Okay, I'm thinking it's probably time to just start a new blog...I haven't touched my Xanga since graduation, and blogspot seems to be more popular among my peers at this point (so it's easier for me to stalk my friends on here...hehehe!)
Anyway, an update...
I finished my BA from UW La Crosse in December of 2009, with a major in Spanish and an minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. I moved back to my parents' home in Wausau, where I am still living now. Not exactly what I had planned to do at age 24, but with the job market the way it is (on top of the monkey-wrench that got thrown into my career plans right before graduation!), it was by far the best financial decision I could make. Sometimes its tough to be an adult and still have to answer to my parents, but ultimately I am so thankful to them for helping me out while I complete the next steps in my life.
After graduation, I spent the most discouraging eight months of my life working in a call center where I occasionally felt like I was helping people, but mostly just got screamed at for things that weren't in my control (all for a whopping $8.50 an hour). I had originally thought that God had taken away my dream of becoming a teacher because He first wanted me to go serve on the mission field in Spain for a year, but no opportunities to Spain were on the horizon. I sometimes wondered if answering phones was all that my college degree was going to get me...but, of course, God had other plans that I just couldn't see.
In August, I was offered a position with the Greater Wausau Area Americorps Team, serving as a bilingual aide for the Newcomers Center at A.C. Kiefer (in a 4-year-old Kindergarten classroom). The Americorps living allowance was a slight paycut, but the educational award at the end of the year will more than compensate! I am working with an amazing team of educators and a great bunch of kids at Kiefer and I'm really learning a lot about what teaching involves. My heart is still set on secondary education (especially middle school!) but getting this experience with the little ones has definitely stretched me!
Well, obviously the Americorps position was a one year thing...but at the same time, God also randomly led me to One Mission Society, and...well...I'm not quite sure what happened, but somehow I ended up applying for a short term program doing ESL ministry in Spain, and I was accepted. I say I'm not sure what happened because there were months and months of looking for an opportunity to serve in Spain, then I randomly stumbled across a page on the internet, emailed the organization for more information, and now I have no idea where that page is or what it said! But I will be leaving in August of 2011 to teach English (in a very informal setting) and build relationships with the people of Madrid, with the hopes of eventually sharing the love of Christ with them. I don't know many details yet, but I do know that I will be raising about 22,000 in support (prayers please?) and that I will have four weeks of training in July in Indiana. Details will come as I obtain them!
Hmm, what else...still doing some modeling, mostly promotional work since that's what's available in Wausau. I've thought about trying to get a second job but I'm torn between needing money and needing rest. I'm really hoping that modeling opportunities- even non-glamorous promotions - will continue to come in steadily enough that I don't need to search for a second job. Also working on building my online business, Appleton Enterprises, but that will be slow this year as preparation for Spain will take a priority over my other finances, including business investments.
Oh, I have been able to get involved with my "new" church, Wausau Alliance. I started attending there just after Christmas 2007 whenever I was home from college, and I always went with one of my best friends, Katie. Katie, the Air-Force Wife, moved away a few months before I graduated, so not only did I miss her terribly but I had to go to church without her. It was scary the first few weeks, but God provided me with some amazing opportunities to serve and to have fellowship with others. Between now and last January, I have gone from sitting alone every Sunday to sitting with a whole group of people around my age (often followed by lunch and fun times after the service!), being part of a wonderful mini-church, and serving as an Awana Cubbies leader, Sunday School helper, and helping with Children's Church and in the nursery. I really look forward to Sunday mornings now and always come home from church with lots to process throughout the week. I think that Wausau Alliance will be one thing I will miss the most when I leave for Spain.
As far as life after Spain, my options include a) Going to grad school to pursue teacher certification (probably at UW Milwaukee); b) Going to grad school for a Master's in TESOL and pursuing a career teaching adults (we'll see how I like teaching in Spain vs. working with the Wausau School District) or c)Going to Northcentral Technical college for a different degree unrelated to teaching. Glad I have two years to decide that one.
So, that's life right now! More to come!
No comments:
Post a Comment