Dr. Seuss wrote in his book "Oh The Places You'll Go" "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go". I thought this was very profound considering the changes that I have made in my life. What changes? I thought someone might ask that, so her I go to begin to explain the whys and hows.
Some may know that I am STILL going to college to obtain my degree (it doesn't matter how long it takes right?). Currently I am majoring in elementary education. I have fulfilled all of my class requirements to graduate except student teaching. In order to student teach, one much pass a series of tests to prove that they are competent. Understandable, right? Right. I have passed one called the VCLA and will take the VRA in less than a month. There are two other tests called PRAXIS (one and two) that I need to take and pass. Well, I have taken PRAXIS 1 numerous times and it has continued to be the BIGGEST thorn in my side. Apparently Virginia has the highest qualifying scores needed. What was my score? 531 out of the required 532. Could you just scream?! I personally chose to cry, but that's just me. I have taken that awful test at least 4 times and it is not cheap. It's $130.00 to take all three parts...EACH TIME. None of these tests are cheap. How can poor college kids get a degree with all of these testing fees?! Boggles my mind. I digress. So, I feel like I am a complete idiot and have no business teaching anyones children since I can't seem to pass that test. I did; however, pass the VCLA with a very high score, so apparently I can teach people how to read and write, just not math (that is my problem area).
I have been thinking and stressing over this for a very long time and here is what I have decided. I changed my major. WHAAAAAAATTTTTT?!?!?!?! I know. It's shocking. Let me explain. Financially I can not afford to take these tests again. It's just impossible and I have too much pride to ask for help, so this is the avenue I have taken. It will actually work out to our benefit. I will not even begin to explain how my school labels their degrees, but I have switched to Interdisciplinary Studies. That's really what my major was before, I just had an elementary education endorsement. So now it will be that with a concentration in elementary education and psychology (because I have a crap load of psych classes from when I wanted to pursue nursing). By doing this I have saved us A LOT of money. I've also saved myself from going through the heartache of sending my beautiful boy to daycare this fall. As many mommy's know, daycare doesn't come cheap. I can take all of my classes online this semester and in the spring and this only puts me a semester behind and I don't have to pass any tests to obtain my degree and I can still teach with the degree I will get. I just have to go about getting my license a different way. All is good. I get to play with Zach and see him grow up and do cool things and go to school all under the same roof. I also won't need to go back to work because going this route will enable us to get tuition refunds that we need to stay afloat.
Bottom line, I chose what I thought was best for me and my little family. I know people will have their opinions (if anyone even reads what I write), but all I'm asking for is understanding and support. At the end I will have my bachelors and go on to hopefully be a teacher. I promise to be the best teacher I can be, even if I'm not good at math.
In other news, my cousin Lexi found out that she is pregnant! Her's is the wedding we went to in May. They work fast, huh?! She is 8 weeks and 5 days today and we all couldn't be happier for her. The baby is due around February 1st and one of her sisters is due toward the end of September 2010. My aunt is beside herself happy with the idea of 2 grandbabies!!! It's neat to me because me, my cousin Lexi and my cousin Beth are all pretty much exactly a year apart with Lexi being the oldest (me in the middle...so on and so forth). Our children will all be born within a year of each other too. Zach was born November 2009, Beth's will be September 2010 and Lexi's will be February 2011. Babies born in three consecutive years just like their mommies!! I just thought this was really cool. I just wish that we could have grown up together or that we were closer so our children would have that opportunity. Life works in crazy ways, so who knows what will happen.
I should go now. I've given you (whoever you are) enough to read. Plus I'm staaaaavin!
Love,
Sarah
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