not true!). Congratulations for graduating college. We will all miss you a lot! (a lot was underlined three times)

“Dear Ms. R. Thank you for teaching us. I liked when you teached us frackshens (fractions, and my teacher’s heart skipped a beat – I actually taught them something! woo hoo!!!) I will really miss you. I hope you come to my school next year.”

“Ms. R Please don’t leave. If you leave, I’ll miss you.”

Got any tears yet? Those kids are the SWEETEST children ever. I love them.

They also gave me some books for my classroom and some classroom supplies. I love these things as they are so practical and useful. And when I use them in my own classroom hopefully someday soon I will be able to remember the awesome kids that gave them to me.

So all in all I was sad to leave yesterday. But still excited. And feeling a sense of accomplishment.

I know that at this point, all of you dear readers are going to ask the question.

“What is next for you?” “Do you have a job yet?”

1. I don’t know.

2. I have no job.

Phew. Okay, that’s off my chest.

No seriously I really have no clue what I am doing. I want to be a teacher. I want my own classroom and to teach little boogers all day.

But, in case you haven’t heard, the economy is REALLY bad right now. Bad to the point that teachers were I live are receiving a pay cut and teachers on terminating contracts (including some of my first year teacher friends) are not guaranteed jobs for next year.

So I’m looking. I’m e-mailing my resume whenever I see an opening. And I’m waiting. Just about most of the places I am interested in are on a hiring freeze so they can’t hire anyone anyways until July at the earliest.

And I’m doing a lot of praying. And a lot of thanking God. Because it could be a lot worse. I have a place to live for free and I have food to eat. I won’t be homeless and I won’t starve.

The only plans I have are that for the summer I will try to get as many babysitting jobs as possible so that I can save up.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 🙂

I had the time of my life!

It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right.

I hope you had the time of your life.

– Green Day

That song echoes through my mind as I am blown away by how quickly time goes by. In 4 days I am graduating from college! And the title of this post is true: I had the time of my life. As I look back on the past four years I can’t help but see how blessed I have been.

I thought back on that today as my friend Chelsey and I talked on the phone. Chelsey was one of the very first people I met at school. I had a retreat for my scholarship program right after I moved in to my dorm. I got on a bus not knowing anyone and just wishing that I could go back to my dorm room.

I remember sitting on that bus and having one great fear: that I would sit alone and stare out the window. I really did not want to begin the journey of college without a friend.

Then came Chelsey. She walked up to my row and asked if she could sit next to me. I said yes and the conversation began. We both talked and realized that we actually had a lot in common – namely the fact that we both love Jesus. After that a great friendship began. This girl is amazing. We’ve shared some fun classes, trips, and late night craziness involving tunnel painting. As the years went on, our friendship grew and I got to see more and more of this godly girl and her heart for the Lord.

Last semester Chelsey and I had Tuesday night time. Every Tuesday one of us would cook dinner and then we would sit around talking for hours. Literally for hours. We talked about boys and school and our hopes and laughed like middle schoolers at times. The dinners may not have always been gourmet but the friendship was high class. I will always cherish those Tuesday nights.

So today, Chelsey and I are talking about graduation and how excited we are. We started reminiscing about that day on the bus. Chelsey made a comment that at the time she thought that I was this really cool girl who such a world traveler. Hah! I laughed and then shared how incredibly nervous I was on that day. The conversation continued and drifted to God’s provision. We both feel that God really provided great, godly friends for us in college. People to share life with not only during the college years but for a long time.

I mean, yeah the classes were sometimes exciting and the football games were cool too but really the best part of college for me was the people. People who cared, people who I laughed with, cried with, stayed up way too late with. Friends that encouraged me on. All of my favorite college moments include people.

So tonight, I’m thankful for the people that made the last four years so fabulous! Because of them, I had the time of my life!