Student in the Teachers' Lounge

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. :)

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!