I am not a blogger...

It's true. I am not a blogger. And yet, here i am writing a blog about myself. I have said for the past two years that I wish I blogged more often because i've had so many memorable experiences that I feel need to be recorded. So even if no one ever reads this, maybe I can look back in 5 years and reflect on all that I have experienced. Since graduating from high school in 2003 i have:

• attended a prestigious university known for its amazing research and received a B.A. in '07
• been the president of a sorority while in school
  
• become the big sister of two adopted kids (who surprising look like me)
• committed to teach 8th grade for two years in an impoverished, urban community in a large metropolitan city known for its intense gang violence (thru Teach for America)
• taken the LSAT, applied to schools, stressed myself out, and finally been admitted to many amazing schools, including 2 top 10 law schools
• committed to attending one of those top 10 law schools where i will spend the next 3 years moving from sun to extreme cold weather and snow
• endured a loving and tumultuous relationship with my boyfriend, one that i know will be affected by attending law school
• fought to maintain my relationship with God
  

Back to the immediate situation...

So yesterday, i just received my 2nd degree, a M.A. in Elementary Education from blah blah blah University. I got this degree by teaching for the past two years and this was my academic culmination of that experience. While I have 6 weeks left of teaching, i do feel like my time is drawing near...and i'm excited! i attended an alumni dinner with my TFA colleagues last week and i realized that my experience was almost over and i would soon be an alumni and it made me reflect on my experience. i never regreted teaching for two years but it has literally shaped me into an entirely different person. i am no longer the person who keeps my mouth shut on issues i believe in. i have seen that i can be a true role model and manage a class of 37 8th graders (although not always seamlessly). i have raised test scores, invested students who were on the path to the gang life to focus on school, and practically pulled my hair out. i have done countless assignments that don't help me learn how to manage a kid that tells me to fuck off because i refuse to do what he asks. or that don't tell me how to get parents to take responsibility for their God-awful child. i have experienced the most difficult 2 years of my life (although strangely enough, i have experienced other periods of intense stress and insanity) and i am thankful i've made it thru. God has been looking out for me the past 2 years because they have been so difficult and receiving my Masters yesterday was not only significant because i have a new degree, but because it signifies 2 years of struggle, stress, heartache, hopelessness, optimisim, cynicism and a million other emotions. i have again broken down barriers and managed to accomplish something else amazing.

this is a lot to read on a first time encounter, but it's important to get these feelings out. the happiness i felt yesterday will soon fade and i dont want to forget. don't be overwhelmed, u will get caught up gradually. u may not know me well, but in time u will. just stay tuned.