My "Teaching" Story...

This is my first Linky Party...Kind of excited to be a part of it!

So here it is...How I became a teacher...

I guess I have to start at the beginning. Some would say that they have known I would be a teacher since I was in elementary school. My first "job" was a babysitting job of a boy that was blind. My main volunteer job in junior high and high school was for an infant and toddler center that worked with children with disabilities. I will never forget walking into that classroom, and feeling at home. In college, I was a camp counselor at Camp  Friendship--a camp for children and adults with disabilities...I spent three summers working at Camp! Definitely a home away from home.

When I originally went to college, I wanted to be a physical therapist...but picked a college that had an OK PT department...but the only problem was that I did NOT like science or math. So instead, I got my degree in English...I wanted to be an English teacher...not really, but that is what I said. I didn't complete my student teaching, and graduated college 1/2 year early. I started working as an instructional assistant for a local school district and was an in-home provider for a few kids in my neighbor. (The vision is becoming clearer)! When my partner got a job in California, it was very easy to pack up and move with her.

Insert a break in the education field. I became a photographer for about 2 years, then worked in a group home for youth that were in trouble for about 6 months. Then I got pregnant and had to leave. My doctor said that my job was not a good fit, as the youth could get violent. And where did I turn...I became a substitute in the school district. I long-termed subbed in an special day classroom for almost 6 months, then floated around the district for the rest of the year...and most of the next year....Then a position opened in the school district as a special day class teacher. I applied, had my interview, and was accepted for the position. Then I had to complete the interview process for my internship program (that is crazy--you have to be accepted to college, then have a job, then be accepted into the internship program)! All of the pieces fell into place.

So like I said...some would say that I have come full circle. I would say I knew where I was going, I just took the scenic route to get there! And now that I am here...I would not have changed a thing...each stop along the journey is as it was supposed to be...providing me with the tools and the focus to be where I am today!