1. Baltimore.
This city is the perfect next step for me. I have a place in Fells and GREAT optimism for having an official placement in a school soon. Baltimore is a city of neighborhoods; each has its own feel and things to do. It's nicknamed "Small-timore," and believe it or not, it really has the type of small-town feel that I'm used to. The people are friendly and welcoming. B'more's also one of the most humid places I've ever lived, but we're all sweating together and are dealing with it together.
2. B'more Hardcore.
The biggest corps at institute (up 3 on D.C), we are nearly 200 strong and even stronger in our corps rapport. We yell obnoxiously (one cause, one corps, B'more, hardcore) at least once a day and put a lot of effort into saying hi to each other. It sounds silly, but we need a crazy amount of positivity in this sleep deprived, stress ridden environment. It's not too much of either of those things yet, but we know it's coming along with our students next week.
3. Edison High School
Shine on! This is the high school where I will be teaching chemistry this summer to Philly 10th graders who didn't quite get it the first time around. The school is monstrous (like, total enrollment is around 2800), and the summer school program itself has about 750 students enrolled. I'm completely relearning everything about lesson planning. I'm afraid that Christy Khan's KU School of Education clap pattern is not going to work for Philly classrooms. I'm on the same level as everyone else who have little to no background in education.
4. My roommates
Yeah, we totally got placed in alphabetical order and have no control over who is always around us, but the people around ME are incredible people. I mean, everyone's intelligent, inspired, and kind, but these girls are solid. I've signed my lease with three of them, Allie, Alexis and Courtney from Jersey, New York and Maine. Yep. Very east coast dominated vibe all-in-all. As far as I know, I'm definitely the only one from Kansas here (definitely in B'more corps).
5. Internet
I didn't have it for the last week. My ethernet port is non-functional on my computer, which I'm quickly realizing is a great excuse to make getting a new one a priority. My wireless also wasn't working since leaving home, but thankfully that's been cleared up. I'm quickly seeing that I'm going to have little to no time to blog faithfully, and "I'm sorry" to my friends and family in Kansas (and in France) who have no clue why I've been out of touch. I love you all and hope to get a chance to share again soon!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
The Hardest Goodbye
When I was a kid, I devised elaborate plans of how I would grow up to be a teacher in good ol' Mulvane, Kansas. I'd be just like my third grade teacher, Mrs. Fike, who was my favorite because her husband owned a movie theater and she brought us huge bags of popcorn once a week. The arrangement would be perfect- I would be able to live with my mom even as a grown up! I dreamed of this perfect future as my mom, who I just knew was the most beautiful woman in the world, rubbed, patted, and tickled my back until I fell asleep.
"You'll have to find a husband who will rub your back for you," she'd say. I'd smile and nod, but I knew I'd never need a husband. Mom could have the job for life.
I went to high school, and I couldn't wait to move out. Then I went to college, and I couldn't wait to come back home for break. And now I'm moving to Baltimore, Maryland, the biggest step in my life so far. 1285 miles from Mulvane, the original dream, and 1285 miles away from my mom. That's more daunting than teaching 150 high schoolers a subject that I didn't major in.
My mom has unwaveringly been on my side for nearly 23 years. She worked full time my whole life but never missed a volleyball, basketball or softball game, track meet, piano recital, or band concert... she let me do that many extracurriculars and never complained about it. She has stood up for me when I didn't know to stand up for myself. She rubbed my back until I fell asleep all the way up til middle school, and admittedly, some nights in high school when I needed a dose of nostalgia.
I know I'm doing what I should be doing. I'm getting a head start at the career I've always wanted and the opportunity to attend one of the greatest universities out there. I'll be working with kids who will change the way I look at the world. I'll gain experiences that will make me a better, stronger person.
But I wouldn't be good or strong enough to do these things in the first place without my biggest supporter, my role model, and my best friend. I'm here, taking these wonderful opportunities, because of the the hard work she put into getting me here.
1285 miles just seems entirely too far away.
"You'll have to find a husband who will rub your back for you," she'd say. I'd smile and nod, but I knew I'd never need a husband. Mom could have the job for life.
I went to high school, and I couldn't wait to move out. Then I went to college, and I couldn't wait to come back home for break. And now I'm moving to Baltimore, Maryland, the biggest step in my life so far. 1285 miles from Mulvane, the original dream, and 1285 miles away from my mom. That's more daunting than teaching 150 high schoolers a subject that I didn't major in.
My mom has unwaveringly been on my side for nearly 23 years. She worked full time my whole life but never missed a volleyball, basketball or softball game, track meet, piano recital, or band concert... she let me do that many extracurriculars and never complained about it. She has stood up for me when I didn't know to stand up for myself. She rubbed my back until I fell asleep all the way up til middle school, and admittedly, some nights in high school when I needed a dose of nostalgia.
I know I'm doing what I should be doing. I'm getting a head start at the career I've always wanted and the opportunity to attend one of the greatest universities out there. I'll be working with kids who will change the way I look at the world. I'll gain experiences that will make me a better, stronger person.
But I wouldn't be good or strong enough to do these things in the first place without my biggest supporter, my role model, and my best friend. I'm here, taking these wonderful opportunities, because of the the hard work she put into getting me here.
1285 miles just seems entirely too far away.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
13 days!
As the number of days left between me and Baltimore are drastically decreasing, my stress levels are significantly increasing. How will all of my clothes fit into my suitcase? Do I really need all of things? Should I buy sheets here or wait until I get there? Where will I live when I get there? What AM I doing?
So it's easier to break it down into tiny steps. My focus right now is on Saturday: the Biology Content Praxis II exam. I'm finally feeling comfortable about the exam. My practice test scores have gone from 65% to 85% over the last six weeks, and I only need about a 70% to pass the test. I can DO this! (but I could still use your thoughts when Saturday rolls around. I am, after all, still an English major at heart).
When that's done (and I've finished cleaning my apartment in Lawrence), it will be time to focus on the pre-work I need to get done for Induction and Institute. It's a hefty amount, probably about 35 hours worth, but it shouldn't be a problem. I think (I haven't exactly looked at it yet) that it's mostly focused around the pedagogy of the job, and since I majored in education, this shouldn't be as big of a stretch as biology has been.
I'm very excited for Institute. I've received lots of information in the last week about what will happen when I get there, including interviewing with district principals and dinners with alumni and current corps members. I've applied for the Johns Hopkins School of Education. I've sent in every single piece of required paperwork. I've printed every informational piece of paper I've come across and organized them in a three-ring binder... that may not have been necessary, but I feel better after doing it. I'm reading about Inductions that have started in other regions and can't wait to share my experiences with others as well.
I can do this. I'm ready. Now I just have to wait.
So it's easier to break it down into tiny steps. My focus right now is on Saturday: the Biology Content Praxis II exam. I'm finally feeling comfortable about the exam. My practice test scores have gone from 65% to 85% over the last six weeks, and I only need about a 70% to pass the test. I can DO this! (but I could still use your thoughts when Saturday rolls around. I am, after all, still an English major at heart).
When that's done (and I've finished cleaning my apartment in Lawrence), it will be time to focus on the pre-work I need to get done for Induction and Institute. It's a hefty amount, probably about 35 hours worth, but it shouldn't be a problem. I think (I haven't exactly looked at it yet) that it's mostly focused around the pedagogy of the job, and since I majored in education, this shouldn't be as big of a stretch as biology has been.
I'm very excited for Institute. I've received lots of information in the last week about what will happen when I get there, including interviewing with district principals and dinners with alumni and current corps members. I've applied for the Johns Hopkins School of Education. I've sent in every single piece of required paperwork. I've printed every informational piece of paper I've come across and organized them in a three-ring binder... that may not have been necessary, but I feel better after doing it. I'm reading about Inductions that have started in other regions and can't wait to share my experiences with others as well.
I can do this. I'm ready. Now I just have to wait.
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