What makes something official and real does not boil down to money. Signing that teaching contract helped, and actually teaching the students felt pretty darn official as well. However, being handed a paycheck certainly sealed the deal.
When I first found out that direct deposit wouldn't start until next time, I was a little bit disappointed. I even felt a little less official. But then I was told I would just have to deposit an actual check and not have to wait like I thought. After school, I went to the bank with that little rectangular piece of paper with my name and happy numbers on it. I was not prepared for feeling so teacherly! It was so awesome that I can hardly contain my happiness. It's as if all the many years of being a student and sacrificing and begging for scholarship money all came into pure focus for a few minutes, and I rejoiced in the knowledge that I was able to receive that paycheck because of all the love and support I was given so I could be where I am now to earn it.
It's not even about the money. It's about the opportunity to do what I like—teaching, learning, helping, surviving, thriving, owning a home, driving a car, eating nice food, paying debts, having hobbies, giving, traveling, spending time with the people I care about, enjoying time doing something other than work. All of these things are afforded to me because I never gave up. I am still in awe. And I give thanks to everyone who helped me along the way. What a blessed life I live.
I hope I never forget how it felt when I finally accepted that I'm a professional teacher.
When I first found out that direct deposit wouldn't start until next time, I was a little bit disappointed. I even felt a little less official. But then I was told I would just have to deposit an actual check and not have to wait like I thought. After school, I went to the bank with that little rectangular piece of paper with my name and happy numbers on it. I was not prepared for feeling so teacherly! It was so awesome that I can hardly contain my happiness. It's as if all the many years of being a student and sacrificing and begging for scholarship money all came into pure focus for a few minutes, and I rejoiced in the knowledge that I was able to receive that paycheck because of all the love and support I was given so I could be where I am now to earn it.
It's not even about the money. It's about the opportunity to do what I like—teaching, learning, helping, surviving, thriving, owning a home, driving a car, eating nice food, paying debts, having hobbies, giving, traveling, spending time with the people I care about, enjoying time doing something other than work. All of these things are afforded to me because I never gave up. I am still in awe. And I give thanks to everyone who helped me along the way. What a blessed life I live.
I hope I never forget how it felt when I finally accepted that I'm a professional teacher.
Congrats that is so exciting! I look forward to reading more about your journey this year! Buy yourself something to remember with your 1st check!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! Good for you! I can remember my first check from teaching! I thought it would never come. I came to my first teaching job with no money. None. I had to barrow money from my dad for the first three months until I got my first check in September. I look back at that now and how far I have come. May your journey be even more blessed. I agree with the comment above about buying yourself something to remember your first check, but also buy yourself something at the end of the year for making it through! My dear friend/mentor taught me that!
ReplyDeleteA huge congratulations to you! I remember my first few years of teaching thinking "I can't believe they pay me to do this!" Congrats - you're official!
ReplyDeleteYou rock!!
ReplyDeleteThank you to everyone for the congratulatory notes! I can hardly believe I made it through an entire week already. :)
ReplyDelete