Student Teaching, Part 2

So I am 8 days into my second set of student teaching jobs. My first one was completed at Ronald Reagan Elementary which is located in the middle of a very wealthy neighborhood. This session I am at a very different school, on the opposite side of town, in a very poor neighborhood. One thing I have learned about this experience is that kids are kids, no matter how much money they or their parents have or dont have. They dont have more problems than the wealthier kids, they just have different problems. They are still kids that love playing games and sweating. It has been a very different experience than what I got used to at Reagan, but it has already taught me a lot. I only have 11 more days with these kids, because its summer school and we only go 4 days a week. I have 12 boys, and 6 girls...I sure do wish it was the other way around....boys may be less drama, but they sure can be rowdy!

Graduation Cashola

I have been left thinking about something lately. I got some graduation money from some friends and family. I have been left pondering what I am going to do with it. I think people give you money so that you can treat yourself to something you don’t normally get to do, you can buy something that you would normally pass on, you would spend it on something that really means a lot to you but you don’t have the money for it. Often times I want to take my most special friend out on a date…like a real date, but more times that not, I don’t have the spare cash. So last night we went on a date. Oh my goodness sakes, it was so much fun. We started at Johnny Rockets where we sat by the window and people watched for quite awhile. We had good food and great conversation. Next we headed down to Color Me Mine where we each painted a bowl for each other. It was Ladies Night…which we didn’t even know about….and so the studio fee was only 5 dollars, instead of 10. We picked out colors and made the bowls look exactly how we thought the other would enjoy. It was a blast! We finally left at around 9:30 (even though they closed at 9)…and we headed to Baskin Robbins. We got ice cream and found a bench to sit on. We talked and people watched for quite awhile. It was amazing. Every single moment of the night was perfect. I felt so great that I got to pay for everything all nigh. So for the people that gave me graduation money….thanks for the amazing gift of a great date with an amazing person.

It's so close I can almost taste it

All I have to say is I graduate TOMORROW! 17 hours from right now...There were days when I thought this would never come...but its here, and I couldnt be happier.

Friends

Angela, Mary, Camille, ME!!!! We had been out at

Relay for Life all day, so we are all a bit sunburned!

I just have to say that I have some pretty amazing friends. I may not have a long list of friends that goes on forever, but the ones that I do have, are wonderful. I get to live with one of my best friends. Angela has been there for me so much over the last 4 years. We have grown together and shared experiences that many don't even know about. We can do nothing at all and still have a blast together. She knows all my likes and dislikes and can pretty much complete my sentences. Amanda and I have been friends for something like 11 years. She is the one I go to if I want to hurt my stomach laughing. She is a constant source of support for me. Tammy...gosh this is a hard one. First of all, she is my boss, and I never would have thought that I could be this close to a boss, but we are. She is one of the most giving people I have ever met. She has a hard time saying no, because she loves people so much that she just wants to help. She has a wonderful and contagious spirit. My sister, Mary...she amazes me with her positive attitude. I blogged about her in my last post...she too loves people and wants to always do her very best. She didn't let obstacles get in her way of becoming the best kindergarten teacher. These girls, while they may not be perfect, are a great source of strength for me. They all accept me and all my baggage. I don't really know how else to say that they are some of my favorite people in the whole world and I just love them!


Oh...did I mention that if you dont count today or Saturday, I graduate in 2 days! WOO-HOO!!!

A few things

A few special things about today. First of all my sister turns 25. I told her the best thing about 25 is she can officially rent a car, but thats about all the good there is to this birthday. I dont know who the heck reads this blog, but if you dont know my sister, she is the most amazing person you will ever meet. She has a positive outlook on everything. She loves people, the way that I could only one day hope to. She has such a happy spirit...its rare that she says anything negative about life. I love her.

Next...let me tell you about my evening. Ang has been sick, so I was kind of worried that she wouldn't feel up to doing much. She got home and was in a great mood. We talked for awhile about our days. The kiddos came home a little later. Davis shared about his first day of HIGH SCHOOL summer school. Ang and I ate some leftover pizza, and then I turned on the Womens College World Series. It was a pretty good game and the Sun Devils came out on top...Game 2 is tonight. After we watched the game I was productive in putting away some of my winter clothes that I will not need for several months. After that the 4 of us played Guesstures. Oh my goodness sakes...we had so much fun. Everyone was in a good mood, nobody got their feelings hurt, everyone had fun and it was great. We played for a good hour and then it was time for bed. The rest of my evening was also amazing, but I will spare you the details.

Oh yeah, and the graduation countdown...if you dont count today, and you dont count the day I graduate, its only 3 days away. I have a final in my Computers and Society class and then I will be completely done with finals and projects and term papers.