Graduation

I had a cool experience last night of being part of the North Fremont High School graduation. This was an opportunity that I never had before, and may never have again. It was really neat to put on this robe, not as a graduate, but as a faculty member. I know I didn't have much influence on this graduating class, but it gave me a glimpse of the future of the students I am currently teaching. One day they will graduate, and they will think back on the teachers they have had... and for 47 students, I will be on that list of teachers they will think of at their graduation in 6 years. I will forever cherish this memory!

One Year Down.

Wow. I cannot believe this. I only have 4 days of school left in this school year. Really more like 3 days since, because of the rotating schedule, I actually don't have any classes to teach on Thursday. (I have prep hour and then I just have to do check outs.)

I just have been doing a little reflecting on this past school year. I seriously cannot believe how blessed I have been. I am eternally grateful to my loving Heavenly Father who guided me to this school at this time. My experience at North Fremont Middle/High School has been unforgettable. I have learned a TON and I have made some really great memories!

Also, I have made some really good friends. At first, I didn't know how I would really fit in at this school. I generally get along with people, but I didn't know if the age difference between my coworkers and me would make it difficult to develop actual relationships. But holy cow! They are totally the best people I could have asked for, especially for my first year of teaching. They took me in, took care of me, treated me like an equal... I am overwhelmed with the love I have felt from them. I honestly cannot thank them enough for the kindness they have showed toward me. I mean, how could you not love these guys?

I am so so SOOO excited about next year. I look forward to my new school with my new coworkers and my new students. I truly feel like this exactly where I should be this coming school year. I am so grateful, once again, to feel like Heavenly Father is guiding me to where I can make the most influence for the better. That being said, I am seriously going to miss North Fremont and all the teachers and students there. I wish I could just pick up that school and that town and those teachers and those students and transplant everything right here in Rexburg somehow. I know that can't happen, and I know I have made the right decision, but it sure has been a lot harder than I expected. I am an emotional person to begin with, but these tears sure are close to the surface...

Anyway. I am almost finished with my first year of teaching! I can't believe it! Oh my HECK I have had a BLAST! I love being a teacher. I never thought that I would end up being a teacher. I always had my sights on the medical field. But I could not be happier with my career choice. It is a profession I hope to never leave. Nelson Mandela said, "Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world." I could not agree more. I can now say, without a doubt, that I am passionate about being an educator.

Bryce in Boise

Wow! May has just FLOWN by! I cannot believe it. Bryce began his internship at the beginning of this month and HP. I can't even tell you how proud I am of him. He is such a hard worker. He works all day at HP and then goes home and works all night for Maura (his own business.) I just love him. And I totally miss him. I am glad that I have had such an incredibly busy month to help the time pass, or else I don't know what I would have done with myself. And guess what! A week from today Bryce is coming to Rexburg to help put stuff in storage and then we get to be together all summer! YAY! Just a few more days.

Just an update on Bryce's internship. He is totally loving what he is doing at HP. Right now he is writing a program that does hundreds of printer simulations so that HP can run tests on them. Pretty cool! I am SOOO happy that he is loving his internship. What a blessing!

One more week until we get to be together! I love you, Babe!

Change. I Like Change!

Life is crazy sometimes. Sometimes it hands you opportunities that you would have never expected to follow. Well, today life handed me one of those opportunities, and I grabbed it!

Let me give you a flash back of a couple weeks ago. A few weeks ago in faculty meeting, my principal announced his resignation at North Fremont and stated that he would be the new principal Kershaw Intermediate School in Sugar City.

A couple days later, my principal approached me and told me that there was a 4th grade opening at Kershaw, and that he wanted to invite me to move over with him. I turned him down fairly quickly because I felt like I had too much of a commitment at North Fremont. I love my position here. I love who I work with. I love my students. I love coaching soccer... But a couple hours later, I began to regret that decision not to take him up on his offer. As many of you know, I have wanted to be a 4th grade teacher for a REALLY long time. And Kershaw is 3 times closer to home than North Fremont. So I emailed him and told him that I would like to teach 4th grade at Kershaw.

The next day, my principal came up to me and sadly told me that he was informed that the old principal at the school he is moving to already extended the 4th grade offer to someone else. I was really disappointed.

The thought of teaching in Sugar City wouldn't leave my mind, however. I couldn't help but think how nice it would be to work so close to home. I couldn't help but think how nice it would be to work in an elementary school. I couldn't help but think how much I wanted to be a 4th grade teacher... my dream position.

So, I decided to start applying at schools here in Rexburg. As much as I have loved my first year of teaching in Ashton, as much I have LOVED my coworkers and students, and as much as I have loved coaching soccer, I knew that a change is what I wanted.

And GUESS WHAT????

I had an interview today at Kennedy Elementary School in Rexburg and twenty minutes later I was offered the job!

I am THRILLED! I cannot wait to be a 4th grade teacher next year! And the icing on top of the cake is the fact that my school is 3 minutes away from home. SOOOO STOKED!

So here is to change! I like change!

Monsters

This is the latest and greatest Burg to Boise lip sync video! It was a little premature, considering that Bryce didn't know all his lyrics (I knew mine because it was the same lines over and over...) but it was still super fun!