Why I Want to be a Teacher

So I was in my Educational Psychology class today and we talked about poverty and how it affects children in schools. The question is...how does it NOT affect children in schools? We watched a segment from 60 Minutes about child poverty in the U.S. and frankly, I got tears in my eyes. The interviewer sat down with about 20 children from elementary school to middle school ages and asked them some questions. One of the questions was "What is it like to sleep while you're hungry?" One young boy said he couldn't sleep at night because he woke up every 5  minutes thinking about how hungry he was. Another little girl said it was embarrassing because her stomach would rumble and the kids in her class always asked her why. Now, if you're reading this, you know I'm extremely dramatic; I say I'm starving all the time. In truth, I'm not. The kids also said that it's hard to concentrate when they've had to skip dinner and breakfast.

The interviewer also asked if any of the kids had their electricity turned off at home. 18 of the 20 children raised their hands. 18 out of 20! Their parents had to choose between feeding their family, or having electricity. The students also said they did their homework by candlelight. One older boy, about 14, said he went out in the car and used the overhead light just so he could get his studying done. The tear-jerker came when one girl, about 12, started to cry and said that she felt like her parents' poverty was all her fault because they had to buy her food and clothes.

It was this last statement from the girl that gave me this overwhelming feeling that I am supposed to enter the teaching profession. From reading by big sis's blog, I know that schools aren't what they used to be; parents don't care, students don't care, and teachers are teaching according to a bar set not according to their students' individual needs. This I know; however, I know God wants me to teach. I want to show the students the power of love and warmth. I will love those high schoolers (even thought it might almost kill me sometimes) like they're my own. Yes, I stress about money, and yes, there were times things were tight, but I always knew there was a roof over my head. I always had electricity and I always knew where my next meal was coming from. To the children who don't know these things, school really doesn't seem like that big of a deal. At 16 it will just make more sense for them to drop out of high school and work so they can contribute to their family's wages. I know what I'm up against. I want to show these students that breaking the chain and going to college will in fact benefit them more than they'll ever know. I know it won't be easy, I know I'll want to quit, but I know this is what I'm supposed to do. I want to be there for those kids. I want to show them the beauty of literature and how you can escape into a world that isn't your own, even for just a few hours. I want to see these students (even though I won't know them for a while) succeed and get accepted into college. I want to show them the beauty of an education; that although it sometimes "sucks," it will pay off in the long run. I want to love them and cherish them. I want to succeed when they succeed, and fall when they fall.

I want to be a teacher.

Number Two

So last night a group of my SAO sisters and I went to the Passion Conference Tour 2012 at Athens Church. It was a much needed emotional night of worship and message. It's been a while since I've gone to a big worship event like that, and I really needed it. I'm struggling a lot with being lonely and with Bobby being so far away. OK, I know whoever reads this probably gets really bored...wah wah, I miss my boyfriend, I know, it could be so much worse, I know. Anyway, it was so amazing just to gather with a huge group of college-aged believers and worship our Lord. Within the first few songs, I immediately felt waves of relief and the presence of Jesus. As Louie Giglio gave his speech, I was really struck by one of the things he said; that we must find a number 2. He talked about falling in love-something I can relate to. But, Louie talked about how we must first fall in love with God, our number one, and then go in search of our number 2. Fortunately, at this time in my life, I've found my number 2 in Bobby. 

A relationship is hard. It's work, and there are good days and bad days. Add in a 1,000+ mile difference and it gets even harder. Bobby and I have been struggling a lot with missing each other, which is only to be expected. We saw each other this past weekend and it was wonderful. Just to be with my best friend again. He's changed so much in the 7 weeks we were apart, and I'm so proud of the Godly man he's becoming. The distance requires a lot of trust in the person you love, and trusting yourself. Because our relationship has been weighing heavily on my heart, it's something I prayed really hard about last night about Louie spoke. I prayed that God guide us in our craziness of staying together, and that it be His will. I was hit with a sense of peace, and that was so nice and refreshing. It's crazy to think that a year ago Bobby and I were broken up, and not speaking to each other. We've been through so much in the past year and a half, and I know we have a lot more to get through. But as Bobby and I were talking last night about how we sometimes ask ourselves "Why us," that we should be grateful. We should be grateful that God loves us enough to challenge our love for each other by distancing us. And by distancing us, we must turn to Him so that we may grow together. And how much of a blessing is that? A huge one. I know we have so much going against us, and that there are so many obstacles in my way, but I'm not afraid-sad, lonely, and missing him like crazy, yes. But I am not afraid. We'll be OK. We've trusted God with our relationship and there isn't much more we can do. 

I've found my number 2.

Missing You

September is always a hard month for me; it marks however many years ago my dad died. Now, I'm not a person to typically harp on dates, but giving that this was such a huge event in my life it always affects me. This past September 19th marked 13 years since my dad died. It's hard, it really is. It's hard because I was 6, and didn't really get to know him. I knew he loved me. I knew he loved my sisters. I knew he loved my mom. And the majority of the time, knowing those 3 things is enough. Sometimes though, it's not. I've learned over the years from asking questions that when he was little he wanted to be an Astronaut when he grew up, his favorite color was red, the marines was where he learned to smoke, he had a dog named Prince who was his best friend growing up. As I pass each big milestone in my life I wish he was here: getting my driver's license, getting accepted into college, and my high school graduation. It's hard in knowing he isn't going to walk me down the aisle, my children will never know their grandfather. Each time I look at Caroline and Robby I wish my dad were here, to play with them, to comfort them, to spoil them, it hurts. I do have the memories. Like going to the pool with him, playing pirates on the swingset in our backyard, going to Dairy Queen after pre school, playing beauty and the beast, going on neighborhood runs, car trips, and him bringing home donuts after he worked the graveyard shift. They're comforting, but sometimes they aren't enough.

It's hard being in a relationship without your dad too. I so wish Bobby could have met him. I know they could have sat down and talked about History for hours on end. I see so much of my dad in Bobby, heck, they even have the same name. And I'm lucky that I'm in a relationship with a boy who accepts the fact that I'm awkward around male authority figures. I've had to learn a lot of things the hard way about boys. But luckily, Bobby accepts my faults, and the fact that I'm naive when it comes to guys.

I, like every other person, have good days and bad days. Today was one of those days when I just missed him a lot, and the memories of the day he died flooded my brain. I don't like to talk about that day, no one would, but I recently answered some friends' questions about what happened so that's probably why a lot of this has surfaced. I still love him, and I know he still loves me. I know what happened is part of God's plan, and although it has taken me 13 years, I accept it. I am so blessed in every other aspect of my life. But sometimes...I'm still that little girl on a swingset, waiting for her daddy to come play with her. Sometimes, I just need to sit back and remember the wonderful man who is my father, and cherish every memory I have.

Distance

To be blunt, distance sucks.

I hate distance. I hate Pennsylvania. I hate Gettysburg. But...I love the boy who is distanced from me, and the boy who goes to school in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. I don't know how these men and women have husbands and wives in the military and are separated for extended periods of time. It's been 5 weeks since I've seen Bobby, and we have another 2 to go, but my heart hurts so badly I can barely stand it. I am grateful he is not in a war-torn country, I am grateful in knowing he will come home. I am grateful in knowing he is safe. But, I'm whining and just miss him. It's crazy to think that a year ago I was crying because I missed him in a different way, and I think that's what makes this hard. I get anxious because I'm away from him and this feels like last year, but then all he has to do is say "I love you," and it's all OK. A year and a half is a long time for people our age to be together. Yes, we had a 5 month "hiatus," but we've been together longer than we were apart. And we both spent those 5 months longing to talk to each other but being to scared to do it. It's also hard when I have people telling me I'm crazy all the time for trying this. OK people, I know I'm crazy. I know I'm stupid, naive, ignorant, whatever. I take what you have to say, but honestly, you don't know our relationship. We've been through a lot in the past year and a half, and we've grown stronger in our love because of it. We don't depend on each other, we depend on God. I know this is what He wants for us, I know I am where I am supposed to be in my life, but it's so hard. I don't know where the future takes us, I don't know what God's plan is, but right now I love that crazy, funny, sweet, boy who is a thousand miles away. So if you or someone you know has a loved one fighting overseas, tell them they're amazing. Especially if they have babies. I don't know how they find the strength to do it.

Sincerely,

Me.

Two Postings in a Row

Okay Okay, I know...two nights in a row Victoria, seriously? Sorry, I just finished my quiet time for the day, and I just have a few things I'd like to share with the world.

Lately I've been reading Isaiah. By lately, I mean I started it at the beginning of the summer and kind of left off somewhere in the 40th chapter until the Lord recently brought me back to the wonderful book of Isaiah. I've been struggling a lot lately with being lonely and in missing Bobby, plus there are always people on my heart. So tonight I read 45 and 46, and here are some of the highlights I made:

"I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord." - 45:3
Wow. Here God is, flat out telling us that He will hide special things for us. You know the expression, "there's always light at the end of the tunnel"? Where here is the light people. Right there, in scripture. God is saying there are treasures in darkness. We just have to be patient (eh, sucky, right?) and know that somewhere in our time(s) of darkness, God has a treasure in store, if not just you getting out of the darkness.

"I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me." -45:5
You know that little box I was talking about in yesterday's post? That's what I'm talking about. Yet, He still strengthens us even though we ignore and push His away.

"you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you, I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." -46:4
Again, wow. He planned your conception, your birth, and everything in between. He will never let us go. He is the only one there witnessing every tiny second of your life. He will sustain us and rescue us.

"What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.
Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness. I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed." -46:11-13
The plan. Even though right now I may be in a time of darkness, and I am so stubborn that I try (and fail) to do things my own way, His will will succeed. Right now I am in a tunnel of darkness, and those that weigh heavily on my heart are too, but His salvation will not be delayed. He is God and He cannot be stopped. He will save us.

***On a side note, if you ever want prayer, PLEASE tell me, Facebook, phone, email, anything. I'm yours. I believe in the power of prayer.

The Glory of it All

Sometimes, life throws something at you that makes you want to curl up in a ball and wait until it's over. It happens, that's life, right? That's what we say to make ourselves feel better. "Time heals all wounds." "No matter what, it'll be ok." As the person hearing those words of advice you think, "yea, right, easy for you to say." But no, these sayings are true. I'm a Christian, so of course I believe that everything will be OK. That's what we're told to believe...because it's true. Sometimes, God throws you a curve ball, one you're not expecting. But the glory is that He knows what's happening next. He knows what the end result will be. I believe He may not necessarily know precisely how you'll act. He created us to think for ourselves. But in the end, He knows what decisions we'll make. Alas, we do make mistakes. We sin. We're imperfect. Thank you, Eve, for eating that fruit. Truly, thank you. Because if Eve had never done that, we would never know pain. But we do know pain. We know it all too well. Sometimes it's dull and achy, it's that nagging voice in the back of our hearts. Sometimes it rips you open and tears you into a million little pieces. Pain breaks your heart, it breaks your mind, body, and soul. But if Eve had never listened to the serpent, we would not know God's grace. We would not know His righteousness. We would not know His redemption. That's the glory, God could have seen what Eve had done and cursed her for eternity. But He, being the loving God that He is, said "no, I'll punish you for what you've done, but I'll make something positive out of it." When we mess up, God is there to pick up the pieces. We ask for forgiveness and repent, and Jesus saves us. I sin, you sin, but I do not judge you, because my sin is just as great as yours. You see, this is the glory, we're forgiven. God loves us SO much that we mess up miserably, so much we can't even look at ourselves in the mirror, but He forgives us. We sin and turn away from Him. We put Him in a little box sometimes and only take Him out when we need Him. But He does not complain, He waits, patiently, loving us...waiting for us to remember that we need Him, and that His love conquers all. He redeems us. He forgives us. He tells us that it will all be OK. And it will. He will forgive us. He will allow time to heal our wounds. If you believe, it will all be OK in the end.

So if you've messed up, screwed up, made a mess of yourself, if you've had a bad day, been thrown that awful curve ball, or you've made a decision that will change your life entirely...
Remember, He loves us anyway.

And that is the GLORY of it ALL.

A Few Complaints

Precede with Caution.

I just needed to vent, and this post is nothing personal. I know it seems silly to address these things because I have so much to be thankful for, and I do not want to feed of the negativity in my life; feeding off one's negativity leads to unhappiness. I know these things; however, I have a few complaints/ pet peeves I just need to get off my chest. Please do not think me a horrible person. Feel free at anytime to stop reading if I'm seeming too much like a negative Nancy.

Boys, please do not talk about the intimate details of what you and your girlfriend did this past weekend in the dining hall. What you two do on your personal time is personal time and is personal. That girl does not deserve for you to talk about those details in a public setting or to "brag" about them to your guy friends. Respect her more than that. And the same goes for you too, Ladies.

When you get on a very crowded bus, get off your phone. When I am so close to you that I can hear the F-bombs the other person is dropping as a part of his/her daily conversations, I'm too close and you shouldn't be on your phone anyway.

If you don't like your job, please don't complain about it every 5 seconds. Especially the job as an RA. We knew taking this job that we would often be under-appreciated. However, I think the majority of the people in the workforce would say they aren't appreciated enough. And as an RA, you knew the job you were signing up for. We all need our vent sessions, myself included, but there is a difference between having a 15 minute vent session and complaining each time you have a late night, don't get all of your homework done, didn't get enough sleep, had to be on duty, or had a policy violation of some sort. It will be ok.

I guess just in general, I think that we've lost common courtesy, and we often do not appreciate what we have. I know, I know, a few weeks ago I had a venting post about how crazy busy I was. But I appreciate this job. I appreciate the young women on my hall; they're amazing. I'm extremely blessed that they escort their guests, don't bring strange young men on the hall, respect each other, and more. Being an RA, even for just the 8 weeks that I've had this job, I've learned so much. Mostly, I am grateful for the way I was raised. With my dad's passing, my sisters and I had to take on a lot of responsibilities- obviously my sisters took on those responsibilities earlier than I did, but I had my share when I got older. I'm grateful for each and every circumstance of my childhood. My mom always stressed counting our blessings. When my anxiety was at its height when I was younger, my mom would crawl in bed next to me while tucking me in and say "OK Victoria, what are 5 blessings that you have?" As these past two months have been crazy, I find myself thanking God for my blessings so I do not become so negative. College is not only academically hard, but it's hard in a social context. It's hard to grasp that people do not automatically think to get off the phone on a crowded bus or elevator. It's frustrating. To all of the college freshman out there, remember that. Remember that not everyone was raised the same way you were. Take a deep breath and move on. I've had my complain time for the day, so I'm taking a breath, and moving on. I'm grateful I have a job, I work with amazing people, I go to a great school, and I have the most wonderful family and friends. Count your blessings.