"You've shown up to a writing class, and you haven't got a pen or paper? Oh dear we are off to a nice start aren't we?" (spoken in a British accent)
Of course this wasn't directed at me... I came prepared with enough supplies for half the class hehe. I knew going into this that there would be mass amounts of "kids" aged 18+, but I've never felt so much older than those kids as I did yesterday.
I was prepared with all of the necessary books and supplies, minus the two I have on order waiting for them to come in at the campus bookstore. What I couldn't believe was the fact that I was in the EXTREME minority by being prepared. People showed up without a pen or paper. Really folks?? I was asked probably 10 times what "bookstore" I was talking about. Students seemed shocked to find out there was one on campus. Many people in my math class didn't have their sign in information for the computer, the instructor just stood there dumbfounded. I think someone forgot to tell these guys that their moms wouldn't be with them. Hey guys, you might actually have to do some stuff while you are in the school. Needless to say I'm feeling very "mother hen" right now. But you know, isn't that a good thing? After all being a mom is what I know. That kind of sounds weird, but I just mean that helping people, and teaching others just might be the choice I was suppose to make all along. I think it points to a passion that is going to develop over the next 4 years, and one that will make for a great career of fulfillment.
I have wanted to be a teacher as far back as I can remember. I entertained a small handful of other ideas that I'd really rather learn more about for personal enrichment- for example: hair coloring, wedding planning, baking... those are things that interest me, but that I don't think I'd like to do on a daily basis. Hobbies that would be fun as a side job here and there, but the truth is I really just want to enhance the lives and education of little kids. I can't wait to tell them the first day of school that my name is Mrs. Green- just like the color... and hear them giggle because it's silly. I can't yet imagine the payoff I'll be getting the moment I see the "light bulb" click on in little Suzy's eyes as she finally gets a new concept. I want to make a difference out there in the world.
I have a lot to learn. How do you use a semicolon properly? When are you suppose to use whom instead of who.... How exactly do you teach a child to read? When was the War of 1812? (Just kidding... hehe even I can figure out that one...) but you get the idea.
We were asked in English to take out a piece of paper and write about why we are "here". The only thing you couldn't say was "to get a job/make money/get an education"- because of course you are here for that. After writing we got in groups of four to read ours aloud to the group. After we all read we were to select one that would be read to the entire class. Our group chose mine almost immediately after reading them all. I was surprised. Here are these three girls- none of which are a day over 20, and they all instantly think what I had to say was the best. (I like all of theirs, and didn't even get in on the vote). The deal was whoever got picked didn't have to read their own. So since they picked mine one of the other girls had to opt to read it aloud. Group one goes- the guy reads probably 2 sentences. Basically "I'm here because its what I'm doing", group 2 goes and it's just a tad longer, basically he elaborates on education. My turn. I feel instantly weird because I'm the only one with kids and I wrote personal info not knowing we were reading aloud. The girl starts reading mine and to sum it up I said that I'm here to accomplish something I can be proud of. That my family is filled with high school dropouts. That I am a mother of three children and I want to teach them that you can do anything you set your mind to no matter what choices you've made. That I've never felt capable or deserving of doing this. But that I was going to to end the cycle of dropouts, and to be proud of me.
The room was silent. When the girl stops reading the instructor (in his super cool British accent, making it sound way cooler and more important) says "wow, you've got three kids, and you're gonna give this a go? Wow, that's really commendable, that's inspiring there. How old are your kids?" I answer, "10,7 and 18 months." "18 months?? so you've got to go home, do your homework, help two kids with their homework and take care of a baby?" he says. I say "yes, it's going to be hard..." so he tells me "you stick with this. That's great, three kids. See folks you can all do this." Self doubt is getting harder to have with all of you fantastic people here to lift me up.
English was the end of the day (thank God for his accent that spices things up a bit, because usually I find English and History to be the most boring... I know I know. terrible.) The rest of the day was ok. Math 99 is to my delight basically independent study, we did an assessment and so I'm only working on what I don't know, instead of relearning everything. History was... well... history. My bigger concern is Human Geography. My instructor is from Romania. Like- only been here 8 years or so... her accent is so thick I'm not sure I'll understand a darn word. That concerns me, she posts power points for us to print of her lectures, so I'm hoping that I can read along, or that over time I become accustomed to the accent and just learn how to interpret it. Oh and it's basically another "history" class... or falls in the same type of category. Blah lol. Who knows, maybe now that I'm older and actually care it will become more interesting. After all my priorities have changed. Getting a note passed to someone, or seeing a cute guy after class is no longer my number one school day "To-Do"s.
So there you have it folks, day 1.
~Til next time ~K
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