Back to School.

This post is about 8 weeks late. (Shocker).


After an incredible summer that I have termed "grown-up summer vacation" and likely one of the bet summers I have had in years, I am officially back to work. I am working at a boarding school for at-risk youth outside of the city, practically in Indiana. It's not the necessarily the job I had in mind but I really think it's exactly the right fit (save the commute, but we'll get to that).
When I accepted the job and called my mom to tell her, not only was she relived I was back into the world of full time people, but she was audibly excited that I was working at a school. SHe has always thought I would make an excellent teacher. So did others. In 9th grade Livonia Public Schools does (or used to do) a career aptitude assessment. At the time I had aspirations to be a psychologist and live in Seattle because it rained there all the time and people are depressed because of it. I liked (and still do) the rain so figured I'd be happy and get rich. If only it were that easy. But alas my assessment, along with my best pal Lisa Fab, came back and told me that was 90% fit to be a teacher. In 9th grade, with mothers who taught preschoolers together, Lisa and I were appalled. And I may have been a little offended. A Teacher?? As if! I would never make a boat load of money as a teacher. No thank you! Funny how the 9th grade version of yourself doesn't really know what is best. ;)
As it turns out, Lisa did become a teacher and from what I understand is a very good one at that. And of course throughout the years I have been a teacher in varying capacities-- trainer, kids swim instructor. It turns out the assessment was fairly accurate and that my mother is right (pretty much always is), I am a good teacher. Hmmmm.
Granted I am not a teacher at the school, but the Director of Special Events. I don't have the burden privilege of molding young lives but do get to hear them running around outside, engaging with one another. And because I can't just be uninvolved I am volunteering one night at week in the uber amazing KidsShop (art studio) and get to interact with the students there. It is so fun!
Plus, in my actual day-to-day, I actually have a team. I see people and laugh with people and meet with people instead of email or phone, all day everyday! My corner office has become somewhat of a social spot (I know...surprise!) due in part to it's size and the fact that I have treats on the corner table. ;) But it's really great. They really support one another and me.
The only major negative is the commute. It is brutal. It's not something I want to choose to do everyday for the foreseeable future so I will likely have a new address in the coming months somewhere in the south loop (or elsewhere) to cut the commute in 1/2. That bums me out a bit because I LOVE my neighborhood,  but I know the new space will be as wonderful as every other place I have ever lived, maybe better!
All in all, the end to summer vacation has been better than expected.

Assigned Seats?

Today was my second class.

Last week when I got to class (15 minutes early), the classroom was almost full and I was one of the last to arrive. Seats were limited, so I had to sit in the front row. I do not enjoy sitting that close. Not in class. Not at the movies. Not in a theatre. Not in church. I am a "near the back" person. Or Mezzazine. My seating choice does not mean that I don't pay attention. I simply prefer the "big picture" view. So, last week in the front row was definately not my ideal.

This week I arrived about the same time and as I walked toward the classroom I silently cursed myself for not making an earlier plan of arrival for better seating options. I walked into the room and it was practically empty. (Bonus!) I made a bee line for the back row, center aisle seat. The back row is elevated and only 4 rows back, so you're still close and are definately part of any conversation that ensues.

Since I was an early arrival, I watched as other students rolled in. And I swear almost every single person sat in the exact same seat as they did last week. After the 7th or 8th person did it, it became a little comical. Most hilarious was when the guy who was seated in my new seat walked in, made a beeline for the area and then realized that someone else was sitting in "HIS" chair. His face was priceless--a combination of shock and entitlement quickly turned into minor panic at where he would not have to seat himself. I almost felt bad enough to move. Almost.

But as I sat there, I satrted to really wonder why we are all such creatures of habit. It's kind of weird.

I know I am definately a creature of habit. I take the same roads places, even if I know it's not the most efficient route, it's just the way I always go--now it's a habit. Or how I park in the places when I pop to any store. (I used to make fun of my mom for doing the same exact thing!). But all of these habits have formed after countless ventures to the place. They definately were not formed after one visit. I just find it curious. (and a little funny).

Now I am thinking I may just mix it up every class. It might be kind of fun to see who freaks out. But as a super bonus it will allow me to figure out who the most enjoyable people are and then I can become a creature of habit and sit near them week after week. I'll keep you posted.

(I already know it will not be the guy who wears green. On day one, I knew he was the guy who would drive me bananas. Thus far, in class two, I am right on.)

Egg-head

Yesterday, I started my class.

I got to campus a bit early, paid my parking fee (I really am a grown-up), grabbed a Pumpkin Spice Latte and walked through campus to find my classroom. I felt like I was back on campus at MSU. Am I really doing this again?

As I sat in the class, my mind wandered a bit, thinking about what this new experience could bring. There were a mix of people in the class. Interesting and diverse. Already, there is a guy who I know will drive me nuts. There's always one, right?

But, mostly I just got excited at the idea of learning.

I am a nerd. Always have been. Likely always will be.

In 6th grade, my friends and I would have sleepovers and read. My mom has called me her little egg-head for years.

And I like it.

I like that I am curious.

I like to be challenged and expand my brain. Yes, sometimes it hurts to try to think in a different manner, but in the end it's always a good thing.

And I felt like this class will provide that brain stretch that I have missed in the last couple years. I have been in the same job for 6 years. The position has opportunities to present challenges--some good ones, some not so good. But it's been awhile since I have really learned anything new. I'm an old dog and need to learn some new tricks.

I am so excited!

Question of the week...

Tomorrow I start my class. As I posted previously, I am both nervous and excited about this prospect.

I am a procrastinator (as I have been for my whole life), but I thought that might change when I am paying for the class myself.

Yeah, Not so much.


I promise I had the best of intentions when I got my first assignment early last week. I have been thinking about it and making a mental plan for when I'd read that article, watch the video and write a two page paper. I started to yesterday and then totally distracted myself with some super random stuff on the internet while I was doing research....whoops! Talk about a rabbit hole. Yikes, I was bound to find Alice* somewhere in there. By the time I pulled myself out of the rabbit hole it was late and I did not feel I was at my best so I opted to put it off one more day. And here we are one day before the class and I finally did the assignment. I woke up early and was showered, dressed, and beginning to get caffinated all before the construction dudes showed up next door. I was focused and finished the assigment before my workday started at 8:30am. It's done and I actually feel good about it.


But now as I print the paper and materials I'll need for class, I am nervous.
Questions plaguing my mind--
- Where is the classroom?
- Where on earth do I park?
- How much time should I give myself to get to class? It's rushhour and I have little practice.
- what should I wear???

Of all things, the question of what to wear is nagging at me. I know it's stupid. I know no one will actually care what I arrive in. But that's what I will be nervous about.

Maybe it's because I can actually tell you what I wore on most of my other first days of school. Weird, right?



On my first day of Kindergarten, I wore an outfit that was a hand-me-down. It was purple (my favorite color) and I remember thinking I was so cool. I got to ride the bus (!) and go to school (!!). Of course, I loved school. My dad loves to share the story of how I came home and was 5-year-old pissed that I didn't have homework. He really liked to remind me of that whenever I complained about homework in my later years. (I can hear you now, Papa. No more complaints.)





I attended a Catholic school for my elementary years, so I wore a school uniform for the remaining 6 first days of school. I always had a new pair of "good" (and expensive--thanks mom and papa) shoes, fancy socks and a bow that matched. My hair was always placed in pink rollers while I slept so I would wake up with "dressed-up" hair. We would lay out our school bags and new supplies the night before so we would be ready for the 7am bus pickup.

In 7th grade, we had moved and I attended a public school for the first time in my life. I got to participate in "back to school" shopping and decide what I was going to wear. My favorite outfit that year (in that school) was pegged-jeans (I cannot believe that is making a comeback, btw!), thick socks, and a horizontal striped shirt in purple and green. (Think Barney...). I thought I looked so awesome! (yikes). We moved around a bit during this timeframe, so the other first days at the new schools are a bit fuzzy. I am quite sure that other first days consisted of some sort of oversized vest and a button-down. (Give me a break...it was the Memphis/Midwest version of grunge.)

By high school, I had been in public school for a few years and had been settled in one school system for a little over a year. I knew where kids shopped and what was "cool". Starting the 9th grade, there were two first days. The very first "first" day was only 9th graders. I think it eased us in. And the second day was with everyone. I OBSESSED over what I was going to wear on both days. I am pretty sure I had it planned out for weeks. I wore a sunflower t-shirt and brown jeans (they matched the inside of the sunflower...oh yeah!) for the 9th-grade only first day of school. I had insanely long hair at the time so made sure to have a scrunchie that matched! And for the forst day of school with everyone I wore jeans and a tie-dye t-shirt. I still own (and wear) that tie-dye.
I am not 100% sure of what I wore the remaining first days of high school, but am pretty sure one day was a borrowed plaid shirt from my dad that he didn't know about until he tried to get dressed for work (thanks, papa). Likely a sports uniform was in the mix, and probably a pair of overalls worn with birkenstocks and wool socks. (Yep, super cool...)




By the time I got to college, I was in my hippe phase of life. My mom sent me away to college and reminded me that I should wash my jeans at least once a week. Showering was not neccessarily a daily habit. And I LOVED overalls. :)

My roommate (Joann Van) and I actually took a photo on the first day of class. I was full of oversized, grey school spirit.




After that trip down memory lane, whatever I wear on my first back to school will be an improvement!


*Alice from Alice in Wonderland. Get it? Because she follows the rabbit down the hole and a whole array of craziness ensues.

Yikes and Yippee!

It's been a long while since I have had butterflies.

For me, I get butterflies when I am excited and nervous all at once. Butterflies tend to happen to me when I am looking forward to something new, something unknown. I kind of like them. It means something exciting is about to happen.

Today the butterflies came back when I got my first assignment for my new class.

I was accepted into a certificate program at the University of Washington. I was accepted months ago, but have been a little bit busy. Thus, the start of school was pushed back in my mind. I have gotten a few emails about the class, but October 4 just seemed super far away. Until today.

Today I got my first assignment.

It's due next week.

On the first day of school.

Yikes!

And Yippee!

I am so very excited to be in a class and challenge my brain in a new way. But I am also nervous. I haven't had a first day of school in over 9 years.

Butterflies.

Brace Face for Life!

(should have been posted on 8/29)

Okay, okay. So maybe the title of this email is an exaggeration and a bit dramatic, but that's exavctly how it feels. And if I am in 7th grade then I'm going to act like it (just a little) and be dramatic and whine.
I went to the orthodontist today with the hopes that this would be it. The last official appointment before the braces come off. Wrong. Again.

His stated- "end of summer" prediction was off. Way off, in fact. In no calendar or mind that I am aware is October the "end of summer". In fact, I am quite sure that is actually full blown fall. In my world that is when leaves are "on fire" in the midwest and new england, when the temps finally fall below 98 in Phoenix, and when I can't keep windows open all the time in Seattle. It's fall. Not summer.

And for me this year, October is the start to a new school year. My first day of school since I was in college. In fact, it is edging on almost 8 years since I have had a first day of class (whoa!). And I really didn't want to start the first day of school with braces. Dang!

He promises that I will be brace-free before my first day of school, but I am not going to hold my breath. I think I'd suffocate.

250

Why is it that I can write and talk ALL THE TIME about nothing, but when it comes time to write an essay on why I should be accepted into a program, I find myself at a loss for words? I mean if you're reading this blog (even semi-regularly) you know I can go on and on (and on and on) about pretty much nothing. I rant and rave. I celebrate. I vent. I share. And yet...here I am with the cursor blinking at me and I can't figure out what to say.

Maybe it's because I know someone is judging and I want to make sure I find the right words. Or maybe it's because I am a little rusty at this whole school thing. Usually when I find myself without words, I go for a walk and by the time I am back I have it all figured out. Today it did not work, but on the plus side I enjoyed a gorgeous walk along the shore. It was busy because it was finally nice out (even the seals came out!) But I still don't have 250 words....Hmpf! It's 250 words. A short blurb really.

And I think that's the issue---it's too much to say in such a short space. I need to impress them and catch their (whoever they is!) attention because I want this. I am excited about the possibility of being a student again, of growing and learning and stretching my brain in a way I had forgotton. It makes giddy to think about. And that is why I can't find something to say...it's so important.

Wish me well...and think happy acceptance thoughts!

PS- As I laid down to sleep last night, the essay that was brewing just below the surface came up and I completed the app. :)