Daring to Be » University

9 school days left of my internship.

My co-op gave me my final evaluation to proof read and I actually felt flattered after reading it, so that’s a good sign and definitely not worth me working myself in a tizzy of worry over it. I guess I just am harder on myself than necessary.

I finished full time teaching on Friday. Now for the next few days I just teach afternoons and then eventually not at all. I keep walking around repeating how crazy I think it is that my internship is over. I’ve passed. All that’s left between me and my Education degree is 4 months of classes, not a big concern to me at all since I’ve already passed 4 years of classes, another 4 months won’t kill me.

Now, what to do after my degree is what troubles me…

Next Monday is day one of my internship. Everyone I know doing their internship this fall is getting nervous and excited about starting, but I really feel like the nervousness and excitement that should accompany something as huge as this has yet to hit me. Maybe it is because while many people had to plan units over the summer, my cooperating teacher told me not to bother because while I start on the 27th, the kindergarten students don’t start until September 4th and then only every second day for a week.

I’d like to say I’m not nervous or excited because I’m just that confident in my abilities as a teacher, but that would be a lie. I’m sure come Sunday evening/Monday morning I’ll be shaking like a leaf.

I really can’t believe it’s only a week away. This week will fly by, what with getting myself organized, going shopping for more teacher clothes, attending Internship Orientation, and enjoying the last few days of freedom before school begins. And then, before I know it, it will be December and I’ll be finished.

Sometimes I wish life had a “pause” or “slow” button.

I’m really annoyed by the fact that the university has sprinklers on when it is raining outside.

Grawr.

I’m in a remarkably good mood right now. Which makes sitting in my windowless office all by myself a little hard to take!

Today I participated in a photo shoot for the university alumni fund. I was the College of Education student rep for the alumni reunion in June and part of that was having my name and face on a letter than goes out to Education alumni asking for donations to the alumni fund (for student scholarships and bursaries.) Today’s photoshoot was for a brochure about the alumni fund that goes out to something like 55,000 people. So I will be in the group photo on the front and then I am one of three people with individual shots and short write-ups inside the brochure too. I’m pretty excited about it! All the students featured get copies of the brochure for their own use. I think I’m going to get one for myself, my mom, my dad, and my grandma.

I am looking forward to this weekend. My birthday celebrations are this Saturday, starting with spending the day at the beach or something followed by having people over for board games, food and such. Monday, my actual birthday, I work but plan on going for lunch with Mom and Nicole followed by drinks with friends that night. Twenty four years old. I can’t decide how I feel about that!

In other news, I am re-reading all the Harry Potter books. I think I’ve only ever read up to book five or something. Since the seventh and final book is out, I decided I want to start reading and not stop until I’m done the whole series. What with my internship and ESS responsibilities, I figure I’ll finish around Christmas.

That’s my life in a nutshell… simple but lovely, just the way I like it.

The Education Students’ Society retreat weekend was fun, but I am glad it’s over. I’m exhausted, slightly burnt, and am more than a little happy that we don’t have another meeting until July 16th, since the over eight hour meeting yesterday about did me in.

I haven’t eaten supper yet but am so worn out that I’ve decided to indulge myself and order in a large vegetarian pizza. I’m going to lay in bed, watch TV, eat pizza, and ignore my laundry and packing for Vancouver. Only two more days until I leave!

I am terrible with names, and do I mean terrible. As in, I actually don’t really listen when I am introduced to people. For some reason, I just sort of zone out. It goes something like this: “Hi, my name is insert white noise here.”

Not exactly something to be proud of, especially as a future teacher who will have to memorize new students’ names every year.

The reason I bring this up is because tomorrow afternoon I am going bowling with the cooperating teacher and grade five class from last March’s two week student teach. Considering that I occasionally had trouble with the students’ names even at the end of my two weeks with them, I can just imagine how embarassed I’ll be tomorrow when I don’t remember which face goes with which name, for I haven’t seen them since March.

Not to mention we won’t be in the classroom. If we were in the classroom, with the seating plan I know, I’d probably be fine. Running around a bowling alley… that’s a whole other story!

I’m thinking I’ll be pulling a grandma tomorrow- my grandma has 18 grandchildren so she goes through at least 3 names before reaching the right one. Instead of Breanne, I am “Nicole-Amy-Megan-BREANNE!”

Maybe I’ll get my student teaching partner, Abby, to tutor me on the students’ names to hopefully keep me from making a complete fool of myself!

Today was the staff appreciation barbecue at the university. Abby, Carmen, my sister and I all went and enjoyed our lunch relaxing in the sun.

The barbecue special was either a hot dog, drink and dessert for $1, or a hamburger, drink and dessert for $2. I bought both specials, since I’m young and want to enjoy my fast metabolism while I’ve got it!

Dessert was icecream or a cupcake, so I had one of each. Delicious!

Really… that’s the most exciting news so far this week. Life begins to get busy this weekend though, what with going out for Nicole’s birthday and Dad coming to the city. Then next Thursday is the social at the Delta Bessborough for the Alumni Reunion for which I am the College of Education student rep. I am responsible for giving Education alumni a tour of the college on Friday, and then that afternoon I am off to Emma Lake for the Education Students’ Society executive retreat. Back on Sunday, then a barbecue on Monday for everyone who volunteered for the College of Education 80th anniversary celebrations. Finally, on Wednesday I take off for a week in Vancouver.

What with so much on my plate, June will be over in a blink of an eye, and my summer is half over.

Though I knew I was guaranteed my internship in Saskatoon and area (one hour drive of Saskatoon), I have still been sitting on pins and needles, excited to find out what school and grade.

My internship placement letter finally arrived this morning… and I’m in the same school my Brownie unit met in this past year! It is insanely close to my neighbourhood, so close I will be able to walk or bike. So convenient!

The letter said I was placed in the K-3 Level, so I then googled my cooperating teacher’s name and it looks like I’ll be interning in a kindergarten classroom! Megan I’ll be hitting you up for ideas!

The past year has been an amazing year. First I was accepted into Education after my first time applying, I ran for and won a position on general council, I cochaired an amazingly successful fundraiser for inner city schools, I ran for and won a position on executive council, I got my dream summer job for the College of Education, now this, my internship in a school super close to my home and in a grade I love!

Thank you, God! (Yes, I take this as proof there has to be a big man up in the sky!)

Overheard on campus:

Two girls run by me, I’m assuming late for class. As they rush by, one girl exclaims to the other girl “Stupid Facebook!”

I know that feeling all too well!

I’m going to be happy when finals are over, because that means summer can begin and I no longer have to study.

I’m going to be sad when finals are over, because that means The BF moves home for the four months of summer.

What is that called? A double edged sword? Point is, never have I wanted April, the month of exams, to go by so slowly yet simultaneously look forward to it being over.