One of my nearest and dearest friends, whose blog I check daily, does this really cool thing called Thankful Thursdays. Because she is so awesome and wise, I am going to copy her and do the same. Don't hate, I liked the idea. :)
Ten Things I am Thankful for Today:
1. Brian comes to town tomorrow! So pumped to see my college roommate!
2. I get a Challenger paycheck tonight!!!
3. I am doing this Dave Ramsey course and will be mailing a check to pay off another item on my "debt snowball"!!! I am on my way to "living like no one else".
4. We ordered out Zaxby's for lunch . . . YUM!
5. I am going to meet the lead teacher for Adult Education tonight, to hopefully start teaching there in January . . . kudos for extra money.
6. My students' Christmas gifts are ordered and SHOULD be here tomorrow.
7. My grandmother and uncle arrived to my parents house yesterday from Michigan. They were delayed and missed a flight, but made it safely.
8. Cody's birthday was today and he brought me a cupcake. Yes, Zaxby's and a cupcake in the same day. I'll be sweating it out at the gym tonight.
9. I spilled my protein shake ALL over my shirt this morning. I am not thankful that happened, but I am, however, thankful that we have a washer and dryer at school! It should be done in a few minutes.
10. We are 6 days away from Winter Break! Christmas shopping, sleeping in, and daily Starbucks here I come!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
I've been pondering . . .
So I've been pondering . . .
I tell people all the time that I have the greatest job in the world, and I truly believe it! However, at times, I wonder what it would be like if I did something else with my time. I ran into a buddy from college this weekend who is doing very well for himself as some sort of traveling accountant with a firm in Charlotte. He is on the road several weeks out of the month, visiting different places, a frequent flyer with company credit cards to boot. I would be lying if I said I was not becoming somewhat jealous as I talked to him and for the past few days have been wondering how I'd do in a different job . . . what I would do?
Is this just a case of "the grass is always greener"?
I had a full circle moment last night, however, when I was working with a student that stays after school a few days a week with me for tutoring. He is a HUGE football fan, and over Thanksgiving break he was given some football tickets to a game in Charlotte. As he was talking, he said he had enough for him and 2 friends. He then very casually went on to say, "Yeah, I thought I'd invite you and blank (another student) to go with me."
I just kinda smiled and looked at him and he goes, "What?"
I love the fact that these kids see me as a part of their lives, as a family member, as a friend. I started with this group last year in the hopes of having a great first year as a teacher, and now in my second year with them, I am realizing they have allowed me to be so much more. They have invited me into their lives. I am so connected to them and their families, that now as I am counting down the days to Christmas break, I am also secretly regretting the fact that with each passing day I am one day closer to having to say goodbye to these kids.
I am not blogging today to brag in any way, but to help myself work through the idea that although I don't have a company credit card, don't get to fly several days a week, or wear awesome suits to work, I get to spend 11 hours a day hanging with some of the coolest kids I know and that's OK with me for now.
The now-humbled teacher,
Derek :)
I tell people all the time that I have the greatest job in the world, and I truly believe it! However, at times, I wonder what it would be like if I did something else with my time. I ran into a buddy from college this weekend who is doing very well for himself as some sort of traveling accountant with a firm in Charlotte. He is on the road several weeks out of the month, visiting different places, a frequent flyer with company credit cards to boot. I would be lying if I said I was not becoming somewhat jealous as I talked to him and for the past few days have been wondering how I'd do in a different job . . . what I would do?
Is this just a case of "the grass is always greener"?
I had a full circle moment last night, however, when I was working with a student that stays after school a few days a week with me for tutoring. He is a HUGE football fan, and over Thanksgiving break he was given some football tickets to a game in Charlotte. As he was talking, he said he had enough for him and 2 friends. He then very casually went on to say, "Yeah, I thought I'd invite you and blank (another student) to go with me."
I just kinda smiled and looked at him and he goes, "What?"
I love the fact that these kids see me as a part of their lives, as a family member, as a friend. I started with this group last year in the hopes of having a great first year as a teacher, and now in my second year with them, I am realizing they have allowed me to be so much more. They have invited me into their lives. I am so connected to them and their families, that now as I am counting down the days to Christmas break, I am also secretly regretting the fact that with each passing day I am one day closer to having to say goodbye to these kids.
I am not blogging today to brag in any way, but to help myself work through the idea that although I don't have a company credit card, don't get to fly several days a week, or wear awesome suits to work, I get to spend 11 hours a day hanging with some of the coolest kids I know and that's OK with me for now.
The now-humbled teacher,
Derek :)
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