It's the End of the Year as We Know It.

Well, at least if you're in school/teaching school.

Friday was my last day as a teacher at Lone Peak. As the day started out, I was feeling just content. As I finished cleaning out my classroom and getting the files I wanted off the computer, I just felt like I had done a pretty good job of teaching, but I was ready to head out on to some other adventure.

Then, when it actually came time to walk out of the school forever, I felt like crying.

Not because I didn't do a good job, and I was suddenly overwhelmed with regrets, but because I wasn't going to be a physics teacher anymore. I mean, I might get a job in Pennsylvania, but there might not be a job for me to get. Leaving something that I'd become comfortable with for some great unknown suddenly was quite overwhelming, and a little bit sad.

Today, I'm not so sad. I'm proud of myself for actually enjoying my first year of teaching. All I heard in college was how awful the first year is, and how you just have to get through it. I think I did better than just surviving it (at least most days :).

Also, on the way home, I remembered that I'm teaching summer school this summer. That starts on Monday. I guess I just don't have time to really miss it yet. Maybe I'll feel sad again in the fall without my bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils. Maybe I'll be too excited about our move to Pennsylvania to be really sad about it. I guess if I really feel sad, I can always go out and buy some school supplies to console myself. I sure do love those pencils and post-it notes.

So What if I Already Blogged Once Today?

I had to blog again, if only to make the announcement that:

*insert fanfare here*

I Have a Job Next Year!

And it's even in the field in which I graduated. Sure, I'm not getting hired in History, but that wasn't really expected. No friends, I am going to be, as my mom so kindly put it, a nerdy physics teacher next year at a local high school.

All of those hard times in physics classes now seem so worthwhile. I guess I better brush up on my basic high school physics concepts though...I got a lot of learnin' (or re-learnin') to do before I start teaching students the phun of physics.

Also, in case you were wondering, the donut place hasn't called me back. I think I might have been rejected from that particular job. Oh well. News like this certainly softens the blow!

It's Not for Naught!

I have worked pretty darn hard to get through the classes for my physics teaching minor, and about a month ago, I had to take the determining test that would say whether or not I was qualified enough to teach physics. I am happy to report that, upon opening up my score sheet yesterday, I found that I had gotten a score of 145, which is 9 whole points above where I needed to be in order to be licensed to teach in Utah.

In fact, last night I looked at the score requirements for all the other states that require the praxis test, and my score is good enough to be licensed in all those states except for three: Indiana, Virginia, and New Hampshire. I'm off by 1-2 points there.

Seriously though, this is SUCH a blessing. This score means that, in a week, when I'm all done and graduated, I will be fully qualified to teach both history and physics.

Now, I just have to find a job somewhere.

Rejected

Today I got a letter from a school district rejecting me from a job that I never applied for.

It read: "Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to consider you for the social studies teaching position at our school. Your qualifications are impressive; however, we have offered the position to another candidate."

That's too bad. I sure hope this isn't setting a standard for my future job searches.

Connections to Student Lives...

About a week ago, we were learning about the underground railroad. After explaining to students that it was really dangerous, and that slaves were leaving under cover of darkness, etc. etc. etc...

...A student raises his hand and then proceeds to relate his family's border-crossing experience. Complete with how they had to leave at night, and how they had to run, and they were worried about being questioned, etc. etc. etc.

Yikes. How DO you transition gracefully from that?

Reformers, and just 2.5 weeks.

Today in class we talked about religious revivals and the kinds of sermons that were given there. At the end of class the students wrote down something they could give a "sermon" on, and 4-5 points that they would make in order to get people to believe what they were saying. Students picked topics on everything from recycling to chocolate to bacon. The students talked among themselves and decided who it was who would give their sermon to the class. We ended up with 2 students in each class who gave their sermons and then students voted on who they would have followed. Students really got into the speeches, and many of them gave them in proper hellfire and brimstone style. The best one came from a student who's topic was also one of the most original.

Yes, that's right. He wrote a sermon about how he had a vision of "thousands, nay, millions of inanimate voices crying" and when he found out what they were, they were carrots, crying out because they were afraid of being harvested.

I tell you what, that kid almost persuaded me to be strictly a carnivore...or maybe a vegan. :)


In other news, I have only 2.5 weeks and about 7 more lessons...wahoo!

After a Murderous Physics Test...

Nate made me feel better by getting me some lunch, and then we went on over to this website. While looking around, we found this:
Which helped me laugh enough to be ok with everything...at least until grades come out. That, and the fact that selling back my physics textbook got me 99 dollars. Hope you're all not feeling stressed, and are instead, enjoying the spirit of the season. Merry Christmas!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Semester

Today is the second to last day of classes, and I wish I could really express to you how excited I am. The best part about this is that I don't have any other classes to take, just student teaching next semester, and then I graduate.

To me, once the last day of class is over, I'm so excited. Finals week is kind of a do-or-die kind of time, and once I take the test, it's really over. Also, the best part of this is that we get to celebrate Christmas once finals are over. Seriously--this is wonderful!

AND there are presents under the tree. This is so good.

Maybe just blogging more often is the goal...

Yesterday we went and saw "Hello Dolly" at a local high school. It was really good. I was impressed with the soloists, and only a little disappointed that I couldn't quite understand the whole group numbers. The people were really talented though. It was great.

Yesterday we went to get our car tested for safety again, and the guy failed us. He said something needed to be fixed that the mechanic said didn't. Unfortunately, this means that we have to fix it, or we don't pass. Thankfully, the mechanic is giving us a little bit of a discount on fixing it, even though he thinks it's silly. I'm grateful for this guy's customer service skills. Honestly, if you need your car fixed, we highly recommend Midas on State Street in Orem. They're great.

Today, I had to take two tests. First, Modern Physics in the Testing Center, and then another midterm in another class right afterwards. Because of devotional, I couldn't take my physics test until 12...which meant I only had an hour and a half to do it. Needless to say, I was a little bit stressed. Nate was a total sweetheart though, and left me a note and some fruit snacks to find when I was done in the testing center, and is currently making some dinner stuffs and doing the dishes. Boy howdy, did I ever snag a good one.

Also, I think the tests both went moderately well. So that's nice too.