Well, I guess it is time for another update! I can't believe it has been so long since I last posted. So many things have happened and I guess I will do my best to remember them all. First, last summer I kept myself very busy with grad school. I took three classes last summer, which kept my very busy. I then started student teaching in a special education preschool in August. I had a very difficult time during that placement. My Cooperating Professional (CP) and I did not get along very well. She was very critical of everything I did and no matter what I did it was not good enough. This was especially difficult for me because I am such a people pleaser. I ended up developing anxiety through this experience. Due to multiple reasons I withdrew from that semester (which meant no more student teaching). That was an incredibly difficult decision, but now I can see it was the best decision I could have made. As soon as I withdrew, my anxiety completely went away! November and December I was able to relax and not worry about class or school for the first time in three years. I had been going to school year round for the last three years, so I think it was really good that I was able to relax for a little bit.
In January, I started student teaching in second grade. I was a little nervous about how this placement would go, considering how the last one went. I LOVED second grade and my CP, Kate. I could not have had a better experience. I had a difficult class with some behavior problems, but I loved every minute of it and I know that my kids really liked me. I am actually going to surprise them next week on the last day of school and visit them :)! I am so happy that things went so well this spring. My confidence in myself skyrocketed. I realized what happened during the fall was not my fault. I did my absolute best. I know that now, and honestly I don't care what anyone else thinks. I know that I gave 100% to my kids and my preschool placement and that is all that matters to me.
Since I withdrew from school last fall, that means that I couldn't graduate this May. I will now graduate in December. That means that instead of frantically searching for a teaching job I am enjoying my summer in Charlotte. My parents live in Charlotte and I was able to get a job here working as a camp counselor. I am so excited for this experience and I know that this is part of God's plan for me. I love Charlotte and I have met so many wonderful people here. I plan on moving here in December after I graduate and then I will hopefully be able to find a job!
