Tomorrow the Adventure Really Begins

So tomorrow is the first day of school. For the past 17 years I have been a student...tomorrow is the first day on the other side; as a teacher. Ever since I was in second grade I had a dream of becoming a teacher. As I grew up, the reasons behind that choice changed. When I was younger I just wanted to write on the whiteboard with markers, sit in a desk, and decorate the classroom. The older I got, I realized the true reason why I want to be a teacher: I want to teach children to love learning, I want to inspire my students to never give up in school; that they have their whole lives in front of them. Going into college, I knew I wanted to major in Elementary Education; I had no doubt. It wasn't until my June Term in Liverpool, England, that I knew there was nothing else I wanted to do, no other job I wanted to have after graduation. Then came student teaching. I could not have been more thankful and blessed to have had such an amazing experience; an amazing, helpful, mentor teacher and absolutely awesome 17 second grade students.

So tomorrow is the first day of school...as a teacher. My whole life I have been waiting for this day to come; the day I get to call a classroom of students my own, and tomorrow is that day. I have decorated my classroom, prepped all my materials, figured out lesson plans, and waited in anticipation for my 21 6th Graders to walk through that door.

So tomorrow is the first day of school...in Honduras. Yes, I knew I wanted to be a teacher but I had absolutely no idea where I wanted go and do that. I went back and forth between my home in Philadelphia and around western Michigan, where I went to college. Somehow I ended up here, in La Union, Honduras. Most people don't understand why I decided to teach in a different country, especially in Honduras, but they don't understand that to me, it doesn't matter where I am, all I really want to do is teach. I don't care how beautiful the school and my classroom are, how much I get paid, how many kids are in my classroom...all I want to do is teach. I understand your first year of teaching is going to be challenging no matter where you are.

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart" My heart is now in Honduras. The first day of my dream job starts tomorrow. Tomorrow the adventure begins.