When I was originally looking for jobs I was looking for more of a primary level (K-2) to teach. I wanted the babies! But the closer it came to the end of summer (and the more I despised my job in PR) I became absolutely desperate and applied for every single open position in three counties. Out of the countless resumes I sent out, I only landed two interviews - one of which was a pity interview from a friend's principal. The other interview, came in August just weeks before school would start. When I received the e-mail giving me my interview date and time, I looked up the school and saw that it was an hour away.
Seriously? No thank you. I won't even consider that.
Well, that was my first reaction. The more I thought about it and discussed it with a coworker of mine (who was equally as miserable in the PR job and encouraged me to get out!) I decided to just go to the interview. I thought I had no chance and just went because I was afraid I'd always wonder "what if..." I also happened to have a doctors appointment already lined up for that morning so I had already let my work know I'd be out at that time. Well if that wasn't a godwink then I don't know what is!
The school was in an area I'd never been before and I could tell by the drive there that the students I'd possibly be teaching were being raised in a much different environment that I grew up. I went to the interview and met with the principal and assistant principal to interview for a 4th grade teaching position. They were very nice and were very understanding that it was basically my first interview and helped me feel comfortable. After a while it became more of just a conversation with them about ourselves and why I want to get into education. The principal obviously saw my passion and excitement and told me that she knew I'd be great but that someone just needed to give me a chance. I walked away feeling confident, but knew that with my zero experience that I didn't have a shot with this position.
About 4:00 pm that afternoon I received an e-mail stating that I had gotten the job. I PANICKED. I was excited, but absolutely terrified! Less than three weeks later I had my own classroom in a Title I school with a 97% poverty level. The night before school started I had a meltdown (imagine that) to my dad that none of the kids would listen to me and it would be horrible and I just didn't want to show up for work and go back to my old job because that would be easier. Those were actually the thoughts going through my head because I was so scared. I legitimately considered just not going to work at the school the next day and asking my old PR company for my job back. SERIOUSLY.
That first week, actually that first NINE weeks, was a blur. If anyone asks me what I did, what I said, what I taught, or how I knew what to do - heck if I know. Everyday was survival mode and I was lucky if my students didn't kick each other's butts let alone mine. But I did it, and each time I'd talk with my principal she gave me wonderful praise. She constantly told me how much she believed in me and that gave me great encouragement and confidence.
There were so many things that went on in that classroom, and at that school even outside of students, that I could not believe I was exposed to in my first year of teaching, things I never thought existed in the world. But it was probably the best experience I could have had for my first year in this bizarre world of the education system. I had everything in the world thrown at me and I still left everyday with my head held high and loving my career.
