Well, I've had some pretty big changes in my life lately - hence the prolonged absence. Last time I left off hinting at a highly anticipated interview at Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy. Long story short, the position of history teacher I applied to was filled the day I submitted my resume, but they wanted to meet with me anyway. The fact that I graduated from Hillsdale College was a huge deal with them and my educational philosophy fit perfectly with their school's. Three days after my meeting at
The Vanguard School (name of the CMCA's High School) I received a call saying that the original position I applied for opened up again. One interview later & I'm officially a High School History teacher!!!!! I now teach 9th grade Honors Classical History and 10th grade Honors European History at one of the top performing schools in the entire state of Colorado.
God's hand has been undeniably present in every detail of this whole series of events. From unknown network connections, to unexpected referrals from previous teachers of my own, to the circumstances surrounding the positions' opening... it couldn't have played out any more perfectly. I never thought I wanted to be a teacher, but the longer I worked in corporate business environments, the more I found myself wanting the atmosphere, colleagues and intellectual expectations I love so much in academia. Now I am so excited to be sharing my love of history with these children who are so incredibly well behaved and just as excited to be at Vanguard. I love giving them little teasers for the end of the year when we'll get to studying WWI and WWII history!
I've had an unusually rough start to the year, mostly because A) this is my first year of teaching, so I have an incredibly steep learning curve to climb and B) when I assumed the position, school had already been underway for 2 weeks. I inherited a position that was abandoned by the former teacher, patched together by substitutes and other teachers until I was able to step in. Most of all I sympathize with the children. The sense of disorder, lack of consistent information and irregularity of authority figures in the History classroom must be disconcerting to them, let alone hindering to good academic performance. So I'm basically staying a day ahead of my students. Sometimes I'm literally 30 minutes ahead of them. Want to know how? For example I gave my 10th graders a test yesterday. I literally made the test the half hour before class and the copies were still warm when I handed them out at 7:45 am. These last three days have been particularly difficult as progress reports have gone out, so I am learning how to handle the righteous indignation and wrath of parents to failing students! eeeeeeek!!!
I have never really been able to comprehend how some people can be workaholics. I like my personal time, family & friend time and of course sleep. Never before have I dedicated so many hours to work so effortlessly. Time just seems to fly by and I never have enough! I'm regularly spending 12+ hour days in Colorado Springs and it feels like its only been 8 hrs. Speaking of which, yes the school is in CO Springs, while I am still living in Denver. So these last three weeks have been perfecting my hour long commute abilities at the disgustingly early hour of 5 am. A move to COS is planned shortly, so bye by Denver.... hello COS!
I'm excited to move to Colorado Springs. I found a great house with three other teachers from the high school and its only located 10 minutes away. I'm the 7th Hillsdale College Alum to come on board at Vanguard and beyond the High School there are dozens of other Alum who live in and around COS. I am so grateful to have good acquaintances nearby and other individuals who understand Hillsdale! Finally! The Springs area is beautiful. Denver and the Rockies backdrop was something new, beautiful and fascinating, but the Springs takes all that and makes it even more dramatic. It has more of a western feel because the soil has a red clay hue to it. Temperatures are cooler due to a higher elevation. There are gorgeous rock formations around the area, most famously the
Garden of the Gods. More so, its beautiful because Colorado Springs lies at the very base of the Pike's Peak and the southern stretch of the Rockies. Denver lies a good half hour's drive from the base of the Rockies, but I look out my window at school and they're so close I keep thinking the sky is purple!
I'm excited to make the official move in the first week of October and begin making Colorado Springs my home. I can attend school sports events and support my students. Spend time with other Hillsdale grads and fellow teachers and resume a regular social life! and most of all work on some of my life goals more resolutely now that I have the comfort and security of a full time job that supports my academic endeavors. I'll still pursue wine on the side as an amateur - taken from the Latin roots "for the love of". Posts from now on may still be a bit irregular as I continue to smooth out the kinks and other road blocks I encounter on a daily basis, but I'll write updates as often as I can!
So have a cheerful weekend, I thank God for His infinite love and blessings, thank you all for your faithful prayers on my behalf & go Vanguard Coarsers!
