17 May 2010

Where Credit is Due

For many schools across the country, tonight was graduation. The night a high school student began stepping out in the real world.

My little brother graduated tonight. I can hardly believe it's already been 18 years - that he's going off to college in the fall and that he's starting his own life. I feel like I've missed out on so much because I went to college during some of the most pivotal years in his life. I left when he was just a munchkin and now he's all grown up. Hard to believe the only time I cried tonight was when the salutatorian gave his speech (I'm such a sap...), but alas, it is finished. 16 years of school, a lot of hard work, money, tears, joys, and memories are represented with one piece of paper. They turn their rings, move their tassels, have their 10 seconds of fame and it's all over. Just like that.

And I sit there and wonder the sorts of memories each graduate has made. The relationships that have peaked and waned. The fact that tonight is the last night they will ever see each other all together for the rest of their lives.

I remember when I graduated the speaker said, "You don't know what's going to happen to each of you in the next 10 years. More than likely, most of you will never speak to each other again (that was before Facebook). Classmates might pass away. Most of you will move cross country, or across the world. Look around you. Tonight is the last night you will ever see everyone in your class again. There are no guarantees everyone will make it for the 10 year reunion for many reasons. But whatever life may bring, good or bad, you will always belong to THIS class. That relationship will never change."

Funny, I don't remember who spoke at my graduation but I remember the message. Every time another graduation rolls around I think of those words and of how they relate to every class that crosses the stage. That time is precious.

Ah well. It's over for another year. There are at least 98 new alumni and alumnae in this city who are ready to tackle the world.

It's yours for the taking, graduates! May you do many wonderful things in the years to come.

Congratulations, Class of 2010!

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On another note:

I went to the hospital on Friday to see J and get an update on her condition.

I am happy to announce that she is doing better! I didn't get to talk to her, unfortunately, because by the time I got to see her, she was so hopped up on meds that she was asleep. I don't blame her, though. Sleep is good for the soul. And for getting over injuries.

I talked to her mother to see if she could shed any light on the situation at hand and where things might progress from there. While I don't have any definitive information (because there really isn't any), they do expect her to make a hopeful full recovery. Her mother told me that her injuries were to the front part of her head where her personality is stored, so she's not sure if J will be the same when she wakes up or not. Or when she wakes up - as in time relative to date. As in, will J wake up in 2010 or in 2006? sort of thing.

I've been praying hard for her and so have many other people so I guess it's good that I stalk Facebook because I have another tid-bit of news.

A friend of J's (I will call her Gena since there are so many "she's" in this post. Sorry!) wrote that she went to visit J and that J remembered Gena and talked to her! That can only mean that (a) The respirator has been removed [yippee skippee!] and (b) J's memory hasn't been affected very much, if at all.

I cannot tell you how encouraging it was to read that! I do pray that J will make a swift recovery and will be back on her feet in no time. I am planning on going to the hospital again to visit her sometime soon and will update again when I get more information. We don't know how much longer J will be in the hospital (it had already been 10 days last Friday), but hopefully a speedy recovery = going home soon.

Thanks to everyone who has been praying! Keep it up so J can go home soon and get back to a normal life.

Have a blessed week, everyone!

Aimee

12 May 2010

It's hard to fathom...

So, I'm pretty much an emotional wreck right now.

Why?

I'll tell you.

You know about Facebook, right? Good. Well, I get most of my important information about my friends from this social networking site because I stalk it like nothing else (hehe!). About a week ago, I noticed that I had been asked to join a group in my little notifications section on my home page. Curious, I clicked on it with the usual intention of ignoring the group and going about my merry way in life. When I clicked on the group, my entire world froze - I literally stopped breathing for a minute and sat in shock. I couldn't believe my eyes. No way, this couldn't possibly be happening!

I won't divulge the title of the group I was asked to join in order to protect the privacy of those involved, but I will tell you the group was asking for prayers for someone I knew. Someone I taught. At a school I fell in love with. My all girl's school.

I did a little poking around on the page to find out what happened and this is what I came up with:
Slipping in and out of consciousness (I can't type that without crying). She has swelling in her brain and is in the ICU.


I won't go into how it happened because it really doesn't matter. She made a silly decision and now she has to pay a horrible price for it.

But I'm not here to bash her. Goodness knows she doesn't need that. I'm here asking for prayers for her. Chances are you who are reading this have no idea who this is and probably never will. But we're used to praying for people we really don't know, right? Please. I'm imploring you. She needs all of the God-send we can give.

The last update I had said this:
She was doing better yesterday but things got really bad last night. The swelling spiked and she's back on the paralytic in the coma and has a 101.5 fever


I also got some information that she might have to relearn some of her behavior because that's the part of her brain that has been damaged. I'm not a doctor, so I have no idea what part of the brain that is. The only thing I know is that this is serious and that I, her teachers, her classmates, her friends, and her family want her to get better. She was one of the students that I connected with the most while I taught there. She was bubbly and energetic and quite a character. I loved having her in class as much as everyone else. I know they want to see her again.

If I get any more updates, I'll be sure to post them. Until then, let's just keep this here. Don't spread anything - it leads to rumors and those usually aren't true.

If I get her hospital information, I'm going to try to visit her. In the meantime, please keep J in your prayers.

God bless you all!

Aimee

11 May 2010

Exciting News!

Just thought you should know that I have my very first teaching interview tomorrow. Yay!! It's at a school I absolutely love and have wanted to work at for some time. Please pray that I do well!

I will let you know if anything comes of it. It's a pretty prestigious position and school so anything could happen.

Wish me luck!

01 May 2010

The End of the Road...Almost

Well, it's snuck up on all of us but the end of the school year is almost upon us. I can't believe how fast it has gone by!! In just about 2 weeks, the seniors (of which my little brother is one) will graduate and go their respective ways to college or jobs or who knows what else. They can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I'm not sure all of the teachers are ready to see them go. I know I'm not, but time must go on and they all must grow up at some point.

Hard to believe that exactly a year ago, I was student teaching. That seems like ages ago, but also like yesterday. A year has gone by so fast! I have definitely learned a great deal since then, probably more than I realize. I know that my decision to stay at home and substitute was the best one because it (a) helped me grow as a teacher in different circumstances and environments and learn how to cope and adjust at a moment's notice, (b) helped me get ideas about how to make my future classroom friendly, educational, and interesting without being overly distracting, (c) helped me see what sort of environments I DON'T want to be a part of and those I DO. I really feel like I have grown more substituting than I did student teaching in some aspects. During student teaching, I learned how to manage my time around planning and a social life as well as form lessons to reach a variety of learning styles. During substituting, I have managed some classroom management skills (most of which require the class to EARN privileges) that I really have a concept of while student teaching. I have also learned while subbing that HOW a teacher runs his or her classroom while they are there speaks a lot about how they will act in their teacher's absence. If the teacher is too lax, the substitute cannot gain sufficient control in their absence. On the other hand, teachers who have excellent control of their classroom tend to have better behaved classes in their absence. Of course, it depends on the age group and maturity level of the students. And boy have I had some doozies this year :-) I choose to look at all challenging classrooms as an opportunity to enhance my management skills. If something doesn't work for one class, I try something different with the next one. If it works, I keep doing it. I can only get better in management - and, again, it's different for every age group. I love the challenge some days - others I just wish they would get over themselves and behave. I knew going into subbing that students would not respect me as much as their teacher, so I braced myself early on for misbehavior. It's actually helped quite a bit as I expect some things to happen and am not too torn up about it if I have to get on to a student for their behavior. Again, it's a learning experience every day.

As much as I wanted a classroom of my very own this past year, I look back and realize I wasn't ready for one. I had to mature a little in the education arena before tackling my own classes. Whether or not I have matured enough is another story, but I have definitely grown and feel more confident about taking on my own group of students - wherever I get a job.

Let me just pause and say:
Thank you to the schools who have given me an opportunity to grow and train myself more in the education arena. It has helped more than I could have possibly imagined. Thank you for all of the feedback you have given me throughout the year. Thank you for still calling on me when things go wrong on occasion (and I'm referring to the last post...). Thank you to the teachers who have trusted me with their kids - some for more than a day. I have grown to love each grade in their own ways. And finally, thank you to the students who have had to put up with me all year! Thank you for your patience when I seemed lost and confused. Thank you for the laughs and the smiles. Thank you for being flexible with a stranger in front of you. I love each and every one of you and I have loved getting to know some of you.

Moving on :-)

I have absolutely loved subbing because of the lessons I have learned throughout the year. In some ways, I'll miss the unpredictability of it all and the chance to have different students every day. But honestly, I feel like I am ready to finally tackle the classroom on my own, bring out all of those awkward quirks of my teaching style, and get students excited and interested in what I love. I will never forget what I have learned this past year.

Thank you all for helping to prepare me for the road ahead. It has been such a blessing.

In Him,
Aimee