Delayed Dreams

Today marked my first, full day in college in nearly four years.  In the past, I've worked full-time and would do my best to work a class or two into my schedule...some years I'd forget about taking a class altogether.  Last year I attempted to balance school and work as I spent most of my time at my dream job (though I had no idea it would turn out to be that when I first applied and accepted the position at a local alternative high school).

I worked for a year as a paraprofessional in the library and after seeing how hard the kids worked (or in some cases didn't work), I realized that it was because of students like them that no education position has ever 100% seemed right for me.  I'm supposed to work with the kids that cannot succeed in a typical high school setting.

It was with the heaviest of hearts that I left those kids and my position after only a year.  I left because I want nothing more than to work with them.  I want to teach them.  I want to let them know that they can succeed and English can be awesome...or at least not terrible.

So I find myself enrolled in school full-time this year and it's slightly overwhelming.  I'm taking the heaviest class load I've ever attempted and keep telling myself that it'll be worth it to be in a classroom sooner rather than later.  The homework I have after only a day of class is impressive to say the least, but I'm not going to let it get me down.

They say you have to work for your dreams and with being that awkward, older-than-average student, I can definitely attest to that.  I'm going to be busting my butt so that I can bust the butts of high schoolers in a few short years.

This outfit post is what I wore on the first day to try and fit in with all the young-ins because you never know when you're going to need a study buddy (and I don't want to be the creepy, mom-type student that everyone avoids).  Today a boy in my Creative Nonfiction class, upon learning we both have birthdays in December, asked if I was also turning 21 this year.  Bless his poor, naive heart.