Sometimes I make myself giggle in shock when I realize I'm going to be a teacher. The whole notion that I soon have to move to the Navajo reservation, introduce myself to the chapter house and hold Back to School Nights may seem random to the casual observer.
Because, I admit, just nine months ago, the thought of teaching never flickered across my mind. I was going to be some sort of journalist (and my grades reflected that). I even had a job lined up. But with one acceptance letter, all the journalism plans I built up since tenth grade were blown out of the water. Now here I am, thinking about differentiating techniques and learning modalities.
The crazier part is that it all makes so much sense.
Sometimes I miss working with adults, and a lot of times I miss the newsroom atmosphere. But life is funny and reality is more often surreal. The important thing is to not just sit there and wait for change to happen. When I get down to it, I can't imagine being anywhere else.
And in New Mexico, life is very often surreal. On the way back from Houston, my friends and I drove
through White Sands. You drive through the brown and green desert and stop short when you realize that the seemingly barren desert has borne a sea of white gypsum. The 275 square miles of white gypsum dunes look ethereal against the mountain backdrop and dry desert heat. Everything was so bright, I had to squint to take pictures. The "sand" is soft and almost slippery to the touch. It's blinding and boggling. Sort of like teaching.
You will always have a place in our newsroom world, Jess!
Posted by: Jessica S | July 27, 2005 at 11:21 AM