I feel really bad about letting my blog fall through the cracks. I found out that I actually had a few folks reading it... but just know that I had my reasons for putting down the pen. It's really dangerous to tell stories about what happens at school because, even if you don't use names, there is always the possibility that someone will figure out who I am talking about. I felt like, if I couldn't tell you the good stuff and be totally honest, it wasn't worth my time or yours. But now that student teaching is over, I feel that an update is in order:
1. Student teaching ended up being an amazing experience. I got super close with my fellow teachers and the kids FINALLY warmed up to me. The musical was incredible, ISSMA was full of gold ratings, and I made my conducting debut at the final concert. I taught several of the pieces and even choreographed a few numbers. I arranged a version of Justin Bieber's "Baby" for a guys' group that, with the choreography of our good friend Jamie, stole the show. After the concert, I immediately had to pack up my stuff and leave for Greencastle the next morning. Yay, graduation practice!
2. Graduation suuuuucked. We have this family joke that any time something good happens in my life, it rains. Seriously, it's creepy. It's been this way since high school at least. As soon as I stood up to get my diploma, it started to pour. LC got to get her diploma, and then they moved the whole show (minus our parents) into Meharry Hall. I had done a great job of keeping it together up to this point, but as soon as we left Meharry I started bawling about how unfair it was that some kids' parents didn't get to watch them graduate. Namely, my international student friends. It took two strawberry pina coladas from Cheeseburger in Paradise before I stopped crying. For a week after graduation, I moped around thinking about how alone I was going to be in E-town without my friends. Indy was far away, but E-town is farther.
3. Solution to this problem? Travel. I went to San Fran for a family vacation and had a blast watching the sealions. I consumed my body weight in sourdough bread, Irish coffee, clam chowder, and pinot grigio wine by the bay. I biked across the Golden Gate bridge, hiked through Muir Woods among the tallest trees in the world, and bought some super fancy tea in Chinatown. As soon as we got back, I had to take a couple more Praxis tests for Kentucky certification (so fun! not!) and filled out a crap ton of paperwork for them as well. Uncommon success: DePauw had us applying to the wrong licensure site all along. That's why I was having such a hard time getting my IN license. As soon as I finally got the IN license, things started falling into place. On July 8, I get my test scores back and can (hopefully) go sign my contract/ get into my classroom. Fingers crossed!
4. In other news... I've been apartment-hunting like crazy and plan to move to Newburgh, IN (a growing suburban area just outside of E-town) sometime in September or October. I want to get a few paychecks under my belt before I leave the nest. Elphie, my kitten, is very excited about a new place to explore, but she is sad that she won't have the dog to pounce on anymore. :-) All I've ever wanted is my own place with my cat. Dream. Come. True.
5. I've started collecting inspirational posters for my classroom.... why am I still numbering these things? Oh well.
6. I cleaned my room/closet for the first time in four years. It took me three full days... but I feel like I can stand to be in my room again.
7. I am going to buy a couch over the 4th of July weekend. SALES! Sofa shopping is so fun!
8. I've been teaching a few piano lessons, but only one day a week. Not really working is also fun.
9. I just got back from saying goodbye to my beloved Margaret in Indy. I will have to make another trip up to say bye to LC. Margaret is off to pursue her career in D.C., and Lauren will be attending the New School in NYC. Darn, I guess I have to go visit D.C. and NYC at some point this year... haha! So excited!
10. I just felt like I needed a number 10. It would be weird to stop at 9.
Thanks for reading! Have a great week, everybody!
