I can't believe it - I have survived my first year of teaching!
It has been an ambivalent year. I, myself, have grown and been stretched farther than I have thought possible. I have learned patience in a multitude of scenarios and also the meaning of grace. I have learned how mental health is just as important as your physical health. (More on that in a later post.) I have learned that the students I have been around impact how I think and act as much as I do to them. I have learned that the secret to getting things done comes with allowing yourself small victories and just taking one bite of the elephant at a time.
My heart sits heavy in my chest, knowing that I am leaving Weatherford behind. A new chapter of my life is beginning in July and with it, a change in where I will be teaching. ( I know - I'm coming back for more! How crazy am I?) And, while, yes, I will miss these students and work friends/peers that I have gotten to grow within the last year, I know that God has a plan for the future.
There are other people that I am to meet - other people who are going to help mold me into a better human. There are other people that hopefully, I'll influence as well.
At this time, I am unsure of where that place is. I'm waiting to hear back from some different school districts (that's the worst part of job hunting - waiting), but I know that wherever I end up is where I will need to be.
This year was hard (I would be lying to say otherwise) and we, as a team, had a lot of weird and chaotic things thrown our way. There were definitely some mishaps and growing pains experienced, but I do feel that we are all walking away from each other on a positive note.
Going into this school year, I was terrified of making it out. Everything seemed so far away and there were times I swear that one school day dragged out the length of the week. As we crept closer to May, I found myself wanting to slow everything down! My time here was quickly coming to a close and I didn't want to let go of everything just yet.
Turns out that God always knows what He's doing - even if I can't see that far into the future.
Basically, this post is to say, thank you Weatherford High School, for teaching me so much about myself, my teaching style, and how to be a better human. You have given me more tools in my toolbox to carry with me to whatever school follows. Thank you for preparing me for what lies ahead.
Onto the next great adventure!
-Kaity
