Student in the Teachers' Lounge

Well, I almost don't know what to say. NYU is over for me; Steinhardt is over, too. Today was graduation at Radio City and it was surreal. My family traveled all the way from Arkansas to see me in the ceremony. My aunt, my mom and dad and my dad's wife. It's a long way to come for such a short moment on stage, but still, it's important. I am the first woman in my family to graduate from college, much less earn a master's degree from such a reputable institution. I am truly honored by that fact. I am also honored to have been among the first NYU Steinhardt bloggers. I hope that my blog has been of interest to current and future students. I only write what I know - whether it be my experiences as a student or teacher. Either way, it's been honest and from the heart.

Let me tell you a story. Today, at Radio City, I had some time to kill and a phone call to make. Last week I demoed at two amazing schools. I was told to call East Side Middle School on Monday, but I honestly forgot with my parents arriving and all that. So today when I was waiting to graduate, I was talking to my friend Meredith, and I said, we'll maybe I'll call right now. So I walked up the stairs in the lobby and made a phone call. When I got through to the principal, he said - and I quote - "We would like to offer you the job." Well, let me tell you, that was the best graduation present I ever got. Of course I know after studying at NYU that I can be a great teacher, but it's different when someone you don't know believes in you enough to offer you a great job at a really great school. I was honored. I told the principal that I was at my graduation and that I would call him tomorrow. It was like something out of a movie. And then I spent the rest of my night with my family and my wife celebrating my Master's degree and my new job, eating and drinking as much as we could.

Now I'm home and it's late at night and I've come to the end of my time as an NYU blogger. I want to thank the school for the opportunity and the challenge to document my time here. It has been wonderful to process the experience in cyberspace and I hope it has been helpful and interesting to read a real person's point of view. I wish the best to all of my colleagues - those that graduated today (including fellow blogger Thad) and those that have another couple of years. May you be as happy when you finish as I am right now. I will never forget my time at New York University. Thank you to Nan Smithner, especially, my mentor in the Ed Theatre department. You are a wonderful person, and who knows, perhaps I will see you again when it's time for that dang PhD!

Cheers, all!

I just wanted to post this quick entry. After Lesley's birthday on Thursday, and the necessary celebrating, I apparently dropped my flashdrive in the back seat of a cab. On this flashdrive is all of the work I've done since study abroad last summer, through this year's student teaching experience. At 3am, I got a text message from someone named Jesse saying he had my flashdrive and could come get it from his midtown office the next day. The funny thing is, I hadn't even realized it was missing yet, but as soon as I did, I had a delayed reaction of panic. What if I'd lost it forever?! Yes, a lot of it is backed up, but still!! Anyway, after teaching that day, I went to Rockafeller Center to meet this Jesse angel. I secretly hoped he worked at Saturday Night Live or something, but no dice. He was just a nice normal person who had the goodness to call the number I'd printed on my flashdrive a year ago. Now thanks to Jesse (and my forethought, I guess) I won't be having a funeral for all my lost work. There are still nice people out there, even in "big bad" New York, so if you are ever discouraged by that turd who shoves his way in front of you to get on the train, just think of this story. :)

I can't believe it. I finished my thesis yesterday. Well, in my program it's called a culminating project, but it's basically a thesis. I wrote about how drama should be used in the classroom and that it's very effective with struggling male students. I like my paper even though it took forever and was a pain. I'm mostly glad it's finished.

Now I only have two papers left in my graduate career. How strange to say that after all this writing. I wonder how many pages I've written over the last two years all together. Perhaps if I ever get bored one day I'll count them all.

I'm looking forward to May. Graduation will be a big deal because both of my parents are coming, as well as my aunt and my dad's wife. My dad has never been to New York and he's in for a MAJOR culture clash. (He lives on a farm.) It should be pretty funny. Also May brings the beginning of my work as a long-term sub at School of the Future. I'm not exactly sure when I'm taking over - it depends on when my friend has her baby - but it'll be a great transition between grad school and real life, I think. Not to mention, I need the money.

One thing that does make me sad is that after this week, I won't see my little 4th and 5th graders anymore. I've grown really attached to them - in a different way that I grew attached to my first class of high school students. They don't know that next week is my last week, and I'm kinda afraid to tell them. So depressing! I feel like I'm abandoning them in the middle of the school year. I guess in a way I am, but it can't be helped.

Later today, I will go see the fruits of my friend Tyson's labor. To be specific, he has been teaching at Friends Seminary and is directing a production of PIPPIN. I think it'll be fun to see what he's accomplished and feel confident that it will be brilliant. It's nice to see such a huge accomplishment from someone I started graduate school with. It feels like things are coming full circle.

Well, that's all for me this morning. Cheers!

As my time at NYU is quickly coming to a halt, I am naturally reflective. I'm in the middle of the job hunt and it's making me take a hard look at where I see myself next year. Please allow me to pose these questions to the cyber-population.

Is it wrong that I do not want to commute to the far Bronx or Washington Heights to teach? I don't think I should have to ride the train for an hour. Is that unrealistic?

Is it also unrealistic that I could get a job in a top school being a new teacher? I hope not. And by top, I just mean pretty good.

How many schools should I have already applied to? So far, it's only ten.

What if I have my choice of two schools? How will I ever decide?

Should I apply where I student taught just because I "get" that school?

Is it wrong that when I see a description of a school being "strict" I get a bad feeling about them?

So many questions. So much mystery as to where I will be in a few months. Thankfully, I did get hired to teach English this summer at a charter high school in Williamsburg. I'm really excited about that opportunity.

Back to my final papers...

At the end of a long weekend, I am feeling satisfied, for the most part. I spent yesterday with Lesley, Carlos and new friend, Sybil, exploring and enjoying Brooklyn.

First up was the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. We were hoping to catch the cherry blossoms, but they weren't quite at full bloom. Still, it was pretty there and it reminded me of a park I spent a lot of time at in London. I started to get a sunburn, though, so I looked for some shade and waited for the others.

Next, we went to the Brooklyn Museum and saw the Murakami exhibit. It was AMAZING! He is a pop artist genius and I loved looking at everything. My favorite part of the exhibit were the films, including a ten-minute cartoon about two friends who travel to outer space and fight a giant monster who poops at them. Yes, you read that right. I also loved the Louis Vuitton room even though a small painting was $6000. His comment on Japanese Manga and use of water (and other liquid) imagery in his work is provocative. It was definitely one of the coolest exhibits I've seen.

Later, we ventured to Fort Green where we spent the rest of the day celebrating Spring in moderation. There were so many people out and about, and my friends and I decided that the most beautiful people in New York must live in Fort Green. I hope to go back there soon and soak up more of the laid back Brooklyn vibe.

Tonight I saw a great show at New York Theatre Workshop called 'The Sound and the Fury'. I don't have the energy to describe it because I have to write a paper about it before tomorrow night's class, but I'll just say that it was fantastic and definitely my favorite thing I've seen lately. Look up the producing company, Elevator Repair Service, for more information.

This week is Spring Break for NYC public schools, so I won't be teaching. But I WILL be spending every waking moment finishing my requirements for NYU. I have to complete my culminating project (which I spent 8 hours on today) as well as two other papers that I haven't started. I've been feeling overwhelmed, but it's crunch time now, and I can't afford to procrastinate anymore without suffering serious consequences. So with that, I'll sign off and get back to work.