life beyond the well…

Tag Archives: Teaching


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Back to School!

I made it through the first day!

Isn’t that what we all think about our first day anywhere?  Be it a new job or a new school, I think we all breathe a sigh of relief at the end of the first day.  I think we all go into these situations with anxiety, as we’re curious about what to expect.  How will we fit into the environment?  How will the other people in this new environment be?  What will my role be?  Will it meet my expectations?

After my first day at new teacher orientation for my new school, I feel great.  However, I feel great in an apprehensive kind of way.  I’m in an environment where the stakes are high, accountability and responsibility are not just buzz words, and there’s a thread of commonality amongst team members about why we each are there.

Although we didn’t put in a full day of work, we did work hard…and I’m tired!  I think part of what makes returning to work exhausting is the mental aspect, where you really are directing your thoughts and focusing on activities after not having to do so (or not having to do so as much) for a while.  Nevertheless, I feel a good exhaustion; one that results from time well spent being a part of something that matters beyond yourself and your personal interests.

That said, I’ve got some things to do to prepare for tomorrow…and one of those things includes being well rested!  I’m really hoping that I stay awake for the finale of the Bachelorette  (I’m embarassed that I even mentioned that show on my blog, for the record).

Until next time…


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All My Bags Are Packed…

Well, my bags aren’t QUITE packed, but I’m READY TO GO.  It’s been a while since I’ve written, because the life of a teacher gets to be crazy around the end of the year.  There are tons of end of the year shenanigans: meetings, parties, final exams, review sessions, and for me…preparing to move.

Yup.  I’m going to make another move.

After being in the Sunshine State for just under a year, I’ll be calling it quits…and heading to a land that is much more familiar, but still somewhat unknown: the Old North State.  Yes!  Heading back home to North Carolina!

While I haven’t detailed it much here, it’s been a particularly difficult year for me in Florida.  Between challenges with my school, the students, and their parents; along with never really feeling quite “settled”…I thought it was best to leave before I got too attached.  Along with the desire to be somewhere where at least a few people know my name, have family close, and be even more cautiously optimistic as I partake in what continues to be one of the biggest blessings to my life.

I will still be teaching.  As I began the journey of figuring out what was next, a big question was whether the classroom was truly the place for me.  Was I able to fully exercise and utilize my gifts and talents by working in the classroom setting?  After much thought and prayer, I realized that my calling is to a classroom.  I love the energy and watching their eyes light up as the connections are made.  But what I love most is that classrooms are still full of possibility.  There are full of what’s to come, of what could be.  And I’m thankful that God has given me the desire to be a part of that possibility, as well as the ability to handle that responsibility.

The next stop on my journey will be Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina.  I’ll be working as a teacher at the KIPP: Gaston College Preparatory School.  I’ve been impressed with KIPP Schools since seeing the founders on Oprah a few years back, and I feel extremely blessed to be able to work in that environment.  Of course, a new environment creates new challenges, but I’m very excited about what’s to come.

Of course life wouldn’t be life if there weren’t too many things to take care of in too little time.  However, in the midst of all of the “things”, I’ve been able to enjoy myself.  Memorial Day weekend was awesome- laid back and enjoyable, with some time spent at the beach, and I enjoyed my last Jewish holiday of the school year, Shavout (it’s when the Jews received the Torah from God) by taking a short trip to the Bahamas.  Life is good.

At any rate, I’ll be grinding it out for the next week or so, as I make it to the end of the year.  Then I’ll make a quick trip to North Carolina for a very special graduation, and then it’s back here to pack it up and move it out.  To sum up Florida:  “…all of my good days outweigh my bad days and I won’t complain.”

As for now, back to the grind!  Until next time…