On October 9, 2009 at 4:07 pm, my life changed. It was my turn to cover the front desk for my co-worker who was out for the day, and I was having a heavy chat with a friend online. It was heavy because we were exchanging life updates, only to receive a new one of my own: I had been accepted into the Philadelphia Teaching Fellows. For a moment I was speechless and couldn’t see straight. I think I skimmed the letter the first couple of times to make sure, then read it all the way through. In those moments, I realized: this is really happening. I’m leaving Washington D.C. I’m going back home. I’m beginning a quest to fight the good fight, to lead, to make a difference, to be something that I’ve always admired and often felt was under appreciated by so many others…
The process was emotional on various levels. Personally, going back to Philadelphia presents some opportunities for me to reconnect with my family as an adult. My random decision to choose Washington, D.C. and leave for a year was one of the best and most spontaneous things I had ever done. I’ve learned more than I would have ever imagined, a lot about myself, a lot about people, a lot about relationships, love, kindness, passion and work.
Professionally, I know now that Corporate America has its own insane culture and I am not sure that it is for me. Insane isn't always bad, but it isn't always good either... It's a social science phenomenon to say the least.
These were things that I think I had to learn on my own, because it makes me feel different, in control. It makes me feel grown up.
So I have a few exams that I need to take, get my FBI background clearance, attend the institute in January, and by mid-February, I’m going to be a math teacher. It is all happening so fast, that I have no choice but to ride the wave. Looking back makes it harder to breathe because I’m moving so fast forward.
It’s all very inspiring and mildly terrifying, as I know for sure that I’m going to be teaching in a school where the students cannot bring home their textbooks. I know that since I care so much, I’ll likely be broke my first year. I think that perhaps for Christmas and my birthday, instead of gifts, I will ask for donations to the school, anything, really, that will help my kids.
My kids! I’m going to have kids! Wow…
In the midst of all of this, I know that this also kind of forces me to look at other things. How much does law school mean to me? Well, right now, I feel like God wants me in a different place. It would appear that I was always the last to know about where I belonged in terms of my passions, as I’ve had so many, but education has been a very sensitive point to me in my life. That is not to say I haven’t taken some things for granted, but I am also aware of how important it is to have people in your life who are your advocates, who are truly invested in you. And for some people, their teachers play that role in their lives.
So hopefully there will be lots to share about my first year as a teacher. Pursuing a master’s degree, working, likely maintaining a thriving relationship, and taking really good care of myself, my family and my best friends will prove to be eventful to say the least.
But I can do it.
I don’t back down from challenges.
