About To Graduate? Here is Something to Consider While Looking For A Job

It is now officially April, and while many students are excitingly waiting for summer break to begin, there are a great many students ready to enter the job force.

With that in mind, it is important to be prepared. I am not just talking about having your resume updated, making a list of potential employers, and doing practice interviews.

While all those things are important, it is more vital to take the time to sit down and take the opportunity to determine what it is you really want to do.

This doesn’t mean that there is where you will start up; many times you have to start somewhere just to get your foot in the door. However, having a plan gives one a sense of purpose.

In addition to having an ultimate dream job in mind, I urge you to take that a step further and find something in your field that you would love to wake up every morning and go to work.

Call me crazy, but I feel that it is basic human right to go to work everyday and enjoy what you do.

Now, I know this may not be a reality for every person; we all make sacrifices for other things that we find as priorities.  I also know that many people would consider my philosophy about the work force naïve, but honestly I don’t care.

I truly believe that we, as “worker bee’s”, are happier working in something we care about.

As a photographer, the term starving artist comes to mind, but I would rather be a starving artist that a miserable anything else.  I realize that you may not, and that is why you need to determine your workforce priorities.

So as graduation (much to your horror) approaches, I urge you to take the time before you start applying to consider your what is important to you, what you want to do, and how to get there.

After all, you are just starting in the work force; do you really want to be anything but happy for the next 40 plus years in the job force?

Exactly!

Job Fairs

      We are all going to have to go through one of these especially if we have to work to find a job in the real world after graduation.What you could expect is a one to two people at a table and a room, FILLED, packed tight in a room.

1.The best way to go about this is to create a rotation. I prefer to start where you would think others will finish. This way you are the first fresh face they see and be the first impression they get. 
2. Take ALL of the information they have provided on their tables. Once you leave take a minute and jot down a few notes if you really liked the potential job and what made them stand out in your head.
3. Do not leave until you feel you truly got something out of this experience. Whether or not your willing to relocate you have the opportunity to meet people, talk, and potentially have an interview!
4. When all is said and done go home to email them or write them a snail mail thank you card. This shows what kind of a kind, driven person you are.
5. Make a list of all of the potential jobs your interested in. Separate everything out on paper including the contact information of the person you met at the fair.
6. Don't give up. 
       I know I am still a current senior dreading the real world but I know that I cannot give up. I am very motivated and willing to move to find the perfect teaching job for me. The moment you give up is the moment you will regret when you have graduated and have no plans yet for the future. Continue to strive to be the person you want to be with your ideal job!

Student Teaching

     These past few weeks have flown by. I have a third grade classroom right outside of my town of Kutztown. These kids all have grown to be people I look forward to seeing day after day. Being on Thanksgiving break and not seeing them for five days felt beyond strange. I didn't like it at all. It is nuts to think that a little more than a month ago I did not know any one of these twenty one beautiful kids. 
      Every single one of them has a spark. This spark is for their character, their passion, their drive, and their learning ability. No, we are all not perfect, but it doesn't matter, with these kids they can be. They try so hard and push to make everything they do the best they can do. I loved working with the whole class teaching pronouns, and about holidays or working one on one trying to improve students multiplication. 
      These twenty one students help prove to myself that teaching is the job I was always supposed to do. I came into the classroom with doubts, and being unsure that I had worked three long, hard years studying something that I didn't know was for me. I learned how much of a true teacher I am. I have discipline, I have strength, I have patience, and I have lots and lots of love. I couldn't see another future for the rest of my life other than teaching. It is such a rewarding career and one I know I will look forward to for the rest of my life.

My American Holidays Text Set 

Don't Be Afraid to Be You!

              If I could be anything in the world no matter the pay I would like to be a teacher! I love helping kids and seeing their eyes light up as soon as they understand something they haven't before. I love being in the classroom and having an audience of young kids looking up at you while you teach them how to multiply numbers. I am beyond excited to say I am hopefully going to be graduating with a degree in Elementary Education this spring.
              It has been a long journey with struggles with my brain and my heart. According to my Papa, ever since I was younger I was destined to be a teacher, even though I may have denied it. I wanted to be where the money was but work with kids as well. Pediatrician was high up on my list because it pays well and I got to work with the one thing that makes my life matter, kids. I finally decided to follow my heart and I cannot wait to be in the classroom in a year and being surrounded by all of these beautiful little kids.
             Although your brain, your parents, or your friends may see you going in a different direction maybe where the money is, or maybe following in footsteps that doesn't mean you have to do it. You need to follow and listen to your heart. In the end all the money doesn't matter if you don't have a passion. Follow your dreams by listening to your heart!