As the last day of my first year of teaching has come to an end, I can’t help but get emotional. It’s been a fast, crazy, busy, fun, challenging, exhausting, mind-blowing year. I am now done with my alternative teaching program, officially certified as a teacher & have completed my first year as a kindergarten teacher. It’s so funny to see God’s plans play out & how they compare to what you “plan”. A decade ago, I would have said “I’ll never have kids!” Now here I am, pregnant with my second child, a little boy, teaching kindergarten & I love it! Lol, oh if someone had told me what my future held back then, I would’ve laughed in their face. Thank you God for always providing me more than I deserve.

Looking back on this year, it’s been overwhelming to see the progress of my students & see how much they have grown. When you teach kinder, you get comments thrown around like “oh I bet that’s easy…don’t they just play all day….so you’re pretty much a babysitter”. Oh lol, if you have ever thought that, please sub & you’ll soon be apologizing for ever making those comments & probably run out to get a Starbucks gift card & bottle of wine to gift those teachers. It’s not easy being a teacher; there are struggles with teaching any grade. The amount of stress we all endure, what our district says we have to do, what the state requires, the paperwork, lesson plans, copies, supplies, after school activities, the time it takes goes well beyond the school day of 7:30-2:56 & it’s a lot. And to top that off, let’s add being pregnant to that mix. I always like a challenge but man, I’m exhausted. And…I’m beyond grateful & proud.

I taught students to read! I mean so many of my students came to me not knowing all their letters & sounds & now they are reading! When you hear someone read a whole book for the first time & know you helped them accomplish that, it’s priceless. All those late nights, working on the weekends pays off & it’s a moment you will never forget. Or when you hear 19 “I love you’s” throughout the day & you know they truly do love you; whew you are blessed. Seeing their faces light up for a math lesson because it’s so fun, asking to stay with you longer because they want to learn more & when they thank you for making it “the best day ever!” are all the reasons why teachers teach.

I’ve never been one to choose jobs based on the “great pay”; from making $8.25/hour for being a reporter (yup, a reporter on tv & that’s what I got) to working non-profit (keywords:non-profit) to entering in the education field ; money has never been the driving force. I have always wanted to make a difference in lives. Many times that means the pay isn’t great, the hours are long, the outcomes aren’t always in your favor; but when you do make a difference; even in just one life, that is so worth it & keeps you wanting to do more.

The last few weeks, ok the last month of school has been tough. My kids have checked out, they are in full blown summer mode already & I’m now 38 weeks pregnant. Exhausted is an understatement. As we end of our school year today, it will be hard to hold back the tears. The tears of joy for my sweet babies, the tears of joy from completing my first year, the tears of complete exhaustion making sure everything is done, the tears of gratitude to my team who have done so much for me this year, a thank you is not even enough, the tears of sadness because I will miss my kids; they were my first class as a teacher & they will hold a special place in my heart forever.

God’s plans are truly greater than we can plan; we must trust in Him always. I’m so glad I trusted in His plan to pursue this profession even though I had my doubts.

And now with the end of school, I’m prepping for my next adventure-Mom of two which is crazy to think in less than 2 weeks, I’ll have a newborn & an almost 3 year old! Again, God is good!