hello, goodbye

My life feels like a constant entrance and exit of inspiring people.  People that have come into my life for 18 years, 4 years, or even 3 months.  Cheery hellos and tearful goodbyes fill my lasting memory, especially in the past 5 years.  It is hard to believe that 5 years ago I graduated high school and sprinted out of Pella.  I was ready for anything and everything, and that is what God seemed to place in front of me.  Every time I whispered "send me and I will follow" He grabbed my hand and pulled me on a new adventure.  Places like San Francisco, Grand Rapids, and Chicago drastically changed my life and began to add to the wonderful foundation my parents built in my life.  

In 2 days, Kansas City will become a new pin to put on the map of places I have been and places my life has been impacted.  Five months ago if you asked me what I was going to do with my life I honestly would not have been able to tell you.  Now I can proudly say that I will be teaching in a 1st grade classroom as a Teach For America corp member.  I am excited, nervous, overwhelmed and terrified all in the same breath.  It is great.  To me, this is what life is supposed to be.  I have not chosen the safe path, but God has continued to bless me over and over again as I attempt to follow His Will.  

Hopefully this blog will become a place for me to fill you (whoever you are)  in on all the amazing happenings in my life.  I invite you to share in the ups and down of a first year teacher as I make mistakes every day and hope that in the end I was able to become a vital part in an inspiring movement growing across our nation.  A movement that is not hoping to lessen the achievement gap, but demolish it one student at a time.  While officially I am a teacher, I consider myself much more of a learner this year.  As I learn and reflect it is my hope that you join me as I attempt in the most humble of ways to become part of the change.