Birthday Reflections

Let's see.... there are 365 days until I turn 30. Jesus....30. I never thought I'd see that day! It's amazing to think that I've lived for this long.

Remember when 10 years seem like such a long time? Like when we graduated from high school and the thought of a 10 year reunion was so far-fetched? (not that I'd ever go, and didn't). But still. Now 10 years seems like nothing. Let's see, where was I in life 10 years ago, August 17, 1998?

I had just spent a year (well, almost) at UMD. It was a very hard time for me, but I managed to find a group of incredibly amazing friends, most of whom I have to this day. I remember I had a birthday party that year. I was living back home in Chelms-hell with my parents. It was a weird party because my 20cent friends were there, along with Valerie (who didn't know any of them at the time), Leah, and Taryn! We managed to have a really good time. Vorg was there too. I remember he ended up staying over that night. He slept in the guest bedroom, but tried to sneak into mine early in the morning. Alli, our dog, had other plans! She woke up when he did and barked to get the rest of us up! LOL Poor boy. What am I talking about... poor me too! LOL
I was working at the Westford Regency, I believe. I had real short hair still, and fake nails. I was still really depressed, but was starting to work towards getting better. I did register for MCC that coming fall. That was my saving grace. It really was. It gave me a sense of purpose, and the self esteem to actually succeed academically for the first time in my life.

There's me, getting all sentimental! This year, on my birthday, I feel like I'm in another transition. I'm in a job that I am very unsatisfied with. I wanted to start teaching this year, but no one has even called me for an interview. I feel stuck. I'm not making enough money to pay the bills, I'm not at all intellectually challenged, and I don't get any respect.

But, I am getting married in 55 days! Yikes! I'm going to be a Mrs! I have decided to keep my name, but add Jake's at the end. Meaning, Sandra Marie Picard Stevens. I feel good about that. Now I don't have to give up the Picard, which I feel is a little piece of my birth father I've kept with me. And that's not a knock towards my life father. I love him, but he's able to be an active part of my life where my birth father can't. I hope I've honored my life father with all I've done (though I don't think he sees it that way).

Anyway, it's late and I'm jabbering. I'll probably edit this tomorrow!

Cheers and thanks for all the birthday wishes everyone!

Yay!

I got my Massachusetts Eductor's license in the mail! I am so excited! I hope to be called for more interviews now! Woot!

This is really starting to sink in! I spent the day at Westford Academy with Evan last week and it was really cool. I liked being able to commune with teens. It was a bit daunting before, but now I think I'm going to be OK! I'm going to teach!

MERC

So I am going to the MERC job fair on Wednesday. I am so scared because I really don't have any teaching "philosophies" and such yet. I'm afraid people are going to be asking me questions and I'm going to have to BS my way through it!

I know... I just listen to what everyone else is saying! Cha!

On the path

So I found out on Friday that I passed the third of the three teacher's tests I needed to take in order to apply for liscensure! I am very excited! I mean, I knew I was going to pass it, but still. It's good to know for sure!

Now I have to buckle down and start working on my teaching resume. Which will be interesting, considering the only teaching experience I have is one year of Hebrew. But, Heahter and Evan pointed out some experiences I've had that would be good to add. For instance, tutoring for Bar Mitzvah and training new employees in other jobs. I'm wondering if I should put down my Life is Good Productions experience. I mean, we made $ for the JDRF, but the only face-to-face contact I had with the kids was a Halloween party for the summer camp. I guess that could count.

I am getting a little nervous about interviewing too. I mean, are they going to see through me and see that I have no real teaching experience? Are they going to be laughing on the inside, knowing that the teenagers are going to have me for breakfast?

I don't know. Evan gave me a bunch of good reading material that I'm working through. I'm hoping that, along with my inner nerd, will help me get through my first year. Also, I'm REALLY interested in working at Nashoba Tech. From what I saw on their website, it's more of a college atmosphere than a white-bred college prep high school. The kids there seem to really enjoy going to school. They get to choose which real-life skills they want to learn. Plus, you have kids coming together from several different towns into one school. There won't be that 9-12 years of built up crap that kids in other high schools deal with. So it seemed on their website, anyway.

So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed both for getting a teaching position by the fall, and for not being eaten alive by 15-year-olds.