Let me begin with warning you that, as I write this I am relatively sleep deprived, on the mend from being sick for the 3rd week now, and overall filled with mental mush. Such things as random words, phrases, or three headed octopi may appear. Granted, I have found that writing in such a state gives me an extra Hemingway feeling. (If you don't understand what I'm talking about, ask your high school English teacher.)
Now, where was I?
Ah yes, I have an announcement.
No, I'm not engaged.
No, I haven't graduated from anything.
And you all already know that I will be moving back to Washington in a matter of weeks (or at least you should by now...if not, well, surprise!)
What many of you don't know is what I plan to do doing with my life job wise.
I'll give you a couple seconds to think about it.
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(Anybody else think that kind of looks like an F-15 fighter plane? No? How about now?)
Time's up.
Any guesses?
Yes you in the front. No not you. Yes you. Hey now, don't look around like you don't think I saw your hand. I will fight you with my onomatopoeias...that I'm typing...right now...KAPOW! BOOM! SMASH!
(Well, that escalated quickly...moving on)
If your guess was an Educational Therapist you would be 100% correct.
I will be working at Bellevue Christian School as an Educational Therapist for the Student Academic Services department.
Now, what exactly does an Educational Therapist do you may ask?
No, we don't sit around and ask students how they feel about their homework. Nor are we shrinks for burnt out teachers, we work with students who have learning difficulties. Such difficulties can range from simply not being able to put thoughts into written words, to dyslexia.
How I came about this job is a whole other story in itself. I guess my desire for a position like this began last year. I tutored a child who's ability to study and just focus was minimum. There were outside factors that played in, but it seemed like no matter how hard he tried there was a block in his brain. So the realization of my future calling began.
Working with him and seeing him not only gain new study habits but self confidence as well made me realize that this was the type of teaching I wanted to do. The question was, how? One can not pay bills on tutoring alone.
Skipping multiple months ahead, I'm sitting on my computer desperately searching for jobs. Nothing seemed like a fit. One day I get a Facebook message from my mom saying that a lady from our church mentioned that there would be some retiring Educational Therapists. She gave me a brief description of the job and I just about jumped out of my chair with excitement.
A job that not only involved working with students one on one, but working with students just like my former tutee.
The paper work began and I sent off all of my application information. Then, the beloved waiting game began. I soon received an email from the secretary saying that there weren't any current openings for said position. To say a little part of my died inside would be a dramatic, but a little part of me died inside. My dream job was dangling in front of my face and I couldn't even reach it.
Quickly shaking it off, the job search began again.
It seemed like my choices were either primary/early childhood or high school (Math nonetheless...I can hardly remember how to do algebra.). As my days of searching grew, my confidence of finding the right job began to shrink. That is, until my mom once again brought the Educational Therapist position to my attention. (Thanks again Mom, you're awesome, high five. On the side. On the other side. Up high. Down low.).
Apparently BCS had updated their employment opportunity and there, in pixleated black and white was the job description.
After a few emails back and forth with the director of the Student Academic Services department and weeks of patiently waiting, I was blessed with an interview date.
Now before I go on, let me first say that it was obvious that God had paved a way for me to receive this position ( just like He paves a way for everything in life). Unfortunately Satan always likes to muddle in things he shouldn't.
Cue the beginning stages of pnuemonia.
About three weeks ago (and about 6 days before my interview date) I start feeling sick. After a few days my voice is completely gone. All I can focus on is the fact that I have an interview in three days an I can hardly say hello. It was then that I had to step back and remind myself, if it's God's will that I have this job I will have a voice.
Three rounds of antibiotics, two sicks days, and one doctor's visit later I no longer have a verbal block. One crisis was averted, the only other concern I had was the internet cutting out. Saipan internet is relatively weak and, due to the fact that my interview would be via Skype, I didn't know what to expect. But again I told myself, if it's God's will that I have this job, I will have working internet.
My interview came, the internet didn't cut out once.
Within hours I was told that they wanted me to join them in the SAS department. Remember the jumping out of my chair feeling I mentioned earlier? This was about ten times that. All I had left to do was follow up interview with the superintendent (which, obviously, went very well).
I cannot praise God enough for this opportunity.
The fact that His hand was so evident in this process still astounds me.
Thank you all for the support and prayers you have provided for me throughout this process.
I will keep you posted as things progress :).
