Heading Back to School!

Yup, I really am insane.  :)

I have been fully accepted into a curriculum and instruction graduate program at my alma mater, UT Tyler.  I will start classes in May, and I am so giddy that it almost feels like when I went back to school in 2008.

So, what will I study?  Funny you should ask. . .

I originally considered programs that I thought might open up opportunities for better paying positions within public education.  I stressed myself out and worked myself up and agonized over the decision for weeks.  I declared special ed as my focus, seeing the great need for special ed services, but after researching the opportunities possible via the curriculum and instruction path, it became evident that pursuing a master's in special ed curriculum would not do much for my career.  And as much as I'd like to be very noble, I have to be honest and acknowledge that I am just not cut out to give those kiddos what they need for 7+ hours a day every single day.  Special ed is probably not the place for me.

I was discussing my angst over making a decision with some fellow teachers - all more seasoned than me - and one of them asked, "Well what do you want to do?" while another suggested I do what I makes me happy.  Novel idea, huh?  So what should I choose, then?  I love reading.  I love teaching reading.  I love when kids get excited about books and want to share their thoughts.  I love discovering new worlds and practicing escapism through reading.  But what should I choose as my cognate?  

I.Love.Reading.  When I was offered a position teaching reading, I could not believe how blessed I was.  It's what I wanted.  It's what I mentally prepared for as I was taking my college courses.  It's exactly what I had wished for and what I had dared hope for, even though I knew with the current economy I better just take whatever job I was offered teaching whatever subject I was offered (if I was even offered a job at all).  I remember driving home with tears rolling down my face after being offered a job teaching reading because I could not contain my joy in knowing I would be teaching READING.  I remember thinking, "Wow, He really does give us the desires of our heart."

So what should I choose as my focus for my Master's degree?  

"Reading, stupid." 

That's what I told myself when I finally consciously made the decision.  durrrrrr...  I'm truly giddy now that I've admitted that I WANT to do my Master's in reading.  And it's okay that maybe it's not the most lucrative or noble or selfless choice.  It's the right choice for me.  And besides, I LOVE reading.

Small Town Perks

Living in a small town is hard.  I know, I grew up in one.  The cliquish mentality of the always-haves can be oppressive to the never-hads.  Your business is everyone else's business, 24 hours a day.  There's little opportunity to grow into your full potential, unless you stretch your wings and break free of the small town.  And yet for those of us who grew up in small town USA, there is no place better.  A sense of community, security, and belonging are there for anyone willing to settle down and make a home.  There is a certain comfort in knowing that if you hit a snag, someone will be around to offer a hand.  You know if your car dies in the middle of the road, not everyone will zoom past, angrily honking at your misfortune.  Somebody will stop and offer a tow, a phone, or a ride.  Even if they don't know you.

If living in a small town is hard, moving to a small town and trying to find your place is even harder.  We wanted to raise Aaron in a small town similar to the one we grew up in, and we've always felt drawn to Kaufman.  We ended up building a house just outside of Rockwall in 2000 instead of moving to Kaufman because the drive seemed too far.  In 2007, Rockwall county's growth was pushing in around us and we decided we had to get out of the chaos and pandemonium.  So we put our house up for sale and started preparing to build on the land we had purchased in Kaufman county the year before.  After realizing building was not our best option, we sold that land and bought an existing home in the country.  The adjustment was tough (for me - notsomuch for Pressly, who would do without people altogether if allowed).  We had very few neighbors and didn't really know anyone in town.  Several people invited us to visit their churches, but beyond that, no one really reached out or even seemed interested.  We were just outsiders encroaching on their small town, not worth a second glance, because who were we, anyway?

We've been here 4 1/2 years now and we have made a place for ourselves.  We know a few people, either by name or at least by familiar faces.  I have a job teaching here, and am getting to know more and more people through work.  I can get from home (7 miles outside of town) to anywhere in town in under 20 minutes.  Traffic is nonexistent, and our vet is level-headed and super cheap.  One of our few neighbors is a precious woman whom we've grown to love like a grandma.  We help each other out.  Yesterday she called me in a panic because she'd locked her keys in her car at the grocery store, so I ran to her rescue with a spare key.  She picks Aaron up from school and hangs out with him when I have meetings.  Our other neighbors own the feed store.  When I called today to find out if they had de-wormer for our dogs, she not only told me my choices, but offered to stay at the store late to meet me or bring it to the house later this evening so I wouldn't have to drive back into town for it.  I love living in this small town!