Monday, May 1, 2017

What's Next After Graduation & My Empty New Apartment {Step Into My Week}

Wow, what a week it has been. I am so sorry I dropped the ball and didn't have new posts a few days last week. Some exciting stuff happened last week and as I was processing those changes blogging took the back burner.  It's also crazy to think that senior year is quickly coming to an end. Come Saturday I will be graduated and while that is exciting since my family is coming to celebrate it is also a bit terrifying since I definitely don't feel old enough to be a college senior let alone a college grad.


So, lets start at the beginning of this past week and work our way through! Monday was my last official day of student teaching. It was also my cooperating teacher's birthday so there was a lot to be celebrated with our fourth graders! I went into the day with the mindset that I would be coming back to visit my students this week so it made leaving a little bit easier. My cooperating teacher and students are the best and when I walked back into our classroom after observing another teacher I had the largest bucket on my desk filled to the brim with everything the students and their parents thought I could need for my first year teaching. Many of the students also chose to give me a copy of their favorite book to start my first classroom library. With notes and advice on how to be a good teacher they really went above and beyond  on my last day.


 
As I mentioned, it was my cooperating teacher's birthday so I had set up the classroom with decorations and a gift for her to make her day special. My friends and I all struggled with what sort of gift to give our co-teachers and I settled for a basket of some things she loves! I put some small cokes, dove chocolate, pens, dry erase markers, a card, a cute Evelyn Henson notebook, and a Lilly tote in the basket for her! For my students, I gave them each a new dry erase marker with a note thanking them for leaving their "mark" on me this year! We use dry erase markers constantly and the kids are always losing them so it was a practical gift that they were all very excited about!


Tuesday was Furman's last day of class and the education majors had a seminar with our professors to start wrapping things up (since we don't have exams). I was a little on edge this day as I had two interviews at great elementary schools in Greenville. While other seniors were jumping in the fountains (a tradition on the last day of class here at Furman) I had a knot in my stomach due to nerves and knowing that I had a big decision to be made. Both of the interviews went wonderfully and I was so impressed by the schools however I kept getting voicemails from the school that I student taught at and they officially offered me a position as a fourth grade teacher at the school. So....I AM OFFICIALLY GOING TO BE A TEACHER WITH MY OWN CLASSROOM AT A SCHOOL THAT I HAVE COME TO LOVE THIS PAST YEAR. After graduation I'll get to go home for the month of May and then will come back to Furman for grad school starting June 7th. Furman has a program set up where we can get our masters degree in early childhood education in a year while also teaching full time so that is my plan for the next year. I am excited that I will still be in Greenville and that some of my favorite people are going to be here with me as well!


Was the all caps a bit much? I made that decision on my way back to campus after my last interview and decided it was about time I celebrated and got to feel like a senior. Nell offered to fountain hop with me (even though she had already done it that morning) and it was nice to partake in traditions even though it wasn't with everyone. That night Furman hosted a senior champagne send off with a dinner that followed. This was the perfect place to tell my friends that I was employed and made for a great end of a semi stressful day! That night a friend hosted a party which was the funniest smorgasbord of people and kept the excitement going.





Wednesday we had our "final" for all of our education classes which was really just a discussion of how our semesters went. Then it was time to start packing up my room and officially start moving into my new apartment. I am so excited to start sharing some decorating posts with y'all and eventually will share the completed apartment with y'all but for now it is quite the process. Here is a look at the apartment empty.


The rest of the week involved a lot of packing and a complete lack of productivity (or so it seemed). I'll be the first to tell you that I need structure in order to function! This weekend we went to some of our favorite Greenville restaurants and it made me so excited to be in Greenville and experience it outside of the Furman bubble that all Furman students know and (even though sometimes we won't admit it) love! I am trying to make sure that this coming week I get everything done in advance so that I can enjoy my final days with friends without feeling guilty that I haven't had new posts or haven't gotten much done in a day. I am so excited that before grad school I'll get some time at home and am hoping that I can devote tons of time and energy to Prep In Your Step since it is something I am planning to keep up after graduation (hope y'all will still want to follow along). It is so crazy to think that when I started my blog I had no idea where I was going to be attending college, I was afraid to tell people about blogging, and college graduation felt an eternity away. I am reminding myself that change is good even if it can be hard and  I am so excited to be able to share these parts of my life with y'all!

15 comments :

  1. Congratulations on the job! It sounds like you have had an eventful last few days!Jess at Just Jess

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  2. Not feeling old enough is what I'm always feeling. I've been working for a while now and I STILL can't believe I'm out of high school, much less college! Haha!

    Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
    http://charmainenyw.com

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  3. Congratulations on your new job and graduating! That's so exciting! :)

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  4. Congratulations! I'm 10 years older than you are but have enjoyed following your college experiences and looking forward to more. Just a bit of caution - you may wish to blur your students' faces or be sure you get their parents' permission before posting their pictures! With teaching such a sensitive profession social-media-wise, I'd hate to see you have any bad feedback in that area!

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  5. Congrats on the new job, Dorothy!!

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  6. Oh my gosh Dorothy, this is awesome!!! Congratulations on your job and the blog and finishing senior year!

    Gaby

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    1. Also, if you were to ever need an assistant with your blog, even as like an unpaid internship-ish kinda thing, I would apply! Your blog is one of my favorites. Just saying. :)

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  7. I'm graduating college next year, and I too don't feel old enough. Best of luck on the next chapter of your life
    Kate || KATE KOUTURES

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  8. great news! congratulations ;) I'm looking for your new posts while you're be attanding grad school and teaching full time :) I've been with you here, since your first posts, time goes like crazy! kisses from Poland :)

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  9. Congratulations! Best of luck with your new teaching job!

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  10. Congrats on getting a job! The basket you made for your cooperating teacher was so sweet. I can't wait to see what your apartment looks like! I know it will be beautiful.

    http://goldclutter.com

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  11. Congratulations on your job! It's an amazing feeling to be already employed before you even graduate & at the school you've already been at-you won the jackpot! I was able to teach my first year at the school where my internship is and it has been the absolute best, you're going to love it :)

    xoxo, SS

    www.southernandstyle.com

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  12. The new apartment looks great and congrats on the new job!

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  13. Congrats on your new job, Dorothy! I'm so excited for you! Loved seeing the video of your new apartment- can't wait to see how you decorate!

    xoxo,
    Katie
    chicincarolina.blogspot.com

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