It feels like home to me....

Some of you asked me why I want to be a teacher. My answer is simply that I love it. I love to teach. And I love children.

Ever since I was little I have wanted to be a teacher. I remember playing with my sister and friends and making them be my students. I loved being the teacher and having them do projects. As I got older I went through stages where I wanted to be a nurse or a chef. At one point in time I just wanted to be an artist. I even looked into each of these careers and tried to figure out how to achieve them. When it came down to it though, none of them really worked out or fit. I just couldn’t see myself doing any of those careers for a lifetime. They were all just fun to think about.

Going through the teaching class up here at the U and the experiences I have had in the elementary schools have made me fall in love with teaching all over again. The first time I thought I would like to be a teacher was when I was little and fell in love with my own first grade teacher. She made learning fun and entertaining. That’s when I started making others be my students. My third, fourth, and sixth grade teachers all did the same thing. They made learning exciting for me, not a job. I wanted to be just like them when I grew up.

The second time that I thought I might like to be a teacher was when I was sixteen and started to teach dance classes to little kids. I loved going to the dance studio each week and seeing what they had learned and remembered from the last previous one. It was such a joy to see them try and to see them succeed. By then I had gone through the ideas of becoming a nurse or a chef. But when I started to take those classes and pursue those careers, I would always come back to teaching.

The third time I came around the idea of teaching again was when I became a primary teacher in my church. I was called to teach the five and six year old's, and I was scared out of my mind. I had no idea of how I was going to teach them or where to even begin. I soon fell in love with the kids in my class though and looked forward to teaching them each week. I also began to learn which ways worked to teach them the best. I learned that you have to ask questions to get them involved and to keep them entertained. I learned that you need to have activities planned each week that will help them understand what you are supposed to be teaching. I also learned very quickly that the lesson doesn’t always go as you planned and that as a teacher you have to be flexible and willing to change things that just don’t work.

I truly knew I wanted to be a teacher when I was in a classroom for one of my first education classes. I believe it was Intro to Teaching. I was helping in Mrs. Jeppson’s first grade classroom. This was the first classroom I was in and I was scared out of my mind. I had no idea of what I was getting myself into or what I would come away with. With each week that went by I felt that I could come back and I began to relax a little. Each week I would get there the students would come charging in when the bell rang. They would race to the backpack station and hang their stuff up. They would then proceed to come to me and tell me about all of the new things going on. Each week I would also feel nervous again when Mrs. Jeppson would give me something new to do. I went from just helping the students with math and sitting in the back ground to helping them read, giving them spelling tests, playing math and vocabulary games with them, and coming up with a lesson to teach them. With each week came nervousness and joy. Each time I went more and more of them would come and talk to me at the beginning of class. More and more of them would ask for my help when doing assignments and more and more of them asked if they could leave with me when I left and then when I said no would say that they would wait till next week then.

My favorite day in the classroom was on Valentine’s Day. I had gotten to help each student make a bag the week before. They were all so excited that a holiday was coming up. On Valentine’s Day when I went in the classroom I was happy to see each bag lined up on the shelf by the back wall. Among the students bags I saw my own. I saw that some of the students had already brought in there treats for the others and I was excited to give them mine. When they students came running in after the bell you could tell that they were so excited to see what was going to happen that day. The ones that had not given their treats yet hurried to do so. They were all so excited to give each other what they had brought and to see what they had gotten so far. After the handing out of treats we did Valentine’s activities. The whole day was filled with laughter and excitement. It was very hectic but very fun at the same time. When I left that day I took my Valentine’s Day bag with me full of Valentine’s from each of the students. I was surprised that night when I went through it and found notes from some of the students along with their Valentine’s. The notes made me realize how much I had come to care for the kids and how much I had affected each one of them. The notes weren’t anything spectacular to people who didn’t know the kids, to them they were just scribbled sentences on a piece of chocolate covered paper. But to me they were amazing. Each one was special in its own way. That day something inside me clicked, and I knew that I wanted to be a teacher and always would.

People say that home is where the heart is. If this is true, then my home is in the elementary schools. I love going into those classrooms and helping out in anyway that I can. I love teaching the students and helping them to understand something that they did not get before. I love that look in there eyes when they finally understand something or when they have an idea. It is so exciting to see people learn and to discover. For that is what learning is. It is discovering the truths and myths about the world and connecting it all together in one crazy place called life. It is seeking for knowledge and gaining access to the mysteries of the world and I want to help others find it. I want to help people figure out the world and love to learn.

When I have told other people that I love to teach some of them said it is because I like kids. Others have stated that it is because I like to act like a kid and I like the same things the kids do. Some people think it is just because I am animated and the kids are the only ones that respond to my goofiness. But for me it is simply that I love it. I love being in the classroom. I love teaching them. It is where my heart is and when I walk through those elementary schools doors it feels like I have just come home. It is where I belong and it is where I want to be.

Sir Christopherson von Walker

so i know that i have not writen on here in a very long time. i would like to let everyone know that i am great and that all is well. i have just been very busy with scholl and work, and everything else that i attempt to do in my crazy life. i love it though, and would not have it any other way.
i just helped my brother write a paper for school and thought that it was pretty funny. so i decided that i would ahre it with you all. so here it is, the tale of Sir Christopherson von Walker. i hope you enjoy...

Once upon a time, in far away land called Bountiful West, lived a young lad named Christopherson von Walker. Ever since he was a child he had dreamed of being in the most elite position that the town of Bountiful had to offer…a member of the Bountiful High Choir. He knew that he would have to cross many hurdles and slay many dragons and monsters to reach this goal. It would not only take tackling the dragons and monsters, but it would also take great amounts of study with the ministerial of music to learn all knowledge of staffs and notes. Even though this would be a difficult journey, he undertook it with great zeal and determination.
When it came time for the young lad to depart upon his journey, he packed a small satchel and bid his fare mother farewell. He started out east towards the rising sun heading towards the town of Bountiful. His journey first led him up a treacherous hill that was covered with many motor people carriages, in which he had to dodge. He feared he might lose his life as one came roaring towards him. As it drew nearer he lashed out and leapt out of the way while waving madly trying to slow the daemon. Alas, he landed safely on the side of the roadway barely unscathed.
Christopherson then continued on his journey traveling many miles. After trudging along the road for a quarter of the day, he found himself at the shop of Sir von Treble. He knew that he must first find a worthy weapon of music in which to conquer the great Sir Smity. Sir Smity Werven Man Jensen was the fearsome leader of the elite Bountiful High Choir. Christopherson knew that the only place to find a worthy piece would be in Sir von Treble’s shop. As he entered through the door he was struck with a mighty blow that threw him against the wall. Leaning on the wall he opened his eyes to the many great stacks of worthy musical weapons. How would he ever find the one piece that would be his greatest weapon in all of this?
After searching far and wide through the great stacks of music he found his greatest weapon. The one piece that would be able to bring him his greatest glory. The piece was called Hurricane Woman. He then paid Sir von Treble for his troubles, and was on his way.
Christopherson knew that his next destination would be Bountiful High. He continued to make his way up the great hill. As he drew nearer, he began to be able to see it. His dreams were now in sight. All he had left to do was to cross the great Brave pass and enter into the mighty structure. He then continued to the corner, where the crosswalk was to cross the pass. He had to wait but a small moment in order for the motor people carriages to go on by. After they had moved along, he remembered his fare mothers warning to stop, look and listen. When he felt it was safe he sprinted to the other side, once again finding himself unscathed.
He then approached the hallowed doors and entered in. He knew that he was coming closer to his destination. Now all he had to do was find and conquer the great Sir Smity. Christopherson journeyed down the passage way to Sir Smity’s lair. He felt weak, but knew that he must go on. He entered through the great metal doors and found Sir Smity engaged in battles with others. Christopherson waited for his moment to shine, for he knew that he would be the greatest conqueror of all. When the time came for him to open his mouth and sing, he strode forward with his weapon in hand. The music started and he poured out his soul and wielded all his courage. He sang the worthy piece with great vigor and strength. Sir Smity was blown away by the power of the weapon and fell to the ground. When the song ended, Christopherson knew that he had conquered the great Sir Smity.
Sir Smity rose and stepped forward. He then knighted the young lad and gave him entrance into the Bountiful High Choir. Christopherson had achieved his greatest dream. He was now a member of the highest honor…a member of the Order of the Phoenix. An even greater honor then the Bountiful High Choir. From then on Christopherson would be known as Sir Christopherson von Walker of Bountiful West, the great conquer of Sir Smity Werven Man Jenson.

choices

every day we are faced with choices that we have to make.  some of these choices are simpler then others.  some require no thought at all.  we just make it and go without even thinking about it.  some choices require a little debate while others require long thought out processes.  sometimes when making a choice we seek guidance from others to help us make our decision.  the point is that everyday, whether we think about it or not, we are making life choices and life decisions. 

some of these choices probably don't make much difference one way or the other.  i really don't think it matters whether you choose to wear the blue shirt or the black one.  or what you choose to eat for breakfast, or what color you paint your toe nails.  even though each of these are choices that we make, they do not really alter anything in the grand scheme of things.  by painting your toenails orange you will not be doomed for life.  it is just one of those things that doesn't really matter.  on the other hand, there are choices that you make that can alter your life from that point on.  by that one simple choice you change the route your life is taking. for each choice that you make in life effects the next.

life is a chain reaction taking you day by day.  it is a chain reaction of choices.  each choice that you make is irrevocably connected to the next.  they are all connected in what we call life.  by making one decision you determine which one you will make next.  every choice leads to the next one.  every choice has a consequence that takes you to your next choice in life. therefore, one choice that you make can change your life forever.  one choice can alter where you are headed and what you are going to do. one choice can make all the difference. 

because of this, we have to be careful about the choices that we make and the choices that we don't make.  sometimes we need to seek guidance form others who have made similar decisions in there life.  we need to think about hem and where they are going to take us.  but at the same time, sometimes we just need to do.  

we can't spend every moment of our lives debating what to do. we can't worry about where life will take us that much.  sometimes we just need to go and do and not worry about where it will lead or what will come of it.  sometimes we just need to live.  we just need to trust that all will work out and that everything will be ok in the end.  we just need to move forward and not worry about what we have done in the past, but look forward to what we will do in the future. look forward to the choices that we still have to make.   

sometimes i wonder though....if i could go back and change one choice...would i?  and if so would it change where i am now?  and if it did would it be any better or would i be a different person then who i am right now?.....not that i would.  but sometimes i wonder where my life would have lead had i made a different choice somewhere along the way. 

What really matters....

i have been reading this book and in it the girl is getting married.  but the trick is that she has to choose between two different weddings. one is being planned by her mother and one is being planned by her future mother in law. neither one of them know that there is another wedding being planned. the wedding being planned by her mother-in-law in in new york. it is set at the plaza hotel with all the fixings of a fairy tale wedding. the gorgous dress, the orcrestra in the background, twinkling lights all aound, trees imported from swizterland, birds chirping above, flowers every where with rose petals falling from the celling, an emaculate cake that is eight teirs high with hand painted tulips, everything you would expect from a sleeping beauty wedding.  

the wedding being planned by her mother is in oxshoot england, her home town. for this wedding she is wearing her mothers dress. the reception is in the back yard with a canopy and twinkling strands of lights. there is a homemade cake by the neighber next door, the flowers are from the local gardener, the ceromony is in the local church, and then pictures by the cherry tree that was planted when she was born.  now the bride has to choose....does she go with her fairy tale wedding that is evrything you could have ever dreamed of or does she go with the wedding that her mother has always dreamed of for her only daughter, in her home town?......

while reading i started to think about what i would choose. would i want the fairy tale or the home town wedding? the big fancy dress or the one my mother wore when she got married? the big fancy designer cake or the one made by a neighber? the giltering dance hall with the live band and falling rose petals or the backyard canopy with the twinkling lights???? what would i want at my wedding? which one would i choose?

then i thought....does it really matter? does it really matter whether there where trees from switzerland or the flowers from the local gardener?...... just like all other girls i have thought about what i would want my wedding day to be like.  i would want it to be pretty and to be fun, but when all is said and done does it really matter who made the cake? at the end of the day would i care? what would i really want? what really matters? at the end of the day what am i living for? am i living for the fairy tale? or am i living for the home town?

at the end of the day what i am living for is the people.  they are what matters to me. the people that i care about. the people that i love. they are what counts. they are what matters in life.  at the end of the day, when all is said and done, it is the people in my life that i live for.  that being said, i would choose the wedding where the people i loved would be as well.  i would want to celebrate that day with all of those i care about and that care about me in return.  because at the end of the day it doesn't matter what dress i wore or who did my hair.  all that matters is celebrating life and celebrating love with all those that i love...... everything else fades away, but a family lasts forever.

School.....

well..today would be the first day back at school.  i am excited this year because it is my last year of classes.  then i just have one year of student teaching and i am done!! it will be great.  a little scary but great. 

this semester i have four classes and then an institute class.  13 credits all in all.  with these classes i am also going to be going to the elementary schools so many hours each week to help in the classrooms.  i am also going to be working about 30 hours a week, because one of the ladies in my office is going to be gone for a month or more.  i also have my calling in my ward and have meetings and activities to go to for that.  oh..and there is still omega as well.  so my semester is going to be pretty full.  this is what my schedule looks like...

Monday

elementary school from 8:30-10

work from 10:30-4

class from 4:35-7:05

tuesday

class 9:40-10:30

work 11-4

class 4:35-7:05

last lecture 8-9 or enrichment mtg 7:30~9

wednesday

elementary school 8:30-10

work 10:30-4

class 4:35-7:05

omega 7-whenever or enrichment 7-whenever

thursday 

class 9:40-10:30

work 11-4

friday 

work 8-11:30

class 11:50-2:50

and then anything else that happens to come along like football games, enrichment activities, service committee meetings, oh...and of course friends and family have to go in there somewhere.  needless to say i will be pretty busy. but i am sure it will be fun and crazy like always.  i wish everyone else luck with school or work or whatever is going on in your life this fall.  i hope you all enjoy it!