"Education is a social process. Education is growth. Education is, not a preparation for life; education is life itself."

i have to tell you how excited i am.  i spent yesterday teaching (all day, i know, what a concept) and it was amazing.  i have thought for so long that i want to go another route--but yesterday absolutely solidified the fact that i am made to be a teacher.  it's the way that i'm wired.  

i spent the morning with ELL third graders.  we ran around the dome at augsburg, talked about what college meant to them, and then had lunch together.  as i sat and looked around the table, my heart was so full.  i can't begin to tell you what being around children will do for your soul.  it is unbelievable.  

i was sitting at a table of 3rd grade girls who were speaking to each other in spanish.  i told them that i wanted to learn some spanish from them and asked if they would teach me some.  a little girl said "okay, the first thing we teach you is this."  they each raised their glass and shrieked, "salud, miss kaia!"  you have absolutely no idea how my heart overflowed with joy and peace at that very moment.  my smile was pasted on for the rest of the day; my passion for teaching has been restored.  

after my morning with third grade, i traveled to southwest high school in minneapolis to try my hand at special education with 9-12 grades.  after spending an hour being paraded around the school meeting various important people, putting on my most professional face, i was ready (and nervous) to meet and talk to the students.  i seriously have never wanted to pee my pants more.  my educational background is built around an extremely small town, an even smaller high school, and here i was.  in an urban setting, with a teacher i barely knew, and with students who could have turned their backs on me and let me go unnoticed. but, there i was, equipped with my tights and teacher dress, ready to begin.

i spoke for a particularly long time with a young woman, a freshman, about her educational background and interest.  i was shocked at how open she was with me and how willing she was to share her story with a complete stranger.  she opened up to me, sharing significant events in her life that have made her the person that she is and put her at this high school.  

i have no words to describe how fulfilling my day was.  if there was a way for me to write about it, i would.  my excitement for teaching is back---after having been dormant and irritated after the entire first semester's math problems.  however, here i am.  though i may not, in some professor's opinion (UGH) be equipped to teach, here i am.  there it sits.  

my heart is in it.  the rest--as they say--is just details.  

fight the good fight,

+kaia