what a wonderful week

When I was interviewing for a teaching position at my current school they asked if I was willing to teach journalism along with the 4 other English classes that I would be teaching.  For someone who fancy's themselves a writer, and who was hungry for a job I eagerly and probably too enthusiastically said yes.  Well, after a little over a month of school, I was finally tracked down and... ("forced" is too strong of a word) umm... reminded that I was to lead an after school journalism program (2 times a week).  My days already seem too long and the last thing I wanted to do was add one more thing onto my constantly growing things-to-do list.  

So I made flyers, and posted them around the school secretly praying that my flyers wouldn't attract any attention.  The first time my little journalism program met I only had 1 student show up, but after a few weeks more and more students started to show up and these were students who are eager to learn and to write.  It's somewhat ironic that the responsibility that I avoided the most ultimately became the best part of my day.  Last Wednesday, my students didn't want to leave.  I was out of material, our 41 minutes was up, but they wanted to still stay and talk.  After class, 2 of my students came back into the classroom giggly and excited because they finally had an idea for an article that they wanted to write about- senioritis.  I gave my thumbs up and said that it was a fine topic :)   

Then later that same week one of my young journalist emailed me to tell me how excited she was about the after school journalism program.  I was shocked by all the excitement around what I was doing.  The kids believed in it... in me.  To be honest, I barely planned anything for the course, not because I do want to, but that I at first say it as just one more thing for me to do.  The students faithfully come, often arriving at the classroom before me and can't seem to get enough of the inverted pyramid, or about possible newspaper topics that are still up for grabs.  

How did I get so lucky?  Perhaps God knew that amongst all the craziness of my new life as a young professional that what I needed most in life right now was just one more responsibility.  And not just any responsibility, but one that allowed me to get back to what I loved about teaching... the intimacy that is created in the classroom with students who love the invincibility of life, love being a teenager, and who love sitting around an  idealistic and crazy teacher too green for her own good.  My small group of journalist have inspired me and have encouraged me to keep up on my own personal study of literature and journalism.  It wasn't too long ago that I had my own hopes and dreams of living in New York City and being a writer for Marie Claire or Vanity Fair.  

x,

Ms. P