So this is not going to be a colorful post with images and positivity. It is more a celebration of the moments for which I've been thankful--however small--in this difficult time. I've found that in the days and weeks when I'm stretched thin, when I feel like time is such a precious resource and I simply don't have enough of it, I tend to be insanely grateful for things that, once I have breathing room, seem like no big deal. But they still deserve celebration, even if they do point to the difficulties that surround them. I mean to say, in some ways it sounds a little embarrassing to say things like "I'm thankful that I have hot water," because it points to, first, the fact that if that's worth mentioning, there must not be a lot else going on to be thankful for, and second, that I'm familiar with a life without hot water--which, anyone who knows about my first apartment, will know to be true.
But this has been a week (two weeks, really) of small victories as well as one semi-big victory, which I'll mention below.
I have to give a big shout-out to Chris, who I've found myself thanking profusely a number of times over the past couple of weeks. He went out of his way to pick up textbooks for me. He picked me up from class when I took the bus because my car was having issues (for the second time that week). He helped me cook and did dishes and ground coffee beans for me. These are small things, to be sure, but at the time, they were big. When I came home after working two jobs and then going to drop my car off/pick my car up from the garage, as pathetic as it probably sounds, the thought of washing dishes or cooking anything seemed like an unbelievable burden. He helped shovel out my car after all that snow, too. And mostly, he put up with my complaining all week.
I have to say I'm very thankful for my students, too. When they found out it was my last week, I got tons of super sweet responses. One kid who I nag constantly about not doing work told me I was his favorite teacher and asked if I could teach his class just one more time. That was one email I did not anticipate. It was bitter-sweet because it reminded me how much I'm going to miss those kids, but it still felt great to know I'd connected with so many of them.
And the big one: I got a long-term substitute position which will carry me through the end of this school year. I'll still have to look for another permanent position in June for the 2016-2017 school year, but at least this will get me through until most districts start hiring in large numbers. Better yet, I had the chance to meet with the man whose position I'll be taking over, and he filled me in on the students I'll have, the district/administration's attitude toward student discipline, and he shared lots of curriculum ideas and materials with me. I feel much more prepared--though I'm still a little nervous--to take over next week.
Here are a few pictures, though I don't have nearly 1/day--but hopefully that will change now that things have (as far as I can tell!) settled down a little.
A heartwarming email from one of my students, with the text in the caption in case it's too hard to read in the image:
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Dear Hannah Lewis
I wanted to thank you personally for your kindness to me and my class mates. I wish you many good years at [District] and many other schools. I really enjoyed having you as my substitute teacher. I wish that you could have been my full time teacher. But there are many other years to come to see and have fun with you. I know that Ms.[Teacher] is coming back but [no] one could ever replace you. I know i should be saying that the other way around. I hope i can have you as a teacher next year or that you come back to see me and my other students in Ms.[Teacher']s class. It would be a real treat to me and all of the other students. I liked you as a teacher because you were not afraid to let lose and have fun. I liked that you acted like a student and had fun(In a Good Way). I hope i can see you again. Have a great rest of the year and an awesome Summer.
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The Westmoreland Transit driver who got me to Pitt on time for class last Tuesday:
A picture of the snow that we had to dig ourselves out of. Chris did most of the digging--then got a cold! I've gotta convince him to start wearing gloves :-/
My much-appreciated partner in survival this week! He's looking a little crazy after shoveling snow for hours. Thankfully, this picture cuts out the terrible, terrible pants he chose to wear that day O_o;;
Is that a cat laying on top of the basket of clothes I just washed? Yep. But I can't even be mad--look how cute that fur ball is :P
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