First day at Student teaching

So, the fun begins. I was excited to be back at D-Y High, was happy to see my glass gift out front (I didn't even know what it was till yesterday). I was even surprised those that remembered me as well as my sister. We weren't very popular or very involved, but I guess some of our teachers still liked us enough to remember us. Hell, I never got in trouble but one of the assistant principals and the principal remembered me, the principal welcomed me back. Today was a little over whelming and very long, but it was a good start. I hope this is as rewarding experience as I'm told it is. My cooperating teacher is great, we get along very well, I'm just quiet and she seemed to expect me to say more. That will come in time, I need to adapt first. Anyway, it's been a long day and I need to help William get his homework done. More to come as the semester moves along. Remember, no matter what your goal is, keep it in mind, as the over said line is: Keep your eye on the prize. You can do anything.

Another one bites the dust

Yay!!! Just finished my last assignment and my semester is officially over. Also got an important phone call yesterday: I'm student teaching at my old high school! I was like wow, I get to actually go back to high school. This is going to be so weird. I haven't been back there in sooo long and my ten year reunion (if we're having one) is next year. So, I'll go there and I'll say I'm still at DY, haha. Well, I won't be still by then, chances are I won't be teaching there when I finally get a job, but who knows? Life is funny like that. Anyway, I got a room to clean and some other things to catch up on now. Remember, grab what is best for you, don't let it slip away. Do the hard work necessary and you can have anything and everything that you want.

another one is over... well, almost

The fall semester is officially over but not for me. I had struggled this past semester, and I struggled  bad. But I was honest and upfront with my teachers and got lucky enough to get some pretty nice extensions. The final assignment I have is due January 6th. What that means however is I get an incomplete for a grade so I can have time to finish the work. Needless to say, I hope to have it done and done right before then. It's a revision to my unit plan since it wasn't that great. So, off I go, I take an easy day today and tomorrow I'm still in the books. I know I say over and over how important school is. But it does start to drag after awhile and it does seem never ending at times. The important part is no matter how burned out you feel you are from it, just keep pushing, you'll get through it. Before you know it, you'll be on break and then you get to rest. And rest you must. It is very extremely important you don't lose yourself. Take time for yourself; to rest, to heal, to just have fun. It helps so much in the short run and the long run. Happy New Year everyone and good luck!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Just a quick little note to remind to wish you all a wonderful, joyous Turkey Day!! Be thankful for all you achieved, for all the wonderful things in your life, for your supporters and also your non-supporters, proving them wrong is motivation as well. Take motivation from all sources, work your way to your goals, no matter what they might be.
Today I am thankful for my loving family and my amazing friends and my baby bear, William and my wonderful boyfriend, Steve. Without all of you, I probably wouldn't be where I am now. Happy Thanksgiving!

Also, if you're not already a fan, come like me on my Facebook page! I post links to articles that are of interest to education as well as motivation and inspirational quotes everyday!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/From-Statistic-to-Anomaly/139657529470172

Some statistics for you

So, to really bring home the facts, some food for thought for you:

• There are 14 million single parents in the US today
• 83.1% of those are mothers, the last 16.9% are fathers

Of those:

• 79.5% of the mothers are employed
• 27% of the mothers live in poverty
• 22% receive medcaid
• 23.5% receive food stamps
• 12% receive some form of housing assitance
• 5% receive TANF

To put it more in perspective, two parent house holds held only 6.7% of the population in poverty.

I'm still looking for more statistics on this, so is just a small portion. I did focus on the mothers more because I am one. But don't think I'll just disregard the fathers. Being a single parent, mom or dad, it's hard. It's you and your kid(s) against the world, with no one by your side to assist. But we do what we have to so we can survive and raise our kids rights. My therapist told me today that I should be commended: I work, I go to school, I raise William and I have a boyfriend. She said I could take the easy route and quit school, she said this is always an option but it's great that I'm not allowing myself that option. To me, that is never an option. In William's karate class his teacher tells them, "Winners NEVER quit, and quitters NEVER win." These are wise words to live by.

Sources:

Dorning, J. (2010, April). PROFESSIONAL WOMEN: VITAL STATISTICS. In pay-equity.org. Retrieved November 16, 2011, from http://www.pay-equity.org/PDFs/ProfWomen.pdf

Single Parent Statistics- What do they tell us? (2011, August 3). In Single Parent Center. Retrieved November 16, 2011, from http://www.singleparentcenter.net/single-parent-statistics.html

Wolf, J. (n.d.). Single Parent Statistics. In About.com Single Parents. Retrieved November 16, 2011, from http://singleparents.about.com/od/legalissues/p/portrait.htm

First time for everything

So I dropped a class for the first time ever. I'm almost ashamed to admit it. It feels much like quitting. But there is a lesson here. Sometimes, even if it feels like giving up, you need to drop something to make things easier or better. If your grades are suffering then it is time to re-evaluate if it is worth continuing the way you are. I hated dropping that class but it had to be done. Now I can improve my grades in the classes I do need to graduate.

time to be honest

I've tried to stay cheerful and positive in this blog. I want you to feel that with enough determination, you can get yourself somewhere great too, you can better your life. But let's be honest for a moment: it is NOT easy, it is not as positive as I make it out to be. You have to work hard and sometimes, like I am right now, you will feel stuck. This is when you have to look at your life and see what you can change. There always has to be someway to improve it, even if it is not as obvious right away as you think.

Today, I had a conversation with a friend, I needed to vent and she gave me a lot of encouragement. She pointed out that many in my situation, as a single mother, can't say they've done half the things I have done. She told me an example of one of her employees who isn't even trying. My friend called me a saint. I laughed and told her that maybe I am handling my life better than most, but I'm not a saint and right now, I've hit my limit and something has to give.

So here is where I am: I'm constantly crying, stressed to the max, I'm having issues just taking care of my own basic needs. I put emphasis on the fact I said my own: my son's needs are being met. His karate classes are paid in full up till March, we had a wonderful night out at his school's family bowling night, we're ready for Halloween, he is healthy and has a full tummy, he has clean clothes that fit and new sneakers that he is learning to tie laces on (well, he knows how, just needs to practice a bit more), he does his homework on time and is a very happy child. yes, he still needs a counselor for his other issues that I mentioned previously, and as soon as MassHealth stops dicking us around, he will be going to see one. But as for me, I can barely function. I'm constantly stuck without a sitter, my mountain of homework reaches higher than Mt. Everest, my son's tempers are not helping (though I don't blame him for anything, I just hope counseling helps him), I want to scream and I can't, I feel like I'm losing my mind. So I know something needs to give because I can't continue this way. Yes, to whatever person is reading this, I'm giving you my honest to heart feelings, just laying it out for you. 

Making a decision to better your life is not easy, there is no short cut, there is no quick fix, you have to work for it. You will hit bumps in the road and want to quit. Stay focused on your goals, keep pushing through, re-evaluate the situation and think of ways to improve it. Cry. Scream. Throw a fit. Go for a run. Whatever you have to do to get yourself through it without causing yourself or anyone else physical harm. Don't turn to drugs and alcohol to make it easier, in the end, they'll make it harder. Remember none of it is easy, but it is possible. You deserve to have a great life, now get it.