Day Four, Y'all!

I cannot explain why, because I do not know, but I have this desire within me to pretend that I am super country. Like, for my students. On the first day. Would that be funny or weird? Only time will tell...

Today was day 4! Can you believe it? It feels like a time-warp, kind of. It almost feels like I've been doing this for a lifetime! I wonder if the semester will fly by?

Today we had county-wide departmental meetings, and mine was at my old high school! It was pretty cool to see the support from central office, and to be in an auditorium full of people who are passionate about the arts in education, just like I am. I still feel like I'm in sort of a weird position as a student teacher, I almost envy the people who have been doing this for 15 or 20 years! But everyone has to student teach first, in order to be a real teacher later, so I'm sure they understand.

I was so happy to see my old theatre teacher, and our former student teacher who is now working at the school, and even my old tech teacher! So crazy!! It was a joy to be in a room full of high school theatre teachers from all across the county - interesting to be on the other side of things! The fellowship and community among them seems really cool.

I also met the Senior Administrator for Arts Education in the county, and she remembered me from when I was performing in high school!! THAT WAS AMAZING. And she asked me if I'm thinking of staying in the county after student teaching, and started talking about possible openings in theatre positions starting in January. I am so blessed to have this kind of support!!!

After the meeting, we went back to my high school and continued to work to prepare for Monday. I'm not sure what we're doing in theatre II and tech on the first day, but I guess we'll figure it out? My teacher doesn't have super detailed or specific lesson plans like I probably will, but she's also been teaching for thirteen years, so I'm sure she knows what she's doing. Plus, she is well-respected by other educators in the county. I definitely got a good placement : )

Since the school was less busy today, I got more time to talk to my teacher, and I think we will get along really well. It was nice to actually talk, not so much about business stuff, but just to get to know her a little better. It's going to be a good semester.

I also started making lecture notes for my first lesson next week! Eek! Monday is coming really soon.

My biggest lesson today: be BOLD! I've been pretty shy this week, and it can be intimidating to be a newbie around lots of experienced educators, but we each bring something to the table - they have their experience, and I have a ton of energy and hope!

I am most looking forward to: the weekend : )

^{1 Corinthians 12:
12} Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸ And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues^[d]? Do all interpret? ³¹ Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.