Graduation Season: Am I Ready?

WOW! December 14, 2018, is quickly approaching and although I am overjoyed at my accomplishment, the thought of embarking on the "real-world" our parents always warned us about definitely keep me up at night. As I feverishly complete the last of my assignments as an undergraduate student, I have found myself in a reflective state of mind. Reflecting on people I have met, decisions I've made, teachers who've encouraged me and the unmeasurable knowledge I have gained. I have learned and collected data from world-renowned authors and researchers that some would buy to gain, and while all of that is admirable I still have lingering feelings of inadequacy. Hitting an emotional and mental breaking point this semester was one of the most beneficial things that could have happened. My breakdown allowed me to not only accept the way I learn as a learning disabled student but emphasized the advantage I have when I become a teacher. My ability to relate to the shy or forgotten student, I believe, will help guide me during instruction to be intentional about communicating with my students and will help me navigate my way through instruction. I can anticipate questions that my learners may have, or read non-verbal cues of confusion, restlessness, or even defeat. But, I mean, who wants to find out that all the instructional approaches you created in that one class that one semester actually doesn't work, and the design of your classroom doesn't look like the classroom layout you constructed that you earned a 100 on? All jokes aside, after recognizing I am more than equipped to create and maintain a well-managed classroom I found peace in knowing I am undoubtedly meant to be an educator.