Ramblings After Another Week

Yesterday marked three full weeks of being an employed adult. After 4 1/2 years of college, it's strange to think that this chapter of my life does not have a defined ending point. Exams, classes, semesters all end, but a job doesn't...at least not in the same way. To me, especially as a teacher, my job is a commitment. Not a "til death do you part" commitment, but a "this is what I'm doing until someone makes it stop" commitment. Granted, I did just sign a paper informing me that my temporary position could be terminated at any point without discussing it with me beforehand, so this job could end sooner than expected. Ramblings aside, I'm playing a different ball game now, writing a new chapter.

I found out that I was not actually starting a new infant classroom, but taking the place of an assistant toddler teacher after some shuffling took place. During my first day and a half in that toddler room, I felt like I had been dropped in the middle of chaos. (Note: toddlers are not exactly the opposite of chaos!) The head teacher had not been sticking to the established routine during the two weeks with a substitute, plus they had just gotten a new bus driver. For anyone who knows young children, you know that all of those changes are a recipe for WHOA.

So, for the past week I've been adjusting to waking up at 4, new bus routes, spending all 9 hours of my shift (minus lunch) with my 8 toddlers, and getting comfortable with the kids and my coworkers.

Right now, I'm figuring out how to communicate with a head teacher who is just as quiet as I am, how to bridge cultural gaps that are big and small, how to get to know 8 new little personalities/temperaments, how to be an intentional toddler teacher, and how to survive 16 hour days that include 2-3 hours of me time. There are some days I think I won't be able to handle everything, and other days I'm more optimistic. I know I have a lot to learn and many ways to grow, so I'm praying for grace each day, just for that day, to do my best.

Another new facet of adulthood I'm figuring out is the 3-ish hours of my day devoted to commuting. The cold weather is the most difficult for me right now. Since I forsook one of my buses downtown in favor of walking 8 blocks (to stay warm), I've started to enjoy the atmosphere, the glimpses of the sunrise, and the overall quiet of the morning. If I could just keep all the feeling in my legs and feet, it would be much more enjoyable. I can't wait for spring now! Not only will spring bring warm body temperatures, but also the absence of ice on sidewalks, which will mean faster walking!

I've had plenty of warnings/advice on how to handle myself in North Minneapolis. Frankly, I'm not very worried during the daytime. When I encounter strangers on the street or bus, I want to be able to see past differences that are on the surface, not make assumptions based on first impressions. There are still moments where I get nervous or I'm sure that the people across from me on the bus are talking about me, but I just keep reminding myself that I am fine, the majority of the people around me are fine, and God is with me.

As I move into another week of adulthood, I hope and pray that God will make me adequate for what He has called me to do at this time. Overall, I am slowly learning and choosing to take responsibility for all facets of my life - I just regret that it has taken me this long to do so! And on that note, I now take responsibility for the clean laundry laying on the chair and the 8 hours of sleep I WILL get tonight!

O-bla-di, O-bla-dah

Life goes on.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have a job. Last Friday, I accepted a full-time position working as an assistant infant teacher in North Minneapolis. I will be working for an agency that serves a very diverse range of families and has an equally diverse group of employees! After being in training for one week, I have had plenty of time to process why I am excited, and why I am less than excited. These are listed below, partly for my benefit, but it will help you know more about what I will be doing!

Reasons why I am excited for this job:

• 40 hours/week = enough money to pay all of my bills.
• I get to work with babies! I love babies. :)
• The agency really cares about all-around excellence and provides great services for many families.
• They really emphasize the necessity of relationships and teamwork as part of our job, both with coworkers and families. It will be a great opportunity for me to build skills in this area.
• The employees I have met so far are fun, caring people who want to be there.
• Our training includes a wide variety of information that is going to be extremely helpful...I am going to be so well prepared!
• I'm going to buy myself some awesome scrubs to wear!

Reasons why I'm nervous/unexcited:

• I'm halfway through 2 weeks of training. 8 hours a day of ice breakers, Power Points, handouts, and various forms of lectures all taking place in a basement with no windows. It's like being in college all over again.
• My position, along with many others, are new and funded by federal stimulus money. In other words, it is temporary and has no guarantee of becoming permanent. They hope to make it long-term, but for right now I'm working on trusting in God's plan for me.
• As I planned, I have been taking the bus to and from work. My attitude towards this is a work in progress. It's hard not to resent my lack of car when I get on a bus far too early in the morning and can't feel my toes when I finally walk into work 90 minutes later, when my 30 minute layover in St. Paul is on a street corner with enough language to fill an R-rated movie, or when I have to ride the bus home with those cussing characters. I am reminding myself each day that I do not deserve to have a warm car ride to and from work.
• Between my 9 hour shift and 3+ hours of commuting, most of my day is spoken for. I can't really do much else besides unwind a little, eat and go to bed.

Overall, I feel very blessed to have found a job so quickly, and one that I am excited for! The women training us have mentioned multiple times how picky the agency is in who they hire, telling us that we are the best of the best. I never really thought of myself in that way, so I feel like I have big shoes to fill.

I would really appreciate your prayers as I continue in my first job as a teacher!