The Vegas Life

Yes, I know. I am horrible at blogging, and I am sorry. However, I am loving Las Vegas. There are good points and bad points, but as a whole I am doing well. Nothing too exciting has happened, just teaching and living.

I love my school. I thought I would hate middle school and everyone prepared me for the worst. I LOVE it! My middle schoolers are a blast and they make me laugh everyday! They are just so much fun and I love teaching them. I am definitely enjoying being a middle school teacher.

Las Vegas is completely different than any other place I've ever lived. It has been a little rough adjusting. I miss Southerners. I miss the "personal connections" you can make with complete strangers, back home. I miss the sense of southern hospitality.

It is also very brown here. Don't get me wrong, Vegas is beautiful. I love driving up over a hill and being able to see the city lights and the Strip from miles and miles away. It is beautiful! And the mountains and desert are gorgeous too. However, it's too brown here. There is not enough green. I want grass! The front lawns here don't have grass, they have rocks. Rocks! Rock front yards. Some people have turf. It's insane. But like I said, still beautiful in its own right.

I just received a calling the other day and I'm excited to get involved with my ward and meet new people. So I'll keep you posted on how that goes!

Why I Want to Teach...

Today I rediscovered why I want to be a teacher. I want to be a teacher so that I can help kids know they are not alone in this world and they have someone who will stand behind them and support them 100% of the way. Today, my heart literally broke reading student responses to the following prompt: "If there is anything you could change about yourself, what would it be and why?" I got answers ranging from liking yourself for who you are, getting more motivation to do homework, losing weight to be prettier/better looking, getting the "right" (popular) clothes and looks so people will like you,all the way to the idea of not existing as not to annoy your family.

I couldn't help but cry. My second period probably thought I was crazy! Their responses further instilled in me why I chose the profession I did. If I can inspire one child to be the best they ultimately can be, and if I can instill in them the knowledge that they are worth something and can rise above the crappy life-road that has been laid in front of them, then I believe I will succeed as an educator. I only hope I can do it.

I'm Alive!

I promise that I am alive, made it to Vegas safely and am loving it here. More details to come soon, I hope. Our internet is horrible. I can barely get on the internet for more than 20 mins at a time. I promise I will update on the Vegas life very soon!