What A Year

Last year at this time I had recently quit a job that had been making me miserable more often than it made me happy.  I quit via an email sent from my phone in the middle of the day and never looked back.  I felt immediately better. I had no job lined up and was finishing my last two classes of grad school but I somehow felt totally calm about the situation.

I took last summer as an opportunity to figure out if teaching was really it for me.  I have worked in only high stress teaching environments: a high school for at-risk youth, a school for cognitively delayed children with emotional disturbances, and an urban charter school who was not making it's state mandated goals.  I applied to teaching jobs for high schools but more selectively than in the past.  I even applied at a non-profit as an event planner.  I looked into editing and writing jobs.  I scoured job search sites for anything that remotely interested me and came up largely short.

As I completed my MA in English I came back to the idea I'd had when I first started it; I could teach at the college level.  I started applying.  Mostly to proprietary schools but to others as well.  Finally, I got a call, and by the end of the interview I was being handed the books for the courses and sample syllabi.  I taught four courses last fall and while I still was teaching a stressful population I loved it.  I met awesome people and I really bonded with several students.  Unfortunately they had to tell me they couldn't offer me four courses again.  I felt a little panicked.  Someone was looking out for me though and the school I really wanted to teach at offered me three classes at a significantly higher pay rate.  And that is where I remain.  I have reclaimed the joy that teaching is to me.  I love it.

Sure, I still have moments of stress but everyone does at their job.  Largely though I feel reinvigorated.  I am trying to learn as much as I can about teaching at this new level.  A part of me still really really wants to teach high school in my old school district.  But now, I know that even if I never get to I can still be very very happy.  I am finally on a path that I feel incredibly confident about and that excites me.

I have so much other stuff on my plate right now as I enter this next phase of my life, my thirties, and I can't wait to share it with the people that matter to me.

Summer Wrap Up

At the beginning of the summer I posted my bucket list for the months of June, July, and August.  Now that we're at Labor Day it's time to evaluate my summer...

As a reminder, here is my bucket list...

Sara's Summer Bucket List:

1. Go to Bar Harbor, ME!!

2. Attend a Wade Oval Wednesday

3. See Shakespeare in a park

4. Go to the beach

5. Crafting!

6. Girls Nights!

7. Date Nights! I'm having a lot of fun dating and figuring out who really is a solid match for me!

8. Bonfires

9. Lay out at a pool

10. Cook out

11. Outdoor runs

12. Read fun books!

13. Go to the Zoo

14. See the summer blockbusters! - So far I've seen Fast and the Furious 6, Superman, Heat, 

15. Day drink!

16. Finish my MA Essay

17. Go to Cedar Point
18. Find a job!


I definitely didn't complete everything on this list, but I have to say I'm really happy with how this summer went for me.  My trip to Bar Harbor was amazing.  I saw whales, caught up with friends, went nature creeping, and ate lots of lobster.

Lobstah!

I had several awesome girls nights with margaritas, tacos, and gossiping that made me continue to appreciate the friendships I've been cultivating for years.  My ladies are truly awesome.

This was the first summer that I really made a point of putting myself out there and dating.  I kept things casual and it's been great.  Everyone I met or gave a chance too has been awesome.  Some have stuck around, some I've let fall away, but all have been good experiences.  There have been movies, hikes, dinners, parties, cook outs, and one lucky guy even got a home cooked meal.  Now that summer is over and my schedule is going to get crazy we'll have to see how everything works out.  But I certainly have no regrets.

Homecooked!

I got to hang out with several of my co-workers this summer which was super fun.  While my job wasn't the right fit for me last year, my co-workers were stellar and I'm glad to be continuing friendships with them.  Corn-hole, day drinking, night drinking, a play, and lots of stupid snap chats made it a fun time.

My spur of the moment road trip with my bff to Gatlinburg was a perfect little get away.  We saw the most hilarious things, got caught in tourist traps, and sampled lots of types of alcohol.

Moonshine!

Perhaps most importantly I finished my MA Essay and, as of yesterday, GRADUATED graduate school!  I'm so glad to be done.  And, because I now have an MA in English, I was able to complete #18 and procure a job!  This year I'm going to be teaching college composition classes at a career college downtown.  I'm excited for the challenge but nervous too.

Other random summer highlights:

Pole dancing class!
Oktoberfest!
Taste of Tremont!
The Lion King!

Sexy, I know.

Rock Star Accordion!

Goodbye Summer... Hello Fall!

Grad School

I'm meeting with my advisor for the first time on Tuesday and one of the things I need to discuss with her is whether or not I plan on per suing my degree full time or part time next year.  So in an effort to better organize my thoughts on it I've decided to create pro/con type lists...

Part-Time:

Pros:
Can work full-time while going to school
Less financial burden at any given time
Potentially less stressful if I remain in my current job where I do not have take home work

Cons:
It will take me over 2 years to complete the degree
I might lose some of my motivation
Could postpone career opportunities

Full-Time:

Pros:
Can focus fully on my classes
Can potentially work a part-time job
Could finish in as little as a year and a half (I think.)

Cons:
More money up front
Would have to stop working full time
Might burn out on school



All in all my lists seem relatively even.  Perhaps I should just view it as if I get my dream job for next year I will go part-time.  If I get laid off due to staff reductions I will go full-time.  I'm unsure where I stand if I'd just be keeping this same low-paying job.  I like what I do but I'm not sure it's furthering my career in anyway.


Any ideas? Thoughts?  I'd love your opinions!

Checking In

So January is coming to a close and I think it's time to check in.  A couple of weeks ago I posted some goals for the new year and I thought I'd remind myself of what they are and see how I've been doing on them.  To refresh your memory here is the list:

Build stronger relationships- as a family member, friend, and romantic interest
Kick butt in my grad school classes
Expand my book blog to include other bloggers and buy my own domain
Read for pleasure as much as possible
Explore Cleveland
Exercise and be healthy
Focus on the positive
Complain less
Be open to change


I feel like I have definitely strengthened some friendships.  I've spent some quality time with my quality peeps and I am happy about that.  My family and I have also been spending time together and getting along which is great.  I can't comment too much on grad school yet- but I did complete my first week of reading and took notes so I think so far so good.  My professor seems great and while it's going to be a lot of work I think it's going to be really fulfilling as well.  


I have sucked at doing stuff with my book review blog, but I will remedy that soon.  Yet, I have been reading for pleasure a LOT, so far it's been one book each week of 2012, which keeps me on track for finally reaching 50 books in one year!


My friend Katie and I went to Zumba once and I filled out the paperwork to get a scholarship to the Y.  So this week I plan on finalizing my membership so I can be healthier.  I've also realized I haven't been eating enough- nor healthily enough so I'm trying to eat 2-3 meals a day and am including a lot more fruit and veggies.  


Focusing on the positive has been really tough for me.  I was in an extremely negative move last week especially in regards to my job.  I decided to try to perk up this year and am trying to focus on school and what my future might bring to keep me positive.  I have also sucked at complaining less.  I've complained a lot.  I'll keep working on that!  Being open to change.  Hmm, I think I am being open to change.  I think my life is in a state of change right now and I'm embracing it.  Let's see what it brings.




How is 2012 turning out for you?

2011 in Cleveland- The Good Stuff

Every year is filled with hits and misses, positives and negatives, successes and failures.  But today, the last day of 2011 I want to reflect on what went right this past year so I can enter 2012 on a positive and cheery note. (And, I guess not all of these things happened in Cleveland, but they all happened to a Clevelander!)

In 2011 I...

• partied with and made new friends when I spent NYE in Las Vegas
• was recalled to my job
• met a guy and had a fun couple of months going on unique dates
• went on a road trip to IKEA with a coworker
• got my first coach purse
• saw my cousin get "hooded" as she finished veterinary school
• went to Missouri and spent a week with some of the best people in the world with www.familysummits.com
• partied with my ladies on Kelley's Island for an awesome bachelorette party
• attended a rocking wedding at the House of Blues
• travelled to St. Joseph Michigan to see my big cousin get hitched
• was the maid of honor in my lil cousin's wedding
• witnessed a friend of 16 years marry the love of her life 
• attended my first professional conference in Chicago! NCTE 2011!
• shared a family holiday with a boyfriend for the first time
• applied for and registered for grad school
• maintained three blogs
• went completely dairy free
• performed twice in front of my entire school as part of the all staff group "the pepettes"
• helped my special ed students perform and film Hamlet
• got a Droid
• adopted Titus (my adorable new kitty!)
• read 14 books!

What went right for you in 2011?  

Graduate School... My Next Endeavor

Immediately following undergrad I wanted to stay on my parent's medical insurance and consider my career options so I enrolled in several classes at Cleveland State University in counseling and education.  I enjoyed the counseling classes a lot and seriously considered going for my school and clinical counseling degree/licenses.  Then, I found a master's program at The Ohio State University for English Education which sounded perfect for me.  I applied immediately but due to some mix ups on my part and on theirs I was non-degree seeking for the three courses I took (one a quarter) for the year. By the end of the year I'd been accepted I was a bit disillusioned by the process and felt like I needed to return to Cleveland.  I will say though, I felt I held my own quite well in English classes filled with PhD candidates and students persuing their Master's in English.  It hit me, that I perhaps was more equipped to handle a tougher program than I initially thought.  The following fall I was substitute teaching and, since I'd never not been enrolled in school since the fall of 1989 I decided to take a few online classes at CSU.  I did not like those classes so I decided to take a break from graduate school after acquiring approximately 23 credit hours.

Cut to today.  At times I am in love with my job and incredibly fulfilled by it.  But other times, unfortunately more often than I care to admit, I am fearful for my job security and reminded that I am not using all of my skills and talents as a teacher when I am performing my duties as a classroom aide.  After attending the National Council of Teacher's of English convention a few weeks ago I was renewed with this drive to find a teaching position and do what I do best; teach English!  Coupled with uncertainty about my current position being around past this year I have decided it is time to reconsider graduate school.

For a few months now I've been weighing my options.  Should I finish a master's in counseling?  Get my special education license because that seems the only way to get hired?  Perhaps a master's degree in English )which is what private/independent schools prefer, can help you get chosen for AP/Advanced English positions, and gives you the option of teaching at the community college) is the best option.  There are certainly pros and cons to each.  After looking at several programs, considering my career aspirations, and evaluating the costs I think I have finally made my decision.

I am going to apply for the English Master's program at John Carroll University.  When it comes down to it I enjoy the English classes I take more than I do the education courses.  I feel more stimulated and inspired by them.  I still am really interested in counseling, but the job prospects are just as dim if not dimmer in that field so I'm not sure it would really help me in the long run.  While the special education certification may land me a job I'm afraid it's just not where my passion lies.  I have a soft spot for my students who have special needs but unfortunately I think that with a special education license I could end up having to teach more than just English and honestly I am not interested in that!  I really want to teach English and I think an MA in English will help me do that.  Not only may I still be able to work with high school students but I will be qualified to teach at the community college level.  There is a lot of appeal to teaching at that level and I think it would provide a unique challenge for me.

Earlier this week I finished the online part of the application.  Today I requested my transcripts from all of my previous universities.  Tomorrow I will be getting at least one of my recommendations and hopefully finalizing my statement of intent.  Ideally I will apply by the 17th which I believe is the deadline for spring quarter.  If things go according to plan I'd like to take one course, to get back in the swing of things, this spring.  Here's hoping, as well, that at least two of the courses I took at OSU will transfer!

Wish me luck!  Any advice as I finish up my application?