Bella's Blog

Blog Post 10: Let’s do it Again Sometime!

Good afternoon everyone! As this semester comes to an end, it’s just about time for my blog posts to wrap up for this class! I have so loved my time blogging weekly to each and every one of you. This experience of maintaining a blog and actually having people read each post has been so amazing. I am grateful for each and every one of you and for all the time that you and spent here.

When I first started this blog, I didn’t really know what to expect. It seemed a little strange, writing to people I have never met about things that I wasn’t so sure how to write on. As the weeks past and my confidence grew with each post, I began to get really attached to this exciting and centering part of my week to the point of actually looking forward to it. As this semester wraps up with three more weeks left and this being my last blog post for class, I am super bitter sweet about it. On one hand, this semester has been a complete rollercoaster ride and at times it felt like there was no end in sight. So on that note, it is nice to almost be done with the semester and my sophomore year of college. On the other side of this, it’s sad to say goodbye to this class and especially this blog. It’s defiantly got me thinking about starting one of my very own or continuing this one!

As I’ve been reading other blogs, I was presented with one that went into how the habit of writing daily has all these crazy great benefits to it! (Linked here) This really got me thinking about a lot! Personally, I journal almost every single day. I have found that it helps keep me centered, thoughtful, and at peace. It gives me a safe place to vent, express thoughts, grow, and get my thoughts all in one place. For anyone who doesn’t do it, I would highly recommend it. It really is amazing and I can personally say that I have seen some great benefits from journaling alone. With this, the blog article that I recently read about writing every day has me thinking that if this applying to academic writing as well? Is it a good thing to write for or about school every single day? I’m not so sure about that, but according to this article, there are some really exciting benefits of writing daily.

Like I said before, thank you so much for everyone. From those who have kept up with all of the blog posts to those who have only read this one. Thank you for spending the time to read my work, my thoughts, my opinions, all of it. As one last parting note, please remember and tell yourself daily that you are strong, you are capable, and you are amazing. From the bottom of my heart, thank you again. Let me know if you aren’t quite done reading my thoughts! I can continue to write here if it’s wanted! Have a great week and a happy beginning to spring!

All the very best,

Bella Johnson

Blog Post 9: The Art of Teaching: Students And Puppies

Hello all you beautiful people! It’s that time once again… blog post time! I’m going to admit this right off the bat, this blog post is for extra credit but guess what? That makes is so much more fun for everyone, including you. For this extra (special) credit blog post, I have been asked to think of something that closely relates to education and teaching that I have found on my own. So on this fine Monday morning, I’m going to tell you all about the connections I have seen between becoming a teacher and learning how to raise a puppy. Trust me, this is going to blow your mind. I also have a new puppy picture for you all to make your hearts melt.

As some of you may know, those who subscribe to my blog and read my weekly thoughts, I am adopting a puppy in T-minus 7 days. Because of this, my more recent blog posts have almost always had a bit of puppy mentioned in every single one. As some of you may also know, I am a college student working to become an english teacher. If you have never read one of my blog posts or been to my blog, then you’re all caught up now!

When I’m not studying or working (or binge watching Netflix), I am doing research on how to be the best dog mom ever. I know this is a high expectation for someone who has never owned their own dog before, but believe me, I have read almost every book there is to read on raising a puppy and being your dog’s best friend. I’ve been doing this research for months now, keeping a journal of everything I’ve learned, and even bookmarked valuable YouTube videos that I know I will need in about a week when the little guy finally gets to come home. You may think this is overkill, but trust me, I think it will pay off in the long run. Here’s the thing though, the more research I do on puppies, the more I see correlations between raising a dog and becoming a teacher. I know this sounds a little out there, but just hear me out, I’m going to explain it all right here and right now.

First things first, both of these things require A LOT of flexibility in learning. This may seem like a given but I really started to notice it when learning about the importance of teaching in ways that accommodate each student in the classroom. It is so beyond important for a young learner to feel like they are valued and understood. The first step to showing a student this is by teaching in ways that they not only understand, but they help them succeed the most. These can be huge things and little things that can change the way a student sees their classroom. If some students prefer small group conversations versus whole class discussions, it’s crucial as a teacher to work with this and make the classroom environment more comfortable for their students and more enjoyable as well. Although this can put more pressure on a teacher at times, the benefits completely outweigh the costs of seeing students succeed and excel in school. The same goes for puppies. As I have learned throughout my research, puppies are not all the same and require different things throughout their lives. In the early learning stages of training and puppyhood, dogs need to feel understood and valued as well. Puppy owners need to be aware that flexibility on their end is crucial in order to raise an amazing companion.

Next, it’s important for both teachers and puppy owners to have patience and understanding. This, like the other example noted above, is also a major key when working in the classroom with students and anywhere with a puppy. When working with students, it’s always important to have patience with your class. Some days are bound to be better than others and that’s completely normal and OK. It’s easy to get caught up in the world of school and not give human beings a little bit of grace now and then. This is something that I have really seen as I make my way through my degree and continue down the path of becoming a teacher. Mindfulness is crucial in the classroom setting, for teachers and for students alike. Human beings are imperfect and fall short sometimes, it’s just how life is. It’s important to give the grace that you would like in your own life to others, whether it be students, coworkers, or your new fluffy companion. Puppies are imperfect too, as difficult as that is to believe, they are. They have rough days (no pun intended) and also need grace when they make mistakes as well. This is a valuable thing to keep in mind when teaching in the classroom and adopting a tiny floof.

Lastly, I have found that being an educator and owning a puppy both radiate joy in the lives of those that do it. Although I am not a teacher, not yet at least, I have spent some time as a student teacher in a middle school classroom. This experience has left me 10X happier every time I am there and genuinely makes me radiate joy. I have absolutely adored my time in a real life classroom and found it to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I can truly admit that nothing else compares to spending time with students and helping them achieve their best. The same goes for owning a puppy. Although I don’t have my little dude quite yet, just preparing and setting everything up for him has been one of the most fun experiences of my life. My mood completely changes when I even think about the fact that I’m getting my puppy in a week from today. Both teaching and puppy owning has given me pure joy in my life and granted me so much happiness.

Alright, I’m done now. If you stuck through all of that, THANK YOU. I know that was a lot. I just knew I had to share this, seeing that it blew my mind. I’ll let you go now, I know quarantine chores are most likely awaiting! Remember, especially through this time of difficulty and uncertainty that you are strong, you are capable, and you are amazing. If I believe that you are, then you should too! I hope you have an amazing week and if you can, try and enjoy this time! Also, as promised, puppy’s picture is below! Thanks for reading!

Blog Post 8: The Email That Opened my Eyes

Here we are again! I’ve missed writing here, and I have missed writing to all of you! I hope that self isolation is becoming a little more normal for everyone reading this. I know for me, it’s been a lot of ups and downs. However, I can say that I am starting to get into the swing of online schooling and being at home (for the most part). Although online school was more of an alien than anything to me at the beginning, I’ve learned some meaningful skills throughout the course of this experience. I promise this blog post isn’t about COVID 19, I won’t make you read anymore about that, considering that you’re probably seeing it everywhere else you look nowadays. Today, I’m talking about emails.

In one of my recent assignments, my peers and I were asked to create a portfolio of various emails that we will one day, as educators, have to send and reply with often. This assignment was strange to me at first, seeing that I had never been asked to write mock emails before in my educational career. However, once I got the hang of it, I realized how meaningful and useful this assignment will be in the future. One particular mock email that we have been asked to write is one to a student who has, you probably guessed it, been almost failing all semester but in the last week of classes, wants some redemption to raise their grade. Out of all the emails that we have written, I found this one to be the hardest to write.

Essentially, when looking through the lens of an educator, there is no possible way for a student to raise their grade that quickly without some sort of special accommodations, ones that teachers are faced with picking and choosing often. As you can imagine, picking and choosing to help certain students versus others is unfair to the entire class, so naturally if a student sends an email with similar requests, as a teacher, you have to explain that this won’t be happening. Although I wrote a concise and clear email stating that by giving a student extra credit to help boost their grade it would be unfair and unjust to the rest of their class, and noting what resources there are to use in the future; I found this email to be the one I struggled most with because I was this student.

In high school specifically, I wasn’t the best student in all of my classes. Specifically science and math, I was always the student begging my teachers for extra credit or more help because I knew that I couldn’t fail my classes. Although I never received any sort of special treatment from my numerous plea attempts, I was still a struggling student who even began failing classes. As much as I don’t want to make excuses for my past behavior, I will note that I was struggling with a lot more than just my school work outside of the classroom. Just like any other teenager, I had a lot going on at home that made my motivation for school drop significantly. I’m not making excuses for myself but I will say this, looking back, I understand. My heart goes out for the 16 year old version of me that was putting all of her efforts into just waking up in the morning and getting to school in the first place.

That being said, writing the email that I received time and time again put a strain on my heart. Although teachers can’t play favorites with their students and grant extra resources to some and not others, I think it is so beyond important for teachers to also look at the greater picture and see some of the other outside pieces that are affecting their students’ lives. I’m not a teacher, not yet at least, so I can’t say with certainty, but I will say that when I am a teacher, I will be more than just a person that puts grades in the grade book. I will be a human being, just like everyone else in the building, and I will care about my students beyond what letter their name is attached to. There is such a clear difference that can be seen my students of teachers who just teach and teachers who genuinely care about their students’ wellbeing. I will be the teacher who cares.

So, I will tell myself and my students every day that I teach the same thing I tell you every week: you are strong, you are capable, and you are amazing. Let’s make this week great and noteworthy! I know we can all do amazing things. Like I said, I hope that quarantine is going well for everyone reading this and that life is sweet. Until next time!

PS: puppy arrives in 12 days! 🙂

Blog Post 7: I Needed a Break… Finding Little Things to create JOY

Hey all, I’m back with another blog post about COVID 19. I know that this topic must be getting old for everyone by now, but fear not, this isn’t completely about the coronavirus. As I’m sure you’re currently experiencing, I have found this whole situation to be quite taxing and eyeopening. I never realized how fragile everything is. Quite frankly, it never crossed my mind until everything in my peaceful little world became the way it is now, disheveled and at times, seemingly hopeless.

Have you ever heard the saying “You never know a good thing till it’s gone”? I’m beginning to understand that saying a little more than I did before. Living in my sorority house, for example, was such a great and amazing thing, I never knew how much I loved it and appreciated everyone in it until now. Back in my college town, I easily took for granted how convenient it is to walk to grab a bite to eat or visit a friend down the street a block or so. I didn’t realize how grateful I should have been for the experience of sitting in class with my peers and profferer every day; instead, I dreaded waking up and having to walk half a mile to my seat. Now, I would give anything to see all of those beautiful faces again in our classrooms across campus. I never actually took into consideration what life would look like without my best friends bringing light into it each day. I’ve realized that in the last few weeks of COVID 19, my life has seemed more dull and maybe even a little darker too. I miss my people, my home, my classes, my classmates, my life. My pre-COVID 19 life that is.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m beyond blessed to have another place to go to in times like these, my dad’s house not too far from my university. However, this transition has been nothing short of extremely stressful. Though I have stayed here in the past over some breaks and some of summer, I can’t say that I have actually ever just sat in this house day in and day out for as long as I have now with my entire family also staying here as well full time. With varying schedules, routines, and personalities all of the sudden being forced to comply and play nice with one another, I know I can’t be alone in this, it’s been better. Granted, it’s defiantly been worse, but nonetheless, my tribe of humans have seen better days together as a family.

Seeing that my life has turned out this way so suddenly and with no warning, I have been working on a sense of normalcy for myself. While doing so, I did a thing today. If you read any of my blogs, I have written about the puppy. If you know, you know at this point. If you don’t, feel free to visit some of my past blog posts! Anyway, this puppy, who I have yet to even meet, has become pretty much the center of my existence (I say semi facetiously). In other words, this puppy is literally the one thing that has stayed constant in my life for months, before and during COVID 19. In the middle of all of the disaster taking place around the world, I took it upon myself this morning to get some Dunkin Donuts (drive thru with minimal contact), and pick up a couple of things from PetSmart. Yes, I said it, the thing I did today was leave my home and venture into the unknown. The unknown being my two favorite places ever but regardless, I used some nifty cub-side pickup skills where I didn’t even have to enter the store. Bottom line, I got the cutest collar and dog toy I could find on the website delivered directly to my car outside in the PetSmart parking lot. I think I may be getting the hang of this self distancing thing down. Well, sort of.

I know this story may sound ridiculous and relatively uneventful (probably because it is), but this entire experience I had this morning made me realize something huge. Our world is so beyond fragile it literally shut down to where I now wear a mask outside and have my PetSmart groceries delivered straight to my car. I didn’t even know that was an option before I read on the website that it was the best way to go about pet shopping. The world that we were used to before this experience is long gone and may not return to “normal” for a while. Unfortunately, these are the facts that each human needs to face. As much as I don’t enjoy it sometimes, this is life now, this is our new normal, and this is the present and future for as long as the eye can see. I never knew that the world could do this. It never occurred to me that life could or would look like this. I didn’t picture this being my life just a few short months ago. I couldn’t have imagined that COVID 19 would cause the upheaval that it did and is continuing to.

Although this post hasn’t been extremely positive thus far, I feel that I owe it to whoever is reading this right now to end on a more bright and positive note. This may be our life right now, you may not enjoy it a lot like me, but we’re still here. We’re still moving forward each day, doing our jobs, making our way through this. Although we aren’t together, together we are getting through this time. I urge you to do one thing a day that makes you happy, that lightens your mood, that calms your nerves, and that helps you continue to move forward. I am working to do this each and every day. This could mean a walk, reading a book, watching an episode from your favorite TV show, or even taking a nap. For me, taking some time out of each day, even half an hour, has proven to soothe my body, my mind, and my heart. Today, it was Dunkin and Petsmart goodies. Tomorrow, maybe morning yoga or maybe I’ll bake a cake and eat the whole thing by myself. Both options sound fulfilling and joyful for my life.

Remember, you’re strong, you’re capable, and you’re absolutely amazing. We got this.

P.S. For those asking about the puppy, I left a picture here for you to see 🙂 Got this shot from the breeder about 2 weeks ago when he was 3 weeks! As of tomorrow, this little dude will be 5 weeks old! Name suggestions are always accepted, I’m thinking Nash would be a good one 🙂 Hope this brightens your day!

Blog Post 6: There’s No Place like Home

The title says it all, there truly is no place like home. As I’m sure you know by now, self quarantining has become less of a suggestion and more of an order or demand in some counties, cities, and even states. I am currently in one of the states that has implemented a “stay at home” order throughout state. With this being the case, I’m working to find things to occupy my time, seeing that I have a whole lot more of it to myself with a limited environment. As a 20 year old native Coloradan, this isn’t the easiest task. I grew up being constantly on the move. My childhood consisted of sailing, hiking, swimming, camping, and summer camps all summer and skiing and snowboarding in the winter. I’ve carried these activities with me through my adolescence and early adulthood. Needless to say, I prefer being outdoors and with people.

Unfortunately, we’re probably all home right now wishing we were a million other places. Trust me, I totally understand. In pervious blog posts, I have given you all tips, tricks, personal stories, and ideas that I have already tried and ones that truly do work for me, ones that I love sharing with you. However, this is going to be a little different, seeing as though I’m not one to just sit and stay. I’m going to talk about some things that I have been wanting to spend more time on and devote more of my energy towards, seeing that there is indeed much more of it in quarantined captivity. Hopefully, these will spark some ideas in your own mind that can be implemented in your time of quarantine as well!

First things first, puppy. As I’ve talked about in my previous blog post (linked here), I’m adopting a puppy at the end of April/beginning of May. As you can imagine or have experienced yourself, my life is quickly changing as the idea of a brand new puppy entering my life is becoming more of a reality by the day. Reading puppy books, blogs, and articles has become my greatest hobby in life. My Youtube has been overrun by dog videos. As embarrassing as it sounds, I have actually completely filled an entire notebook of notes from every book, video, article, etc. that I have come across surrounding the topic of puppies. Needless to say, I have already dedicated much of my time to this topic. You may think I’m crazy for admitting this, but honestly, I would love to make a little more time every day for this! It’s surprisingly very soothing, like a project I am eagerly ready to keep working on every chance that I get. The more I learn, the more excited I get and the more prepared I feel for the future of owning my own dog. Like I stated in my last blog post, I’m not advocating going out and spontaneously adopting a dog because of the global pandemic. I would advocate for finding your own joy-filled project that puts a smile on your face daily. In some fashion, I feel more grounded when I am reading and researching all things puppy, so I would honestly like to spend some more time doing so!

Second, I not only want, but need to be more active. Being trapped in my house has proven to make me not want to workout. There is something about knowing I shouldn’t leave my house that has made me believe I don’t really need to leave my room for anything other than the occasional trip to the kitchen, maybe and I mean maybe socialize with my folks for a little a few times a day when they aren’t working as well; this is clearly not the healthiest lifestyle. So, beside my puppy project, I want to start becoming more active, even if it means running on my treadmill for 30 minutes daily or yoga on the back patio in the mornings. Regardless of what it is that I choose to do everyday, I’m setting a goal here and now that I will jump back into my workout routine and become more active daily. A slight side note off of this, my Diet Coke obsession has taken my life hostage (again) in the past week. In complete honesty, I had a pretty gnarly Diet Coke problem through the later years of high school and beginning of college. Being home has totally sparked this back up because both of my parents are also addicted to Diet Coke as well, so it’s constantly around. Now, this doesn’t sound like much of an issue, and granted it probably isn’t, but let me tell you, I seriously need to drop that habit as well. So, in addition to being more active during this time, I’m going to break up with Diet Coke as well.

Lastly, I want to organize my room. I know I’m not alone in this, specifically if you’re a college student that just moved back home. My room has become a sort of battle zone that has a strange mixture of high school memorabilia and college storage bins literally everywhere. Because I just moved back home less than a week ago, there hasn’t been much time in the middle of the chaos to truly unpack and organize in a proper fashion. This, maybe above all other things, is something that I am going to be setting aside time for each day in order to make my room feel more like home again. There is defiantly something about being more productive in an organized environment, so, I’m going to channel my inner HGTV self to create the best environment in my room for myself.

Whew! Lot’s to do and plenty of time to do it! I hope that by reading my own goals you can create some of your own in this time. Despite the fact that we are all in some type of physical isolation right now, know that we are all still together-ish. You are not alone in this. Let’s make the best out of what is going on in this crazy world of ours. As always, you’re strong, you’re capable, and you’re amazing. Till next time! Wish me luck!

Blog Post 5: Keep Calm during COVID 19

Picture this: college campuses closing for months, metropolitan cities turning into ghost towns, airlines shutting down, streets empty, sidewalks vacant, trips cancelled, hand sanitizer sold out… the world in a state of chaos. Though this seems like a post apocalyptic movie scene, this is the world we are all living in today. COVID 19 has singlehandedly swept, not only the nation, but the majority of the world by storm. As it continues to spread, grow, and travel around the globe, there appears to be no hope in sight and no light at the end of the post-COVID 19 tunnel. However, after some bad days of self-quarantining, I have found a solution to finding light, even in dark times like this one.

As a college student, these series of rapid changes have been nothing short of, well, alarming to my own life. It feels as if, in the blink of an eye, my entire life has been uprooted, shaken, and thrown about with no real answers on the horizon. Even by keeping a mostly level head throughout this situation, it’s terrifying. Being 20 years old is a scary time anyway. Learning the in’s and out’s of life, of being an adult, of being self sufficient, and of truly being my own person is enough to create stress as it is. With COVID 19 infecting the lives of virtually everyone on the planet, specifically in the United States, and specifically an average college student just working to get through midterms, well, let’s just say that this time of transition has been a learning experience in itself.

As I sit, self-quarantined in a house that I haven’t called my primary home in a couple of years, I realize, in a time of upheaval, how much there still is to be grateful for. Despite all of the unrest, the sickness, the death, the isolation, there is still light. When looking at the news, reading articles, and even going onto social media platforms, there is literally no sign of hope. I find this not only to be disheartening, but to create hopelessness within myself as well. I can imagine I am not alone in those feelings, along with so many more. Yet as I sit here writing this all down, I see that specifically in darker times such as this one, it is crucial for individuals to make their own light, to create their own happiness, and to hold on to something to live for.

When I say live for, I mean truly live for. Granted, if you’re reading this, it means that you’re probably breathing, probably have a pulse, and most likely have the cognitive power to understand the words that I’m writing to you. Therefore, you are alive. However, when I say live I don’t just mean breathe, sleep, eat, repeat; I mean find your happy, find your joy, create your excitement for life again, then, go LIVE. This has been something I have struggled with recently, specifically in the past week. Being stuck in a house that I used to call home, not being able to actually go home where my family, my dogs, my mom, my best friends are; that takes a toll on the heart and soul. However, I have been working by the mere second to find my life again, to find things that, even in a time where isolation is the key to saving humanity, make me happy still.

For me, that means planning for my puppy, organizing my old high school room, hanging up new and old pictures, doing a face mask, reading my favorite series all over again, and going on runs (on the treadmill in my basement, or course). Let me tell you, puppy planning in itself is a rabbit hole of possibilities that will keep you occupied for hours. Despite the fact that I won’t bring my bundle of joy home until May, I have to say that calculating budgets, researching veterinarians, reading puppy books, and even going so far as to find the perfect harness, is a project I have let myself fall in love with.

Now, I’m not saying that you have to adopt a puppy to find your joy. It also doesn’t have to be organizing or reading or face masks. I will say that keeping yourself busy like I am is helpful. Making time pass by faster has helped me tremendously. Truly, I would take a minute to, after reading this blog, to grab a piece of paper and a pen and write down everything you’re thankful for, everything you would like the accomplish during this time of quarantining, and three things you can do for some self love. This may seem childish, pointless, or even difficult at first, but trust me, it will bring light into your day, your week, or even your month.

Trust me, go do it! grab that paper, get that pen, and get to writing! I know that this time is scary, that the news is frightening, that the idea of going through Twitter is alarming; but trust me, bring light into your life today, invite joy, harness gratitude, and let’s do this together-ish! You’re strong, you’re amazing, and you’re capable. Together-ish is still together, you’re not alone in this. Now, get to writing!

Blog Post 4: Studying on the Fly

Alright, do me a favor and think about where your favorite place is/was to study, do homework, projects for work, write emails, etc. Maybe it’s a local coffee shop or a generic Starbucks location. Potentially the cafeteria or dining area around your school or work place. The space in your home that you claimed as your “office” that really just houses things that have no place anywhere else. Maybe it’s on the couch in front of the TV or even the backyard. Regardless, everyone has their one place. The place where your mind works its fastest, strongest, and produces its best work.

For me, this place is in the air. For whatever reason, I have always been able to be my most productive self while flying on a plane. There’s something about the subtle notion that my time is limited while sitting in the slightly crushing and uncomfortable seat that snaps my attention and priorities into place. Having only the necessities in front of me and my phone on airplane mode completely changes my mindset in regards to getting what needs to be done, done. With this, fights are generally quiet and peaceful minus the occasional conversation or turbulence. If you actually think about it airplanes are the perfect place, at least in my mind, to get things done quickly, efficiently, and with minimal distractions. The free pretzels and soda are an obvious added bonus as well.

Growing up, I travelled frequently. My parents were obsessed with traveling and going around the world and for the most part, I was able to join on their many adventures across the globe. Because of this, I had to learn how to keep myself occupied for long stretches of time in the sky. When I began getting older and in turn, obtaining much more homework, I realized quickly that my favorite place of study is actually during our flights together. My dad always did work while we were flying, having his laptop out with papers neatly in the seat-back pocket for easy access, so I always watched him while he would accomplish so much in short periods of time. Along with this, my mom was a flight attendant for many years, which helped me get my bearings on flying from a young age.

As a college student, I still travel relatively often. Despite being a full time student on a college campus in Colorado, I find myself on a flight going somewhere just about every month. For example, during the winter, my dad spends a lot of time in San Diego, CA, so I go there for a few days to hang out. On the opposite side of the US, my mom lives in New Orleans, LA , a place where I commonly find myself. As I write this, I am actually sitting in New Orleans! Because of my semi-often travel patterns, I have found that my favorite place to do my work is in the sky.

I feel productive on flights mostly because I know there is not much else to do but sleep. Although there are times when a nap is necessary, for the most part, I work to lighten my work load while I have a few hours in the air. In my own mind, it makes a great deal of sense only because flight time is like an unspoken timer to myself where I sit down and work for the duration of the trip and then I have a large break when I land and proceed to get to where I am going. I feel motivated to work because of the fantastic surroundings, peace and quiet and free snacks. I mean, who doesn’t love that, right? When my flight is over and I am walking off the plane, I can’t help but feel a huge sense of accomplishment knowing that I just made my work load lighter and life a little sweeter for myself.

Overall, if this isn’t something that you have personally given a shot, whether as a student, teacher, employer, or employee, I would highly recommend it. Next time you fly through the open sky, remember the major opportunity you have to make your own life a little sweeter by working with little to no interruption, even if it’s just for a couple of hours. Make the most out of each situation and give yourself that satisfactory you deserve! As always, you’re amazing, capable, and completely unique. You got this!

Blog Post 3: There’s No Place Like The Spa

I’m not a teacher, not yet at least. I’m in college, living my best college life (or at least trying to on a daily basis). Seeing as though I’m not a full time teacher yet, I can’t say for certain what my self care routine is as a teacher. However, I can say that as a college student, I need to have certain times to take care of myself in order to continue living my best life and being my best self. I must say that, I’ve been doing these routines for several years now and they haven’t failed me yet, so, I encourage any teachers or teachers-in-training to read on for my self-care, self-loving tips and tricks that I live by today.

First things first, sleep! I wake up at the same time, bright and early at 7am, every day expect once a week, usually Saturday or Sunday. On this one day a week, I let myself sleep as much as my body needs. If that means waking up at 2pm from my mini hibernation, then so be it. I can feel a notable difference in my week when I allow myself the peace and comfort of sleeping in once a week. Despite the fact that it’s not every day, that few extra hours of sleep on the weekends completely rejuvenates my body and mind, getting my geared up for the week ahead. There’s something about staying in your PJs and under a hundred blankets and pillows that just heals the soul. For me, this is my weekly happy time. With this, I spend one night a week (Monday), doing a fun self care night for an hour. Picture face masks, fuzzy socks, hot tea, and Netflix on in the background as my roommate and I just decompress and relax with Taco Bell laying in bed for an hour or so. We don’t do this all night, just as a relaxing study break in the middle of our hectic lives during the week. It’s an amazing way to calm down from stress, reconnect with my roommate after a few days of barely seeing each other, and eating some savory cheap college food.

Now, it’s time for the spa. Once a month I go and get my nails done. This may seem like a small thing but believe me, it is the best thing I do for myself other than coffee. Setting aside one day out of each month to pamper my nails for an hour or so is my favorite tip for self care. It may seem few and far between to some or excessive to overs, but trust me, when I started to do it a few months ago, it completely changed my world. Going in for a manicure where you can’t touch your phone, look at emails, texts, social media, etc. for an hour is good for the mind and soul. With this, and maybe the most important part, knowing in the back of your mind that in the not so distant future, there’s a little break on the horizon is one of the more comforting feelings as a student and future educator.

My biggest piece of advice is this: SET REAL DATES FOR SELF CARE TIME. Set real dates, days of the week, times of the day, or even minutes in an hour. When I say this I mean that I have a specific date set every week for extra sleep, roommate time, and nails monthly. There is something very real about your brain knowing exactly when its next break is. In some way or another, I find that it makes the week go by quicker and makes me more determined and motivated to do my work and begin/end my week with the best foot forward. It also helps me see the bigger picture, realizing that everything I am doing is purposeful and meaningful, that there is a reason why I continue to future educate myself and one day become a teacher.

It occurs to be often that teachers, and more broadly adults, don’t give themselves the self care that they not only need but deserve. It’s heartbreaking, really. Seeing all of the amazing things that these selfless and caring people do with minimal down time and peace. I understand the stress of working, of being a student, and of being a human being. One thing that has stuck with me for my college experience is this: you cannot take care of others until you take care of yourself first. My dad explained this to me in high school, teaching me one of the most important lessons I have heard in my life. I didn’t quiet understand at first, but the more I have come to live by it, the more I see exactly what he means. We, as people, cannot help each other if we are not helping ourselves first.

I also understand that some days get ahead of you, it happens to me more often than I would like to admit. Some days, there is no time for self care, there is honestly not a lot of time for anything other than coffee, work, (maybe) sleep, and repeat. It’s the world we live in. However, I do urge you, take a few minutes every day, just a few. Whether it’s the drive home from work or school, the short shower you take, the few moments before you fall asleep at night, or even right now, while you read this blog; take a breath, stretch your neck, your shoulders, your back, and your arms. Wiggle your fingers and toes, smile at yourself, and tell yourself one thing that you like about yourself. Then, keep going. You’re strong, you’re capable, you’re absolutely amazing. There are three to start out with… you got this.

So, here is my advice, not only as a student and future teacher, but as a human being. Be kind to yourself, you’re doing better than you think you are. Set real times and dates for your self care and really, actually, give yourself a few minutes a day to care for yourself.

Blog Post 2: I Will Achieve What I Believe

Teaching has always intrigued me as a student, learner, and individual. It wasn’t until I began college that I gave myself the freedom to pursue teaching. Growing up, I always thought I would do something different, I never had my mind set on one thing for very long. My future career paths spanned from psychology to tattooing, all the way to nursing or flight-attending. Despite the constant changes, I always knew somewhere inside of me that I wanted to help people. In every profession that I had my eye on as a child and adolescent, there is one clear common factor, helping people. I began college as a psychology major, hoping to one day do just that, help people. As I got farther down the rabbit hole that is the world of psychology, I realized that although I still wanted to help people, I really wanted to help kids. So, after careful consideration and months of searching for different majors, I decided that teaching was my calling and english would be my ticket there. I have always loved english and teaching it to children and adolescents became my dream. That is, until I let doubt creep through the tiny cracks in my life.

Just like many people entering their desired professions, doubt shadowed around me as I began taking education courses and diving deeper into more difficult english classes. I began asking myself constantly, “can I actually do this?” I felt anxious, almost getting to the point of concluding that maybe this isn’t for me after all. Maybe I can’t do this. With this, I began letting myself believe that I won’t be a good teacher, I could never inspire kids like some of my best teachers have inspired me in the past. Then, the scariest fear of all, what if after a couple of years, I get burnt out on teaching?

These thoughts haunted me, made me seriously doubt myself and my own capabilities. I began stressing out frequently, feeling like the whole world was caving in and everything I have been working toward has been a complete waist of time. It became a black hole that I kept falling into, like there was nothing I could do to stop the fears that were at one point slowing eating my self confidence about my future alive.

Then, not too long ago, I realized that all of my fears were wrong. As a kid, my parents always told me that I will achieve what I believe. Basically, if I believe that I can do it, I will achieve what I am working toward. I realized that by telling myself that I’m not good enough, I can’t do this, I’m going to get burnt out on teaching; then, I probably will. However, if I switch these views around, deciding that I am strong enough, I have a passion for this, and that passion isn’t going anywhere; then, I will succeed. I’ve been working on this recently, feeding myself positive words of affirmation daily to boost my self confidence within my future profession again. Truly, it’s working, slowly but surely, I feel more confident every single day, realizing that I can do this, I want to do this, and I’m excited for this!

Sometimes, taking a deep breathe and realizing that you are your worst critic makes a world of difference in your perspective. I was telling myself things that were not true and slowly starting to believe them. On the flip side, by giving myself kind words and positive thoughts, my mindset is strengthening along with my will to teach. Although these fears are still real ones some days, I have found that deciding that they will not come true in my own life has given me the determination to keep moving forward.

So, I urge you, whatever lies you may be telling yourself right now, realize that you will achieve what you believe. Be kind to yourself, take a deep breath and begin telling yourself the truth! You got this, you are stronger than you think you are, and you are capable of achieving your dreams.

Blog Post I: The Teacher That Told Me I Can

When I was in high school, I struggled. Just like any teenager trying to navigate life, I went through some difficult times. Between being a student, having a social life, spending time with family, and managing my future, I was overwhelmed. I spent a lot of time thinking that I was just not a “school person”. I would work for hours and see no results in my own work, shown by my less than adequate grades. I couldn’t seem to get the hang of the whole “school” thing it seemed like, that is, until one of my teachers explained to me that I CAN.

Dr. Rowe changed my perspective on my own worth and personal understanding, here’s how. One day, I was stressed out to say the least. My math grade was a complete war zone, anatomy was more than my brain could take, and don’t even think about Econ., it was a disaster too. English was my safe place, my home, and my relaxation time. But even then, that day, nothing seemed soothing. Dr. Rowe, my Junior year English teacher, recognized this and asked me to speak with her after class.

I explained my stressors, everything going on in my personal life, and how I couldn’t imagine getting myself out of this educational dark hole. She calmed my nerves, explaining that it’s okay to struggle sometimes. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed some days. Being perfect is not possible, not for anyone. She even laughed and explained that math and science were never her strong suit as well and that Economy thankfully never crossed her path. She explained to me that I can. I can do the best of my abilities in each class. I can take care of myself in order to keep going. I can focus on a bigger picture and at the same time, I can take things one step at a time. I can accomplish my dreams, however big or small they are. Getting myself into college and passing trigonometry.

I remember sitting there speaking with her and realizing that she was a human being just like me, one that understood my own struggles and even struggled with them at one point as well. Despite the fact that this woman has a near novel of accomplishments such as: a PhD, being a professor at Baylor University and University of Denver, living around the world, speaking multiple languages, etc.; Dr. Rowe was more than just my teacher that day, she was a mentor and almost a guardian angel to me. In a time where I felt like my world was caving in, Dr. Rowe showed me that even the most brilliant of minds, such as hers, were not perfect and that expecting perfect from yourself will only lead to disappointment. This woman gave me the power to take a breathe and realize that even with all of those things clouding my brain at the time, I can. I can do more than I was ever giving myself credit for.

Although this was a small moment in time in my life, it drastically changed me and my perspective on not only my own self, but teaching as well. I realized that day that teachers can be more than teachers. Teachers can change the lives of their students, just like Dr. Rowe did for me. They can uplift their students when they are down. Teachers can teach way more than just the class syllabus, they can teach valuable life lessons and skills that stay with their students even when they leave the classroom. Dr. Rowe taught me Junior year English, don’t get me wrong. However, she taught me that I’m not perfect and I shouldn’t expect perfect out of myself. She taught me that I am strong, that I can accomplish a lot, just like her. She showed me grace and let me see that she is more than just a teacher in high school, she’s a human being just like me. Truly, it was one of my biggest takeaways from high school and I thank Dr. Rowe for it.