Officialness.

I'm a grown up.
I kind of thought it would never happen, but guys I HAVE A CAREER!
Cue screaming and squealing and a whole ton of thanking the Lord.
Prayer works. So does paying your tithing. Do this.
Anyways....the deets.
I'll be teaching English and Journalism at my beloved Mountain Crest High School. Since I'll be heading up the school newspaper I think we can safely just begin calling me Mrs. Shelton.
Except that all my kids just call me Pool-E. Emphasis on the E. It's my fault, since I told them my last name was like a swimming pool with an E. It just kind of stuck...well mostly I just answer to anything that sounds remotely like teacher. Including teacher lady.
I digress.
So my contract is for a year with the opportunity to renew in the spring as long as I don't royally screw this up. Do you feel better that the innovators of tomorrow are in my very capable hands? Good, me too.
This is kind of a rambling post. I'm just super excited to have a job and a pretty wonderful one at that. Bring on graduation!

all deliberate speed.

Isn't funny how we both dread and look forward to things? And then without any warning they are already here and it's almost as if time has speed itself up. This is how today felt. I've looked forward to this day for four months knowing that once it was over my life would not only go back to not being crazy (since doing student teaching and working part time equals me having NO time to do anything). Yet, all this week I've been dreading today because it means I have to let go of my wonderful kids.
No more essays to grade, tests to worry about, planning lessons, or being concerned over the graduation of certain students. This whole experience has been a huge rollercoaster of emotions and I am tremendously grateful for the it.
I know that I was incredibly blessed with two truly wonderful cooperating teachers, Mark and Gordon. Who taught me more than I can really articulate. They have been so incredibly patient dealing with my rants about grammar and transfer of skills, government and the education program. They have also been key in many successes I had in the classroom. I know they are standing on the sidelines cheering me on and hoping as much as I am hoping that I snag one of the openings at Mountain Crest and we can continue to have music battles in the hallways and drive everyone crazy.
My kids. Oh man I love them, every single one of them. Some of them don't believe that, but I do. I made a discovery this semester. I have maternal instincts, which is strange for me. Today when I told my last hour of kids goodbye I totally cried because I want to see every single one of them grow up and do amazing things. But I have to let them go with the knowledge that Mrs. Poole cared about them and hopefully I made an impact of some sort.
I was made to be a teacher, guys. This I know for sure.

Career what?

Just applied for my first REAL job. I mean like career job, not the job you take to get you through college which you would have considered a real job when you were 16. No I'm talking the big kahuna, the career job.
The application is in and I'm freaking out. Would be in serious love if they opted to hire me. Keep your fingers crossed.
Oh and only three more weeks of this craziness that is student teaching and working at the same time. Then I get my life back. Hooray!