Student in the Teachers' Lounge

What a great and busy holiday season it's been for me! I have so much to write about that I fear to begin. So this is just a quick note to wish everyone happy holiday greetings.

Coming soon are the following crazy stories:
1. My last days of student teaching - the laughter, the tears and the pictures
2. Holidays in Southern California and Arkansas
3. Missing my freaking plane back to New York!!
4. New Year's Eve - relaxation and good times with great friends

And just today, I started back two days a week at the school I worked in last year. I'm back with my same 8th grade cooperating teacher and I'm really looking forward to working there again. I truly enjoyed my time last year, and this semester should prove to be another meaningful experience.

In this my final semester at NYU, I know that many amazing, life-changing things will happen to me (just like in every other semester)! By graduation, I will hopefully have a summer job and a job for next teaching year. I will get my master's degree - something I have wanted to do for many years. And best of all, I will be a teacher, finally settling in nicely to a career that's perfect for me.

Cheers to all...and stories/pictures soon...

Today is the first full week of my last semester at NYU! It's crazy to think how quickly these two years have gone by. By May, I will have my Master's in Educational Theatre and will hopefully already have a teaching job lined up for this fall. Many things will happen over the next few months that will be very important milestones in my life. So right now, I'm taking a deep breath before the rollercoaster ride!

I am also starting a new semester of student teaching very soon. I'm placed at a progressive school in the East Village and will be working with 4th and 5th graders. This is going to be a special challenge for me as I don't know how I'm going to react to younger kids. I have a special bond with teens (usually), and I hope I can create the same environment with younger kids, too. It's kind of uncharted territory for me, so I'm a little nervous. At any rate, I haven't visited the school yet, but will be doing so very soon. I hope then to settle my nerves and have a clearer view of what is to come.

I still think about my old students from last semester all the time. One of them even called me the other day to say something like, "Thanks for being cool. Come back and visit us." It was really sweet and unexpected. When I was in the midst of student teaching there, my students would often pop up in my dreams because I was thinking about them (and teaching) so much. I know I'll remember them for a long time.

Our trip to San Francisco was amazing and energizing. When someone asked me what we ate, I said "we ate the town." It did feel like that as we went from one incredible meal to the next. Oh, how I miss you, vegetarian burrito from Taqueria Cancun! Sigh. We also had a great time with a lot of old friends and attended our friends' baby shower. It was held at the gay and lesbian center (even though they're not gay) and followed by a session of karaoke. We made my pregnant friend sing "Papa Don't Preach," and it was the highlight of my trip.

So now I'm back to business. Heading back into that school frenzy of student teaching, going to class, studying, etc. I'm going to post a few choice photos of recent times...

Happy Spring '08!

Good shot of my last day.

Me and my girls on my last day.

Me and my brother in front of the ugly pictures of our youth.