On a happier note, my MAT classes this term are awesome. Since I am focusing on special education rather than elementary education (grant it I am getting endorsements in both) I am only in three method classes; science, math and language arts versus all six of them at the same time. I am also taking two special education classes as well. I just got a school placement to one of my favorite elementary schools in Salt Lake City! I cannot wait to get started in that school. I will be working with the special education teacher and I hope it will be a positive learning experience. I have heard excellent things about her so I am keeping my fingers crossed. What I am really looking forward to is working in two different after school programs this term. I think after school programs are a vital aspect towards helping our future children stay in school, build confidence, and keep them from engaging in RISKY behavior like drugs and gangs. I have a dream of starting my own after school program once I become a teacher, so having the opportunity to work in some will so helpful.
Since money is tight, I had to get a job on top of all the other requirements I have in my life. But I didn't want to settle on any job, I wanted one that could help build my resume and give me experience. So I created a profile on www.care.com which is a free sight to post a profile, resume, background check, and references for pet sitting, day care, special needs care, tutoring, housecleaning, and helping senior citizens. I applied for tutoring and special needs jobs constantly but no messages were sent back to me until last week. I was messaged by this mother who has a three and a half year old son with autism. She has these therapy sessions five days a week, for two hours each day working to improve the four cognitive areas that he is developmentally slower in. She wants me to be one of two tutors for her son Bryceson! I went to her house and observed one of the therapy sessions and was completely blown away. Before winter break I was starting to doubt if I wanted to become a special education teacher, and just observing him for two hours and seeing what the program was liked reaffirmed by desire and my dream to teach special education. Seriously I am born to teach kids like Bryceson and help turn them into the best students, and persons they can be. Working in this program allows me to work one-on-one through using positive, verbal reinforcement, help to develop and better different cognitive areas that he struggles with as well as get first hand experience working with a child that has autism. I will be collecting data on the interventions I try with him like a real special educator in a classroom! The coolest part to all of this is that I get to watch him grow up and see all the improvements he has made as well over the course of my time with him. I am so blessed to have been given such a wonderful opportunity. He is the cutest kid too and he loves to climb and I like to climb so we'll be a perfect match!
So while this term will kick my butt, it will also be so much fun. My friend Sean (whom just moved to Thailand to seize an opportunity and pursue his dream of becoming a professional blogger) basically wrote that we all need to be doing things that make us happy, and we need to take advantage of opportunities that come our way and I am doing that! He also went on to say that we should go after all of our dreams in life and not settle on something that does not make us happy and I totally agree. I am going after the career aspiration of my dream and I am having so much fun learning how to become a teacher that I could scream. Here I thought school could never be fun, but man was I wrong about that! So I am going to spread his message: GO AFTER YOUR DREAMS, GET THAT JOB THAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS WANTED! If I can do it, anyone can do it!
Cheers to you all and good luck my friends. Let me know the steps you are taking towards seizing your opportunities and following your dreams and I'll keep you posted on my progress as well
