Board Room to Classroom – 1

Aside from wanting to be a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader, my earliest memory of what I wanted to be when I grew up was a Teacher.  As a child armed with leftover mimeograph copies from my school I ran a school room in my bedroom passing out, taking up and grading papers of my imaginary students. 

Throughout my life I have taught in various capacities since I was in Jr High.  As a church camp counselor, Vacation Bible School leader, horse camp counselor, Disciple Now Leader, Jr High Sunday School teacher, College Bible Study  teacher, Rodeo Committee Volunteer, Singles Bible Study teacher and numerous other opportunities.  Countless times I have been asked by the parents and/or teachers I interacted with “have you ever thought about being a teacher?”.  Why, yes, I have, but I have a career and am content where I am.  Even still, gaining my Teaching Certification has always been in the back of my mind. 

In 2008 the economy crashed, 2009 happened, I learned a lot of lessons, got back on my feet but still enduring ups and downs of the market, management changes, and mergers when I thought I had finally landed in a place I would stay.  Only to be what felt like kicked-in-the-shins again in 2012 when I ultimately realized, the timing is right, I am so over corporate America and I need to make a major change. 

Just a few short days after being laid off in April I sat in a room reviewing Opportunity Scholarship applications for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  Each application required an essay response to one of 3 questions, with applicants most often responding to “Who is the most influential person in your life and why?”.   I read through 40+ applications that day and of those 95% of the responses that answered that question answered with a teacher.  Not their parents, not a family member, but a teacher.  Little do those 40 students know, but they confirmed my thoughts, and I walked out of that room knowing what I would do next. 

As I began to research in mid-April Alternative Certification programs I quickly found I was just in the nick of time to start any summer program and register for State of Texas certification tests.  The last couple of weeks of April are a blur, but the one thing that is crystal clear is how divine the timing, circumstance and provision was.  I gave notice and was able to move out of my apartment within 10 days, I gained acceptance into an Alternative Certification program that began the first week of May, I signed up for my State Certification test, and countless other details that are too numerous to mention.  I knew I was doing the right thing.

The Lord has continued to show me thorugh these 2 months affirmation after affirmation that I am where I am supposed to be.  I told a friend just this week on the phone I feel like my life is a high level of anxiety countered by a high level of peace.  If I start to worry about “what next” I am immediately reminded that “next” is not my worry.  My Pastor recently taught a sermon on miracles, having to be ok with being in need to be able to experience a miracle. I sat in that service thinking “I am in need, and a miracle will have to happen for all of the pieces to work out” … so far they are ….

To be continued.  

Blessings,
Angie