I have not blogged in 5 months.
I didn't want to put that sentence in writing. I didn't even want to think it.
It started when the sentence was "I haven't blogged in a while." I was so busy with starting student teaching that I couldn't even fathom the thought of using my precious free time to do anything but sleep. Then the sentence became "I haven't blogged in a few months," but I look at the computer screen all day, so the last thing I want to do when I get home is look at it any more. Excuse after excuse after excuse. But I gotta tell you something, tribe: I miss it. I miss writing. And I miss you.
After the one-two-punch of my sister asking me to make business cards for her blog, and two of my friends from back home starting to blog (what up
Becca Joy To The World and
Poor Girl Dreams!), I decided it was time to get back in the game. Expect to see a lot more of me this semester. I will write more. Hold me to that.
So what have I been doing for the last 5 months, you ask? So many things! Okay, mostly just one thing. But a few other things sprinkled in there too. Let's recap, shall we?
I started student teaching
This one is obviously the most life-altering. I started grad school thinking I wanted to teach college - and
only college. After one week of teaching at an inner-city school, I knew I wanted to work with high schoolers long-term. My students are amazing. My school is an incredibly unique environment. My cooperating teacher is a crazy genius. I feel blessed every day to have been given the opportunity to learn here.
I started online dating
Oh, pick up your face. Every single person in NYC has either done it or considered it. It's not a big deal anymore. It was fun for about a minute until...
I stopped online dating
Because frankly, I did not have time, I was not ready for a relationship, and I am not the type of person that can just casually date people. So no, I'm not seeing anyone. Thanks for asking, though.
I became an "aunt"
My cousin Michelle gave birth to an amazing baby girl. Keira is the first baby I have instantly loved. In case you haven't heard, my cousins and I are pretty close. The fact that there's a whole new generation is pretty freeking badass.
I passed the Content Specialty Test
In order to become a certified teacher in New York State, you need to meet a few requirements, three of which are exams. I passed the general knowledge test and the ethics/teaching skills test this summer. All that was left was the CST - a notoriously hard test of American Sign Language skills. Well, folks, I passed. On my first try. That doesn't happen very often. I'm pretty gosh darn proud of myself for that one and in awe of the respect and congratulations I got from those around me.
I did not apply for a job
Despite the fact that I am just a mere diploma away from becoming a certified teacher, when a teaching job opened up in New Jersey, I did not apply for it. I realized I wanted to stick around and be there for my students, and that meant more than a paycheck or a job opportunity for me. Pretty cool thing to learn about myself.
I did apply for a job
Now that jobs are opening up for next school year, I am actively looking and applying for teaching jobs in the NYC area. Keeping my fingers crossed that the right opportunity comes my way.
I got the best birthday present ever
My cohort organized a little get-together on the weekend of my birthday, and they had a surprise up their sleeves. I walked into the room to find everyone decked out in Freekware. It was the greatest present anyone could have gotten me.
(Photos by my friend and wonderful party host, Mike)
I created a movie marathon
I unintentionally started a superhero movie marathon. In keeping with the theme of No Shave November, I dubbed it "No Bad Guys November." This isn't really an accomplishment or anything, but it was a pretty awesome use of my spare time.
I played hostess and tour guide
First, my cousin Jen stopped by NYC for work. It was the first time I really got to show off NYC as
my city to anyone in my family... even though we weren't exactly in my neck of the woods.
Then, my sister came to town to visit me for the weekend. We had an AMAZING time! We saw the New York City Ballet perform The Nutcracker, watched Daniel Radcliffe in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, met up with some of the Weddingbee bloggers, celebrated my good friend's birthday, went to the top of the Empire State Building, and generally made our own antics all around the city. It was perfection. You should read more about it
on her blog!
My thesis was destroyed
After spending a year developing my thesis topic, it was completely shattered when I realized I was too late to do the research. I am now back at square one and trying desperately to complete the work so I can graduate and get a job for Pete's sake.
I became an iMovie rock star
One of my biggest roles as a student teacher is editing the footage of my students signing. I work mostly with the Advanced ASL class, so they're doing some pretty high level stuff. We just finished doing action movies filmed in front of a green screen. I had to spend an entire weekend editing video and putting in backgrounds, but I am so proud of the final product. The best part? Not only do I get to put it in my teaching portfolio forever, I get to burn it to a DVD to give to my students so they can put it in their portfolios too. Fantastic.
So that's what's been going on up here. How have you been?
