I'm not sure exactly where to start, so maybe the beginning is a good place.
Exactly seven years ago this week, I embarked on a journey that would change the course of my life forever. I became a YWAMer. As most people on the planet are unfamiliar with what a "YWAMer" is, I will explain briefly. It is a person who undertakes a crazy journey of attending a Discipleship Training School through Youth With A Mission, a global mission's organization. It is comprised of about three months of intensive week-long topical training in subjects ranging from Holy Spirit to relationships to Biblical study. It's intense. You live and learn and pray and worship and eat and fellowship with a group of people that are as crazy as you are embarking on such a journey. And it is awesome. After these three months you then go on an outreach team to a predetermined destination: mine was Thailand. After serving in Thailand just a couple of weeks, I felt a strong sense that God was inviting me to stay longer. So I did. Ten months longer than intended.
During these additional ten months in Thailand I had the amazing privilege of serving at a children's home called Home of the Open Heart in Northern Thailand. I was mainly responsible for "Kindy", a preschool program that I ran for four of the children at the home. I absolutely loved it. Although I was turned off the idea of teaching a few years before (intimidated by a perfect teacher that I shadowed), I slowly was realizing that I actually did have it in me to do this teaching thing. I loved it, and I realized there was nothing I would rather be doing.
Upon returning to Idaho after being away for fifteen months in total, I decided to pursue my Bachelor in Education once again. The program I was involved in consisted of two summers of intensive teaching and learning as well as several semesters of online courses (I did four--two more than necessary--to achieve a double minor in special education and literacy). During my first summer course I was sitting in class and our assignment was to gather digital photos together to create a presentation online exploring different teaching tools. Well, I was just overcome with emotion and conviction that I was to go back there, which I did about six months later during my Spring online semester. Among others, I was taking a writing class in which we were required to blog regularly, hence http://sonshine07.blogspot.com.
During this second stint in Chiang Rai, I met an Australian man who was to become my husband twelve months later. Of course, we had to pick a country, so it was decided that we would live in Australia. While finishing off my student teaching I was also preparing for the big wedding and overseas move, and I got the shock of a lifetime. My dad was diagnosed with stage IV cancer and wasn't expected to live more than a couple of months. As you might imagine, this turned my world upside down and I was so broken. My dad was my rock, my hero, and my greatest encourager to go out and conquer the world. How could I go on without him?
As my world was crumbling around me, the only thing I could cling to was how sure I was that God had spoken to me about marrying my husband and moving to Australia. I had nothing else to cling to--I was a total wreck inside, but tried my hardest to put on a brave face and move forward. Looking back, there are things I would have done differently, but of course hindsight is 20-20 as they say. What followed was a heartbreaking season of moving overseas, losing my dad, coping with being married to a man I had hardly spent any time with prior to marriage, and on top of that trying to find work in a brand new field (having graduated amidst the chaos) in a brand new country with no contacts in the education world (which is apparently paramount here). It was a tough year. I coped as best I could, but in many ways I'm still recovering.
Jump forward to 2014. After realizing I had a deep need to spend time in Idaho and grieve the loss of my dad and my culture in a relaxed timeframe, we visited for seven months to spend time with my friends and family, arriving in August 2013 and returning to Australia in March 2014. I can't really put into words what that time back home has done for me, but I came back feeling stronger and ready to be established in Australia long-term.
We resettled in the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne, mainly because we wanted to live beachside and thought, "Why not?" My husband was able to resume his job he had left, and I had to completely reestablish myself as a substitute teacher (known as a CRT--casual relief teacher) in a new area. I reconnected with a childcare agency to have some work in the meantime, while soon finding work with a teaching agency as well. Between the two agencies I found myself working most days. While I had hoped to establish strong connections with a school that would like to hire me, I just found myself getting nowhere. I applied for job after job, not even getting a call back from schools that I felt hopeful I had established some rapport with. At this point I didn't really care WHERE I got a job, I just wanted an ongoing teaching position SOMEWHERE.
September is the beginning of application season for prospective teachers in Australia. That's when it's time to really hit the job search hard, as schools are starting to post positions for the coming school year which starts in late January. I spent hours upon hours polishing off my resume and selection criteria as best I could, and applying for jobs in both the private and public sector. I got one interview, which I felt I did a terrible job at. I walked away going, "Wow. That was horrible." It was for a food technology high school position at a Christian school, which I really wasn't qualified for in any way, but they called me for an interview so I went. I was not at all surprised when they did not call me after that.
Among a flurry of applications I apparently also applied to a second teaching agency that was looking for special educators in the southeastern suburbs. I honestly didn't even remember doing it. They contacted me later via email and then telephone, and asked me to come in for an interview to fill out paperwork so I could get started. I made it clear that I had another agency I was working for that was really good to me, but I did want to get my foot in the door with special schools which is the only reason I was signing up with them. They were happy with that and took me on board.
A couple days after signing up with them, or possibly the next day, they called in the morning and asked if I would like to work at a special developmental school for the day. I agreed, took down the details, and prepared for the day. As a CRT I am expected to arrive 30 minutes before the start of the school day to get myself oriented to the school, the classroom schedule, and any special requirements for the day. Because I was unfamiliar with the school and the area, I gave myself a bit more time than usual to get there. I ended up arriving a few minutes after 8:00, with the school day beginning at 8:45. It seemed I was VERY early, because I was finding it difficult locating anybody to speak to about signing in or where to find my class. I made my way to the staff room to make a coffee, figuring I just needed to wait a few more minutes. I ran into a woman named Lindsey, and immediately we hit it off and began chatting. She hailed from England so I felt a sense of solidarity with her, both of us resettling and teaching in a foreign land. Lindsey kindly pointed me in the right direction and by this time the receptionist had arrived and I was able to confirm which classroom I was meant to be in, how I was to sign in and out, etc.
I soon discovered that there was something very different, and very good, about this school. I found the staff incredibly welcoming and supportive. I had a lovely day with my eight students and felt lucky to have spent the day there. As a CRT I have spent time in many different schools, some I liked and some where I refused to return. This school was by far my favorite, and I sincerely hoped that I would go there again.
I soon found them calling me back to that school rather frequently. On my fourth day there (about two weeks after I first came), the principal called me into his office just as I was finishing off my lunch in the staff room. To be honest, I had no idea who this guy was until I saw the word "principal" on his door. I had seen him in the halls, smiled politely, and saw him interacting with the other staff in a friendly and approachable manner. I assumed he was another one of the teachers and didn't think much of it. All at once I was trying to comprehend the fact that this friendly, approachable person was in fact the principal, and he was calling me into his office for some unknown reason. His manner was light so I didn't think I was in trouble, but I did feel a bit unsure of what this was all about.
He introduced himself to me by his first name, Scott, and probably asked something cordial like how I was enjoying the school. He got to the point rather quickly and asked about my teaching background, my goals (whether I wanted to work full time), and told me there would be a position coming up soon. He told me he has been getting great feedback from the educational assistants that I was working with, and would like me to send him my resume. I walked out of his office a few minutes later, trying to comprehend what had just happened while also concealing my joy at having finally been noticed by a school that I liked so much. I had been working in a room with a lovely assistant, Lizz, and I couldn't help but share the news with her. She responded excitedly, but also said quickly that she wouldn't tell anybody else because word spreads quickly. I agreed that would be a good idea, and noted that I really needed to keep this to myself and not tell anyone else in the school. It would be a shame if nothing came of it.
The next week I spent a day or two at the school again, all the while the principal being very friendly and asking about my day when he saw me. I made a mental note that this was a good sign, but didn't want to make too much of it.
The following week I was asked by my other agency if I could work at a school for three days teaching PE. I happily agreed and that was that. I contacted my special education agency letting them know that I was unavailable for those days. They have an online scheduler wherein you can mark whether you are up and ready for work or unavailable. They clearly state that if you are marked unavailable you will not be called. Well, despite this policy they called me several times and asked if there was any way I could work at the special school as they had requested me repeatedly. I politely declined, even though I would rather work back at that school than teaching PE. I try very hard to be reliable and stick to my commitments once I make them, even if something better comes along later as was the case here.
On the Thursday I had a pleasant surprise when I checked my messages--Scott had called and left a message, asking me to return the call on his mobile when I could. This is a very good sign, I thought. I was fairly certain that he might be calling me for an interview soon, which of course I would happily accept. I called him back on my lunch break but there was no answer. I told him I would be available until 2:00, otherwise I will try him again after I get off school. I messaged a couple of friends telling them that the principal called and wanted to speak to me, and that this was a very good sign. I would keep them posted.
I had two sessions of PE before the end of the day and I could not wait for them to finish. I simply couldn't wait to phone him back and see what it is he wanted. I was sure it was positive.
The end of the day FINALLY came. I quickly tidied up, returned the keys to the office, and returned Scott's call as soon as I was out the door. What he had to say was even better than I could have imagined. He told me they had looked over my resume, basically said that all they could offer me without an interview is a six week contract, and then we can go through the formal interviews from there. I enthusiastically agreed, sincerely thanked him for this opportunity, and hung up the phone. I sat in the car, trying to process what had just happened. I had been offered a position at the school starting in January, for six weeks. Without an interview. They seemed to want me in the position. I was their top choice. At a school that I love, teaching students with special needs which I want to do more than anything. I GOT MY DREAM JOB!!! The weight of what had just transpired hit me, and I was ecstatic.
With only two weeks left of school, they tried to get me as much work as they could. I ended up working there the entire last week of school, which was fantastic. I got to be a part of the team and enjoy the wide range of end-of-the-year celebrations. There was morning tea every single day for one reason or another. These people know how to celebrate, I thought. On the Monday of the final week of school, I got to see my the list of students in my class. I was so thrilled--8 boys. Every class has at least one teacher and one assistant, and I couldn't be happier with the assistant that is in my room this year. She is a lovely lady named Fiona, with far more experience with these kiddos than me. What an invaluable support she will be in the classroom.
As I prepare for my first year of having my own classroom, I thought it would be helpful to myself and possibly to others if I record the highs and lows in this blog. I will do my best to post regularly. I doubt any of my posts will be this long again, as my life will be busier with lesson plans and assessments and organizing and... well you get the picture. But I will do my best to keep this up, even if only for myself. Take care, God bless, and please come again!
