Coming Up Fast

I can't believe this is my last weekend of Christmas break. It feels like it has been ages since I was at school and I can't wait to be back but then again, this semester is going to be filled with so many firsts and lasts. Some examples:
Firsts:
- teaching full time (student teaching, but still, I just received an e-mail from my cooperating teacher telling me that I will be taking over the class after MLK day... aka,
- going to Mississippi
- applying to post college stuff (ex: Jesuit Volunteer Corps, grad school(s), jobs (?)...)
- dressing professional on a daily basis
- receiving a degree (!!!!)
Lasts:
- sorority events
- getting graded (maybe)
- living within 2 blocks of my friends
- perhaps the last time I'll live in St. Louis (emphasis on the perhaps)

I am so excited to start this year, but it's still very odd. As I was thinking about my goals for the year, I realized that as I make this list next New Year, I will be in a completely different part of my life. All these things that are stressors right now, such as applications and the FUTURE, will be forgotten. That is such a weird thought.

I digress. My point was that I get to (everything is better with a positive spin!) dress professionally this semester for student teaching and I am really excited. I'm going to be in a St. Louis City public school which is a much different environment than my years of Catholic schooling. I think behavior management is going to be my biggest challenge, especially because I'm a college kid still. In the books I have been reading to prep myself, there is a lot of talk about looking the part or "fake it 'til you make it" attitude. I also read that kids like you more if you have variety in your wardrobe because it gives them something more interesting that khakis and a polo to look at everyday. And because I am a planner, I've been collecting some outfit ideas that would allow for mixing and matching (I'm still on a student's budget!) and in my next couple posts, I'm going to highlight some faves. Sadly I don't think the chunky, holiday "teacher" sweaters (you know, the ones with the pompoms and bells) made the cut. I'm heartbroken about this, if you couldn't tell.

Listening to: Switchfoot "This is Your Life"
Thought of the day: "Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways." -Stephen Vincent Benét

{Images via I heart Stolen Images, ImageKind}