You can do this...I did..

I was reading a The Freedom Writers Diary and it encouraged me to write my story. I’m not sure if anyone reads teacher blogs anymore with social media but if one person that is thinking about going back to college...I hope this will help! 

I was raised in a small Cajun town.  Both of my parents didn’t even graduate high school. There were times that my dad was in the oil field that we had money but majority of my life, we didn’t have much money.  We had an old “hoopty” for many years and I would make my mom drop me off far from school so the students didn’t see me to pick on me.  When we did have some money, my mom put me in pageants almost every weekend so one good thing that came out of pageants was that it made me very competitive. 

I did very well in school and always wanted to be in every club imaginable. 

I was a very happy person when I was with my friends and I was on the dance line and many many clubs.  I even created the future teachers of America at my school. My family would tell me that only the students who’s families have money make it on the homecoming court but I proved them wrong. I was chosen as homecoming court my junior year. I was picked again my senior year and was chosen as Maid of honor. I was even chosen as Prom queen. So, if anyone every says that you can do something because of where you came from, don’t even let them tell you any different. 

Then, college came and I had to get out of my small town so I moved about 40 minutes away to stay in the dorms in college.  I made the cheerleading team and I met so many new friends. I also pledged into a sorority as well.. all on my own!!! 

I ended up meeting my husband in college. We were friends for a while and started dating. I ended up getting pregnant and my plans had to halt.  I went to college until she was born but I always knew that I wanted to finish school and become a teacher. 

In 2003, we had our 2nd child. I just happened to pay for my daughters dance camp at McNeese and it just gave me the urge to find out what I can do to go back to school.

My husband was worried about us financially but I knew that this was what I wanted to do with my life. I went back to school but it was definitely not easy. I had 2 younger kids while I was trying to work and go back to college so it wasn’t easy. I finally graduated in 2007 but I wasn’t done.  I had to continue alt certification in elementary education. I was so lucky to have an opportunity to teach at a private school for 3 years for my internship. I don’t even remember who I taught, had 2 young kids, and took night college courses but I did it. 

I even had the honor of being chosen as teacher of the year at the private school that I was teaching. My 4th year is teaching, I needed to be in Lake Charles so I went to teach at a charter school. I had the opportunity to fly to Las Vegas to the Singapore Math Conference. 

Then, I had the opportunity to teacher at one of the best public schools in our area. I had an awesome 1st grade team.  I loved technology so I applied for our district’s technology grant. That is what started my technology journey. We became a tech showcase school and I participated. It was required to present at the district’s tech conference and I was so scared my first time.. my hands were shaking so bad!!!!!

During this time, periscope was getting really big and that’s when I met some amazing teachers all over the world. A few of us ended up starting The Teacher Blab Show!!