Showing posts with label graduate school. Show all posts

Almost one year ago, I found out that I'd been accepted to Northeastern University's Master of Arts in Teaching for Secondary Licensure program. I applied to four schools - Northeastern, UMass Boston, Simmons, and Lesley - and Northeastern was the first school that I heard back from. Although I waited to hear from the others (and got in to all of them - which was incredible!), I think I knew from the moment I was accepted to Northeastern that it would be the school I would pick.

Now, one year later, and exactly one month away from grade release day for my final classes, I could not be happier that I chose Northeastern. The program has been incredible and I have made some wonderful friends, but most importantly, it has helped me to grow as a person, and cultivated my sense of self as I work to become a teacher.
Through this all, I have focused on my belief that this journey is the right one for me, and as I search for a job for the fall, this word keeps coming back to me: Believe. Which is actually completely appropriate because it is my one little word for the year 2013 and it is my fall back every step of the way. When I worry about the future, when I fall asleep on the train from exhaustion (oh yes, full disclosure, this happens), when I lose time with Josh and the pup, I take a deep breath, and I focus on believing in this journey and in myself. I have an incredible support system - Josh and my parents, and his parents and our friends have all lifted me up and their belief in me leads to a deeper belief in myself.
I am amazed that the first part of this journey is just one month away from being over, but I know that this beginning is just the tip of the iceberg and that I have a long career in education ahead of me. I believe that I can do this, that I can finish this month out strong and that I can find a job for the 2013-2014 school year. I believe that I can do it, and I will do it, and I know that it will be wonderful - I can feel it.

On School. {Believe}

Sara @ Forever and a Recipe 6/03/2013 1 Comment Edit

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A few weeks ago, I posted that some big things that were happening behind the scenes here. But I didn't actually tell you what those big things are...

I kept a quote by my desk at work until just recently that said, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." The quote, by Eleanor Roosevelt, reminded me (and continues to do so) that no matter how stressful or overwhelmed things felt, if I just believed in my dream, and followed it, I would be able to achieve it.
When I was in third grade, my parents took my brother and I on a trip to Boston to tour the city, visit museums and see some other historical sites. My favorite part of the trip was visiting Lexington and Concord, and learning that this was where the American Revolution had begun. We walked through Cambridge one day of our trip - walking around Harvard and, of course, stopping at the Harvard Co-Op - and I fell in love with the city then, at 9 years old. On the drive home from Boston, I told my parents that one day, I was going to move to Cambridge and become a teacher. While my journey has taken me on a few different adventures along the way, I can finally say that I am now following my dream.
This past Spring, I was accepted to Northeastern University for graduate school, and this Summer, I began taking classes towards my Masters in the Art of Teaching with Secondary Licensure. All those times when posting became a bit erratic, or I alluded to the fact that I was 'busy with work' - I was hard at work going to school full-time while continuing to work my day job full-time. Yesterday evening, I clocked out of work one last time, took the red line out of the city one last time, and rode the shuttle home from the station one last time. And, on January 2nd, I will be starting my student teaching at Quincy High School in their History Department.
This journey has been incredible, and I have worked so hard to reach this point and I am overjoyed knowing that I have finally reached it. I am super excited to meet with my cooperating teacher (today!) and to dive into this world of teaching. I want to begin inspiring student learning and help make a difference to my students, both in school and in life. I want to help students find their voice, teach history in a way that excites students, build strong relationships with other teachers, and, personally, continue to learn more about history and further immerse myself in the subject.
I know that the future holds many incredible things, and I am ready to embark on the next step of this journey. Life is going to stay busy for a little while - but I like busy. Busy keeps me on my toes and allows for me to be continually creative both at school and at home.
I want to thank everyone who has already been a part of this journey - both family and friends. You have shared in my success in this program and been there for me each step of the way, and I cannot ever thank you enough. Today, as I take the next step in the rest of my life, I do so with so much happiness and joy and I am so glad to finally share the news with all of YOU!

Following My Dreams

Sara @ Forever and a Recipe 12/20/2012 2 Comments Edit

A few weeks ago, I posted that some big things that were happening behind the scenes here. But I didn't actually tell you what those big things are...

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