Drumroll please...

Most people who will read this blog probably already know this by now, but I figured I should share the news since some big changes in my life are quickly approaching.

I'll just start by saying I applied for A TON of teaching jobs here in SC and had several interviews, but I was never offered a position. I was getting so frustrated and felt like I would never find a job. I felt like principals liked me, but weren't really giving me a chance. I am creative and I truly try to keep students engaged in what they are learning. I felt that I was interviewing well, but I guess I was never what they were really looking for in the end.

The last weekend in April I went out to Arizona to visit Holly and attend a huge teacher job fair. I believe I mentioned that I was going in a previous blog post. I brought about 50 resumes and I handed almost all of them out to different districts in the Phoenix area. On my resume I stated that I am certified in both English and Theatre, but in general I was telling folks at the fair that I was certified in English because more schools are looking for English teachers than Drama teachers.

I made my way through rows and rows of tables and then I came to the Tolleson Union High School District table. I gave them my resume and told them I was looking for an English position, but the man saw that I am an instructor at the South Carolina Children's Theatre and asked if I was Theatre certified as well. I told him I was and then he told me to come back to the table a little later because they had a principal in their district that was looking for a FULL TIME drama teacher.

I went back and met the principal and she asked me to come take a look at the school and the performing arts center the following Monday. I told her I was a little bit at the mercy of my sister since I didn't have my car out there and that she had a dentist appointment that afternoon. The principal told me she would wait for me, even until 5:00 if she had to. They finish school at 2:30, so I felt like that was really saying something!

I arrived at the school that Monday afternoon and had a mini-interview with the principal and a second administrator. Then, the principal showed me the performing arts center (PAC) and classrooms, yes, classroomS. The drama program has a regular classroom fit for giving lectures and book work, then also a classroom for getting up and moving around. Then, there is the PAC. The building and all of the technology is less than two years old, plus there is a shop!

At the end of our tour, we went back to her office and the principal told me that if I'd like to join them, they'd love to have me as their Drama teacher, full-time, meaning that's all I'd be teaching. I told her that I really needed to think and pray about it and asked if there was a certain time I needed to get back to her. She told me that there was no pressure and I could take as much time as I felt necessary to make my decision. That was such a blessing. I took about a week really thinking about everything and then emailed her letting her know I'd like to take the job!

I was a little timid to announce this to the world via blog or Facebook because I was afraid something would go wrong with my application for reciprocity, but I got my Arizona certificate in the mail on Saturday, so I felt like it was safe to let everyone know about my exciting news! I'm so nervous about it having to design AND direct AND teach, but I know that I have excellent resources available and that the Lord will help me to keep my life under control as I embark on this new adventure!

Things I'm Obssessed With Right Now

Here is a list of some things that I'm obsessed with right now:

1. Doctor Who. I finally did it, I started watching Doctor Who. I have watched 5 1/2 seasons in just under 3 weeks. It is seriously cutting into my reading time, which is really bumming me out, but I CAN'T STOP WATCHING. I only have a few episodes left on Netflix, which makes me both happy and sad. Happy because I'll get my normal life back, but sad because I'm in love with that mad man with the blue box! I also read that Matt Smith is leaving the show, and I'm very sad about that. I loved Christopher Eccleston and I loved David Tennant even more, so I thought I would never get used to the new Doctor, but he is fabulous! He is so emotional, which I adore about him, I'll be sad to see him go :(

2. William Shatner circa 1966. Captain James Tiberius Kirk is a total fox, he is also the most overacted character I believe I have ever seen. In addition to watching Doctor Who, I've also been watching Star Trek, the SUPER old ones. I must say, I think they did an amazing job finding actors for the new movies that actually look like the ones from the original series. Chris Pine is far better looking than William Shatner and the same goes for Zachary Quinto and Leonard Nimoy, but they really look like younger versions of their original counterparts! I am in the first season of the original series, so I have many more episodes ahead of me.

3. Getting back into reading plays. I've been reading, well re-reading, some great ones, like The Glass Menagerie and several great Shakespearean plays. I forgot how much I miss reading something and figuring out how to stage it in my mind. I'd love some suggestions on plays to read, assuming someone is actually reading this blog, what are some good ones that y'all have read?

Anyways, that's all for now. I haven't blogged in quite a while and I figured I should put something up here.

Adventures in Food Dehydration

I've been diabetic now for almost 15 years. I've had a very hard time controlling it pretty much my whole life because I've never had good eating habits. Well, I went to see a diabetes dietician during Spring Break and she told me that in order for me to finally get on track with my health, I should try to eat 6 small meals a day, 30 carbs each.  Basically, I eat like a hobbit. Breakfast, second breakfast, elevensies, and so forth.

One thing I've really enjoyed eating as part of many of my meals is dried fruit. I decided I should try to dry my own, because dried fruit can get expensive if you are eating a lot of it. I went on a search for a food dehydrator. I looked at Target with no luck and then at every department store in the mall and none of them had one either! I figure I'd just have to buy one online. But lo and behold, yesterday at Walmart I found one, and it was on sale!

I'm sure there are much nicer ones out there, but this one gets the job done. First, I dried strawberries, green apples, blueberries, and bananas. All of them were delicious. They were in the dehydrator for about 14 hours. The only downside is that it is rather loud. It doesn't really bother me, but if you can't easily just ignore the sound of a fan, it may bother you. Below is a picture of my first batch of goodies!

  Now I'm trying out some grapes, they are supposed to take longer, but maybe I'll have some delicious homemade raisins! I'm also doing peaches, pears, and pineapples this time. If you like dried fruit and you don't mind to do a little bit of work then I'd recommend trying it out!

The M word

Let me preface my post with this, I have lots of friends that are married and have children. Many of them married young and had their children young. If any of you are reading this, please understand that I think you are amazing people who are doing exactly what you should be doing. I do not write this post to denounce or belittle marriage or motherhood, because they are the two things I want most in the world. The following post is just about my feelings on the matter as of late and how my life is affected by it. 

A few weeks ago I had pretty much made up my mind that I was going to move out to Arizona whether I got a teaching position out there or not. The force driving me to do that was the fact that I'm single and there are pretty much no LDS young single adults in Greenville. By LDS standards I'm practically a spinster. I'm approaching my 25th birthday and I've never even been close to getting married. For a long time I've really felt bad about myself because of this. I've felt like there is something wrong with me or that I'm not good enough because I'm in my mid-twenties and not married. I spent 4 long years at BYU-Idaho being told on a weekly (if not daily) basis that I needed to get married as soon as possible and I watched girls 3-5 years younger than me get married and start families. So it's no wonder that I was feeling like a failure even after graduating and emerging from the "BYU-I bubble". It has been ingrained into my subconscious "GET MARRIED, MAKE BABIES, BE HAPPY."

I am finally coming to terms with the fact that it is OK that I'm not married, even at the ripe old age of 24. Do I want to get married? Of course! I am dying to find that person with whom I can share everything and create a family. Does it have to be right this second? No. Do I wish it was? Yes, but I cannot let the fact that I'm not married dictate my life. I have been telling myself this for a long time, but I finally believe it. I can't just move across the country without a job because I feel like I won't meet someone if I stay in SC. That is an irresponsible and unintelligent decision. I have faith that my Heavenly Father knows what is best for me. Is that hard? Uh, yeah! And you know what, I'm struggling with not knowing where I should live and work or when/if I'm going to find that special someone. So, if anyone else is struggling with this here's what I have to say in a bullet pointed list:

- Not getting married in my early twenties was not the end of the world. It sure seemed like it when I was going through it, and it still hurts now, but it's OK and there is nothing wrong with me (or you).

- I cannot let marriage dictate my life. I have to make smart choices based on what is going on in my life right now, not what's going to happen when I finally find someone. In my case, I have some serious student loans to pay off, so that is what I'm focusing on.

- It is OK to feel sad or angry that I'm not married. I feel upset about it a lot, but I don't let those emotions take over my life. I feel it, then I let it pass. For a long time I used to try and act like I was totally fine not being married and that I didn't care that I wasn't. But that's exactly what it was, an act. I find that when I'm more truthful with myself about it, I don't feel resentment towards young people that are already married as often as I used to be.

- I try to focus on the healthy and happy relationships I already have. I have a loving family who is constantly supportive of me. I am also blessed to have a second family at SCCT where I know people are glad to see me when I'm there. I have so many wonderful people in my life and I am so grateful for the strong relationships I have with them.

Having said all of that. Here's the deal with my pending employment/moving/etc...

I went to a teacher job fair at the Bi-Lo center on Friday and felt really good about all of the connections I made with principals and other administrators. I spoke with all of the schools that are hiring English teachers and many others that aren't sure what they need yet. The principal at Wade Hampton High told me to expect a phone call for an interview, the administrator from Riverside High made special notes on my resume so she'd be able to pick it out from the others she received at the job fair, League Academy asked for me to email them to make sure I can set up an interview, Lakeview Middle also wants to interview me, and I had an interview with Greer Middle school that afternoon! It was such an awesome feeling. If you are feeling down, go to a job fair, even if you aren't looking for a job. It was such a confidence booster.

I'm going out to Arizona later this month to another job fair, I want to keep all of my options open. However, I feel like if I can get a job here in Greenville, it will be in my best interests financially to stay. I can't say that being a 25 year old woman living at home with her parents is the most appealing idea in the world, but if I can get a full-time teaching position while I live at home rent-free, I think I can pay off my student loans in a year. That would be amazing. Would I have much of a social life? Nope. Could I handle it? Yep, I can pull on my big girl panties and deal with it.

If anyone has any advice for me in my job search or just any comments in general about this post or life, please feel free to share them with me! Thanks for reading and for your friendship and support.

Go Jackrabbits! (My first football experience)

I went to my first Mesa High football game last night! It was way fun! I never went to a single Mauldin High football game unless it was to sing the National Anthem with the choir. It was just a totally awesome experience though, going as a teacher, because I had students that were playing and that made all the difference.

For those of you who know me well, you know that I do not know ANYTHING about football, so I had a friend that is very good at football accompany me and explain what was going on in the game. I now know that a quarterback gets the ball from the center and he can either throw the ball to a receiver OR keep it and run, among other things. Basically, I’m ready to coach football. Ok, maybe not, but it’s definitely a start!

I went to the Juniors game, which is kind of like JV, except that the guys are still on Varsity, but since the school is so big, they have a second string game, if that makes any sense at all. Since I teach all juniors, most of my students that play football are on the second string team. One of my students is even the quarterback! Exciting! So, every time they would say his name I got so excited and cheered for him.

Today at school, I told them that I went to the game and I wish you all could have seen how their eyes lit up when I told them. They were so excited. I told Mr. Quarterback that I went and he said, “REALLY?!?!? Thank you so much for coming!” (Fist bump…that’s right, I’m cool enough to be asked for a fist bump!!!!) He then continued to ask me if I saw all of these plays and everything, which I could tell him that I did! Another student said, “Did you see me block that punt return??” To which I could also respond yes!!!

Today was one of the most rewarding/fun experiences of my student teaching. When the students found out I cared and went to the game, the way they treated me after made me feel like I was the best teacher in the entire world, and I hadn’t even really done anything! I just took an hour and a half of my time, which is next to nothing if you think about it, and learned a little about football so that I could have a new way to connect with my students. It was such an amazing feeling!! AHHH I LOVE BEING A TEACHER!!!!

Carry on!

Becoming a disciplinarian and a coach

I'm finally starting to get the hang of the whole discipline thing and the students are definitely responding more positively to me. I had to have a heart to heart with one of my students last Friday and I feel like it really has helped our relationship in the classroom leaps and bounds. He was constantly rude to me and disruptive in class. So finally, I told him that I realize at the beginning of the semester he told me he expected to be respected, but that he had not earned my respect and therefore did not have it. I told him that I was not going to treat him any differently than I would any other student, but that he should know that I don't appreciate the way he has been treating me and that if he wants my respect he needs to change his ways and earn it. It was a very calm talk, I was very straightforward, and at the end he said "Yeah, ok," and left. Then, when he came to school on Monday, it was like a complete 180. He asked questions in a respectful tone of voice instead of with his usual attitude, he told me he liked my dress, and he showed concern for my well-being (he asked if I needed a band-aid to cover my knee, if you missed out on why my knee needs bandaging, see last post, it's a good story). He was a totally different person. I was so impressed. I don't know if it's that he wants my respect and he will do whatever he can to get it or if he now respects me more for actually sitting and talking with him so that he knows that I care about him. All I know is it was one of the most satisfying feelings in the world to know that I changed something about him, at least in my class even if he's a royal pain for the other teachers. I guess that's kinda selfish, huh?

There is also a kid in a different class period that has so lovingly given me the nickname, "Coach." I told him he couldn't call me that because I'm not a coach, but he said, "You're like my life coach." Adorable, right? So anyways, yesterday in class he told me he could pretty much tell that Mrs. S (that's my mentor teacher) hates him. I told him she did not hate him, she just sometimes has a harsh personality. He then listed off a bunch of reasons why she hates him and I have to say he had a pretty good list. I told him I was sorry he felt that way about her, but I asked if he could tell that I didn't hate him. He told me, "of course I know you don't hate me, coach!" Today, he was talking to me about his grade and he asked me if he could retake a quiz that he did poorly on and I told him he couldn't, but that he could certainly do better on the next quiz, which would be this Friday. He told me he definitely would and that he was going to study his vocab words so that he could ace the quiz and bring up his grade. I mean, he has a C it's not like he is failing, but I told him to do me proud. His answer, "Oh, I will coach." He's kind of my favorite, except that I don't have favorites, but if I did, he would be one of them.

Next week I take over all Junior English classes. Scary and exciting. I'll be teaching a unit on Puritan Literature, beginning with poetry by Anne Bradstreet, then Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, then "The Examination of Sara Good," and finally "The Crucible." So, wish me luck, prayers and well wishes are welcome.

Carry on!

Bekka Takes a Tumble, Among Other Things

Ok, so, an update is necessary. It’s been too long! I’ve had lots of good days and a couple of crummy ones, but here’s an overview…

So, last week, I took a major tumble in the classroom. Luckily, it was during the passing period between 3^rd and 4^th hour, so there weren’t a ton of students in the classroom. I had a student ask me where her new seat was since she was absent when I gave the new seating chart. I was walking over to my desk to find the new chart, when the pesky overhead cord tripped me. This is just another reason why I hate the overhead. The number one reason is that my fingers are green and blue when I leave school everyday. I left school last Wednesday with blue and green fingers and a black and blue knee. Ok, so it wasn’t really black and blue, but I thought that was a nice use of imagery, it was however a lovely shade of red. It was also fortunate that it happened 4^th hour and not 6^th. My 4^th hour students are much… well, more caring, that’s a good way to put it, than my 6^th hour students. All of the kids that were already in the classroom gasped and asked if I was ok, it was actually very sweet. When I told my 6^th hour students about it, they all laughed and said they would have been rolling on the floor laughing at me. Charming little rascals aren’t they? After it happened I got sent to the nurse, and now it’s finally starting to get all better, yay!

That same day, I also wrote my very first referral. This student has been a serious behavior problem and that day, he basically refused to do any work in class and was incredibly rude to me about how when he asks me questions I never know what to say and that I don’t really know anything since I’m a student teacher. I gave him the option to either do his work, or go to in-school detention (they call it Sweep at Mesa High School). He chose to go to Sweep, and afterschool I wrote him up for being disrespectful. It was a really weird thing to do but it was oddly satisfying because he had been so rude to me.

Those were the two big things from last week. This week, I had my first formal observation; it was, in fact, today during 4^th hour! I felt like it went really well! Sister Cottle told me that it was a job well done and that there were a few things I needed to work on, but that it was really good! Basically, I need to be more vocal about how much time they have left to finish an assignment, especially when they are working in groups. She also said I need to make sure to include how the lesson relates to their future or their lives. I was teaching “Of Plymouth Plantation,” a narrative about Pilgrims, so she realizes there isn’t a whole lot I could do to relate it to their lives, but she just wants me to have that idea in mind for when I am teaching about Romanticism and Transcendentalism. I’m excited to teach those because it will be a lot easier for them to relate to the material.

She told me that it was obvious that my background in theatre really helps me to have the necessary confidence to be in front of a class. She also told me I have smooth transitions and that I am good at thinking on my feet. She also mentioned that I did a good job of monitoring students and moving around the classroom. My questions were clear and I checked for understanding throughout the lesson, which were all really good. She told me overall my lesson plan was very organized and that I did a good job and there were no major problems! I feel really good about it! When she first walked in I got a little nervous, but I just took a deep breath and went on as if she wasn’t even there.

On the whole, I feel pretty great about my student teaching experience so far. I have had good days (when students understand what I’m teaching and actually participate) and bad days (when students call me a jerk and just sit there staring at me), but so far, I haven’t had any experiences that have made me want to quit teaching and flip burgers for the rest of my life, so I’ll call the first month a success.

Til next time,

Carry on!