This week was Career Week in my classroom- keep in mind my students are four years old. First and foremost, I had to explain to my children what "career" meant. When I first asked them what "career" meant they said- and I quote- "...that's when you pick someone up and take 'em somewhere." I was so embarrassed.. Either my students are at that age where they are trying to put two and two together or I have the voice of a country bumpkin. They thought I was saying "carrier" and their use of "carrier" was even more country bumpkin than my uncontrollable accent. "...like when you "carrier" (carry her) to the store." Lord, help us.
Once we got past the confusion, we had a blast. Monday we made firefighter hats. Tuesday we made police officer hats, badges, and stop signs. By Wednesday my fingers were crippled with premature arthritis from all of the cutting, LOL, never the less, Wednesday we made chef hats. Thursday we made doctor bags with gloves, gauze, band aids, and cotton balls. And, Friday we made tool boxes with a hammer, screw driver, and a saw. All in all, it was very fun and very educational.
Not only did the children learn a lot, but so did I- and my husband, Dustin.
Friday the children had to dress up as what they wanted to be when they grew up. I got to thinking about that myself, and even discussed it with my husband on Tuesday evening. I love my job. I love children and I love teaching children, but I don't think I want to do this forever- especially at the pay rate I am at. I dropped out of college my junior year. Partially because I was tired of school and partially because the cost of living isn't cheap and being a full time student doesn't put food on the table.. I needed to work forty hours, and you cannot be two places at one time.
So, I got to thinking about what my dream job would be. I love to write- hence my blog. I am also writing long statuses on facebook, and as a teenager I even wrote a children's book that is published in my high school library. I am a good writer, and I would enjoy writing for a magazine or a newspaper. So, that's it. I want to major in communications with a concentration in journalism.
I still cannot afford to be a full time student on a campus, so I decided to check out University of Phoenix. As of right now, I am projected to start my first class in February. I haven't finalized anything, and we still haven't done my FAFSA but I am headed in the right direction.
Not only have I had this urge to pursue higher education in hopes of a brighter future (that sounds straight up like a commercial for University of Phoenix), but my husband is also interested in going back to school.
As of right now, he is talking to the same adviser as myself about getting his associates in food management and hospitality.
It sounds all good, right? But, the fear of digging the hole that I like to call DEBT bigger and bigger scares the crap out of me. The thought of an online math class scares the crap out of me... And, last but not least...
The thought of being a first time parent to a child coming into foster care while balancing college AND a full time job scares me. I am not just jumping into the deep end, I am jumping into the flipping Atlantic Ocean.
Dustin and I have already dedicated so much of ourselves into this foster care thing, and we aren't backing down. We are dead set on fostering children.. I am glad that we are trying to better our future for ourselves and our future children (whether they be our own or our foster children), but I am scared to death that we are "biting off to much than we can chew". So, with that being said, keep us in your prayers. I know God has a plan for both of us, and I am one hundred percent sure his plan for us included foster care. Now, I am just trying to decide whether or not he thinks University of Phoenix is a good idea right now. Decisions, decisions.
Oh, and for the record, a lot of my students came dressed as Princesses and Superman. I didn't judge them or break it to them that those characters aren't real. Who knows, maybe they will land a gig in a movie or work at Disney World. None the less, I hope their dreams come true.
You can do it.... I finished my graduate degree while had my 5th and 6th children and working full time. UAB has some great scholarship programs if you feel like working in certain schools after graduation. And you can test out of some math classes. I know my ins and outs of UAB. Don't forget about CLEP tests to get you closer too. Talk to me at work :)
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