Well, ya’ll, I did a thing!
I started college again this semester, working toward my B.A. in Art, a Dual Licensure for Special Education and Elementary Education! 🎉
Now, if my last college experience is any indication of how this is going to go, we might be here a while. It took about 5 years to earn my associates. At this rate, I might be teaching my future students’ grandchildren. 😂
But in all seriousness, I’m excited about this next chapter.
When I look back on my homeschooling experience, one of the things that stands out the most is the joy of watching those little light bulbs turn on in my girls’ heads. When something has been frustrating, confusing, and seemingly impossible, and then suddenly… CLICK! They get it!
Seeing their eyes light up when they finally understand a new concept is one of the most rewarding feelings. Even better is watching them go from feeling frustrated and defeated to feeling proud of themselves. That moment when they realize, “Hey, I actually CAN do this!” is priceless.
Those moments have stuck with me, and they’ve helped me realize how much I love helping children learn. It’s not just about teaching them to read, write, or solve math problems. It’s about helping them believe in themselves, especially when learning gets hard.
And that is something I want to carry with me into my future classroom.
I hope—nope, let me correct that. I PRAY that one day I’ll be the kind of teacher who helps children see their own potential. The teacher who encourages them when they want to give up, celebrates their little victories, and reminds them that struggling with something doesn’t mean they can’t learn it.
Every child learns differently, and I want to be someone who helps them discover what they’re capable of, even when they can’t see it in themselves just yet.
I know this journey won’t always be easy. There will probably be late-night assignments, mountains of reading, moments when I question my life choices, and at least one occasion when I’ll wonder why I thought going back to school was a good idea. (Future me, if you’re reading this while crying over an assignment, please remember why we started! 😂)
But I believe this is a path worth pursuing. If I can help even one child feel more confident, capable, and excited about learning, then all the hard work will be worth it.
So here’s to new beginnings, lots of caffeine, and hopefully earning that degree before I’m eligible for retirement!