Student Teacher
What an occupational combination! Learning, yet imparting.
But it's not really that unusual. Lots of people are learning while they teach, or teaching while they learn.
Through a series of unforseen events, I have been placed in in the Faulkner Springs Christian School in McMinnville, TN. It wasn't my first choice for practicum - I had never been there or even heard of it - but it's turning out to be a beautiful situation.
I probably couldn't have asked for a better location. It's near my grandparents' house, it's a two-room, two-teacher school with 12 students total, and I only have five of them. The students are all either Tennessean or Kentuckian, and as sweet and country-simple as can be. It really is a different culture over here in the near-Appalacian counties. There is a friendly, good natured spirit among most everyone, especially in a small town like McMinnville.
The town is in a fairly flat land, split by a few little hollars and hills, with the mountains of Eastern Tennessee standing blue and dusky in the distance.
As I drive the fifteen minutes from my little house on a dead-end country road to the school, I ponder who I am and what I'm doing. Endless questions ricochet around my mind. Sometimes I think questions will be the death of me.
Why do I question everything?
I wonder what will be, what is, and what was. My imagination seems out of control so often, but as I'm learning, faith is the key to turning fear into peace. Imagination is the opposite of faith, and they are mutually exclusive. I can't have fear and faith in my heart simultaneously.
God is so gracious and patient with me. I hang on to my own destruction so stubbornly, and then worry why He doesn't seem to be helping. A person doesn't have to go do some thing terrible in order to be lost, all they have to do is decide not to trust God. That's what Eve did...what Sarah did...what Rebekah did...what Rachel did...
And yet God still forgave and chose to trust them again.
I don't deserve trust, but I believe He has not changed and remains faithful to forgive.
And so I am taking one day at a time, learning to leave the future where it's at in God's hands.
The classroom is quiet except for the soft Celtic music coming from the CD player and the occasional rustle of papers as the teacher grades math homework. The three students who braved the rumors of snow to come to school today are either taking a quiz or working on a new lesson. Katie sighs as she works problems, and Zach rocks back and forth in his seat in concentration. Carlos' head bends low over his paper and I sit complacently in a rocking chair, observing and writing.
This classroom is totally opposite from the ones I was in before in Thailand. There are posters, maps, projectors, bookcases full of resources, and desks with storage cubbies. The students wear shoes, sit in chairs, and complain about having to come to school instead of sleeping. I can understand most all of what they say (if they aren't mumbling), and they can understand me! Amazing!
Sure, I don't have a close friend like Hannah with me, but I can communicate with everyone so easily, it's not that lonely.
Although I will say that teaching is often a very lonely profession, especially if the teacher is unmarried and working in a remote location. If you know a teacher like that, I'm sure they would love to get a letter or anything from outside.
Anyway, I am thankful for God's care for me. Although I specifically did not want to go East, here I am. Although I never wanted to be "teacher lady", that's me. Although I wanted to control every aspect of my life, I find myself under a higher Power, who seems to be doing His own thing, regardless of what I want.
Now it's up to me to choose how to respond. I can run like Jonah or complain like the children of Israel, or I can follow Joseph's and Jesus' examples and accept what God has given me, trusting His faithfulness.
I'm choosing the latter.
I may be acknowledged as a student teacher only now, but I think I will always be learning and sharing, because Jesus is my teacher and He wants me to share what I learn from Him.
Pray for those of us who make prisons out of blessings and run from the opportunities of Providence. Pray that we will give up the fight and accept with humility what is given in love.
But it's not really that unusual. Lots of people are learning while they teach, or teaching while they learn.
Through a series of unforseen events, I have been placed in in the Faulkner Springs Christian School in McMinnville, TN. It wasn't my first choice for practicum - I had never been there or even heard of it - but it's turning out to be a beautiful situation.
I probably couldn't have asked for a better location. It's near my grandparents' house, it's a two-room, two-teacher school with 12 students total, and I only have five of them. The students are all either Tennessean or Kentuckian, and as sweet and country-simple as can be. It really is a different culture over here in the near-Appalacian counties. There is a friendly, good natured spirit among most everyone, especially in a small town like McMinnville.
The town is in a fairly flat land, split by a few little hollars and hills, with the mountains of Eastern Tennessee standing blue and dusky in the distance.
As I drive the fifteen minutes from my little house on a dead-end country road to the school, I ponder who I am and what I'm doing. Endless questions ricochet around my mind. Sometimes I think questions will be the death of me.
Why do I question everything?
I wonder what will be, what is, and what was. My imagination seems out of control so often, but as I'm learning, faith is the key to turning fear into peace. Imagination is the opposite of faith, and they are mutually exclusive. I can't have fear and faith in my heart simultaneously.
God is so gracious and patient with me. I hang on to my own destruction so stubbornly, and then worry why He doesn't seem to be helping. A person doesn't have to go do some thing terrible in order to be lost, all they have to do is decide not to trust God. That's what Eve did...what Sarah did...what Rebekah did...what Rachel did...
And yet God still forgave and chose to trust them again.
I don't deserve trust, but I believe He has not changed and remains faithful to forgive.
And so I am taking one day at a time, learning to leave the future where it's at in God's hands.
The classroom is quiet except for the soft Celtic music coming from the CD player and the occasional rustle of papers as the teacher grades math homework. The three students who braved the rumors of snow to come to school today are either taking a quiz or working on a new lesson. Katie sighs as she works problems, and Zach rocks back and forth in his seat in concentration. Carlos' head bends low over his paper and I sit complacently in a rocking chair, observing and writing.
This classroom is totally opposite from the ones I was in before in Thailand. There are posters, maps, projectors, bookcases full of resources, and desks with storage cubbies. The students wear shoes, sit in chairs, and complain about having to come to school instead of sleeping. I can understand most all of what they say (if they aren't mumbling), and they can understand me! Amazing!
Sure, I don't have a close friend like Hannah with me, but I can communicate with everyone so easily, it's not that lonely.
Although I will say that teaching is often a very lonely profession, especially if the teacher is unmarried and working in a remote location. If you know a teacher like that, I'm sure they would love to get a letter or anything from outside.
Anyway, I am thankful for God's care for me. Although I specifically did not want to go East, here I am. Although I never wanted to be "teacher lady", that's me. Although I wanted to control every aspect of my life, I find myself under a higher Power, who seems to be doing His own thing, regardless of what I want.
Now it's up to me to choose how to respond. I can run like Jonah or complain like the children of Israel, or I can follow Joseph's and Jesus' examples and accept what God has given me, trusting His faithfulness.
I'm choosing the latter.
I may be acknowledged as a student teacher only now, but I think I will always be learning and sharing, because Jesus is my teacher and He wants me to share what I learn from Him.
Pray for those of us who make prisons out of blessings and run from the opportunities of Providence. Pray that we will give up the fight and accept with humility what is given in love.
Hehe. Welcome to life. ;) His plan IS good! Praying for encouragement and peace for you.
ReplyDeleteThem thar country kids are bout to get a taste of the big wide world out thar - I do believe.
ReplyDeleteI hope your practicum goes well, Raquel. Teaching brings many rewarding surprises (I had the opportunity to briefly teach in the fall) though it can definitely be tough at times. Stay encouraged. You're not alone.
ReplyDelete