Start of Chicago Summer

Today I finished my first official day of Institute. I'm happy to report we all made it out alive. Our brains are a little fried and our clothes are pit-stained, but we made it.

I am so happy to be in Chicago. Just riding on the El last night to Target and watching the sunset over the city was amazing. I am going to be teaching in the city I love and I can't be more excited.

I woke up at 5:25am this morning and shoved breakfast down before heading onto the school bus to take us to our school. The bus was hot and muggy and I was struggling to keep my eyes open, but I was ready for where ever the bus took us.

After driving right in front of Sox stadium (ew) we arrived at the school. We unloaded like a herd of elephants and shuffled into the school. When I walked into the building I about lost it. It's the kind of school that I had always saw myself going. The wall was adorned with faded paintings promoting messages of success. The tile floor was tattered and uneven. We walked into a large auditorium filled with wooden seats. Messages of love and hate were carved into every seat. You could tell there has been so much history in that room and I had to fight back the urge to cry.

It has been really hard for me to fully grasp where I am and what I am about to do. Kind of an out of body experience. Is this really me? Is this really happening? Am I really about to do this? For the past week I have had a constant lump in my throat. I am so excited for what is about to happen not only here in Chicago, but back home in KC. I feel like I finally have a purpose and I am finally going to be put to some good use. The stories of change I have heard over the past week are so inspirational and give me hope for the changes we can make. I haven't broken down yet, but I know it'll happen soon enough. All the stories and the changes we're about to make are all just going to hit me like a ton of bricks.

We were at a session tonight where the founder of TFA spoke to us. I was falling in and out of daydreaming when the speaker talked about the students that we were going to impact. Then I started to think about my 5th graders that I have yet to meet. They are out there right now doing who knows what, and I get the very distinct pleasure of meeting them oh so soon. I cannot wait to meet them and prepare them for there most intense math class yet...

These are all just ramblings of my thought process the past few days, but I just thought I'd share for anyone interested :) Basically I am very excited for this journey ahead. It'll be a challenge, but I am sure the rewards will far out way anything else :)

Off to bed...