Is this real life?

YAY! I officially start as a school-based Speech-language pathologist tomorrow! I have my licensure and everything is good to go! Here I go! I'm on my way!

Marching on

The time has come. Monday is the day. After 6 years of college and two degrees later, I am finally starting my job as a SLP. The first week is orientation, second week is when all teachers start, and then the third week, I get to meet my students. I'm glad they add those few days before the kids start to get situated and oriented to everything. I have two schools - an elementary and a middle school - so I'll have two places to get ready. My middle school is only 2 or 3 years old and it is beautiful on the outside. Haven't had the opportunity to go inside yet, but orientation is in that building, so I'll get to see it lots. As far as the commute, I think that I am pretty lucky. Three days a week I go to my elementary school, which is only....2 miles away!!! The middle school is only 20 minutes away and I go there two days a week. Not too shabby. I'll take it. I'm so excited to meet my kids and just get going. I hope they are just as excited (doubtful. =])

Getting all my ducks in a row

• New car: check

• New job: check

• New apartment: check

• New life: check!

This whole moving to another state and starting a new job thing is quite stressful. Next week, I'll be going down to look at my apartment and figure out what I should bring and what I shouldn't. I have so much stuff, especially from moving 6 times within the past 6 years. You could call me a nomad. But for a nomad, I definitely don't pack light. But really, I don't think I have an overly large amount of stuff. Just the basics, but that really adds up. The big things that I have to figure out how to move are my futon, a dresser, and a desk. Everything else is just clothes and other necessities. It will be interesting, as it usually is. At least my parents will be able to help with moving. My mom is driving her SUV and my dad is good with the physical moving of things, so that will be a big help. Other than that, I just have some loose ends to tie up here in PA, and then off to Maryland it is!

CF-SLP!!!

About 2 weeks ago, I received the call - I am officially a Clinical Fellow in Speech-Language Pathology for a school district in a rural town in Maryland!

Yep, I'm moving south! In about 6 weeks or so, I'll be packing my things and leaving Pennsylvania. I love Pennsylvania, and may return eventually, but I am so very excited to start fresh in a brand new town and state. I haven't been able to explore the town in person much (because it's 5.5 hours away) but the websites and reviews of the town are perfect. There is so much to do and so much around, I think that I'm going to love it. I'm not looking forward to the temperature increase in the summers, but am looking forward to not being in the snow belt another year during winter!

Mark will be joining me on my new little adventure. He's still looking for a job with his degree. It's a pretty small town, so it might take a little while, but I'm sure he's going to find something soon. We're also trying to find an affordable apartment. Although it's a small town, the rent prices that I've found have been a bit high, in my opinion. So, the search is still on, but the clock is ticking.

And, this will hopefully be my last move for awhile. I will have lived in 5 towns, 5 counties, 5 apartments, 2 houses, and 2 states, all within 6 years. I'm about done with all that moving jazz for a good bit.

I'm so ready to finally be a Speech-Language Pathologist! And make money! ;-)

Advice

This is an essay I wrote once:

Growing up in a small, extremely rural, low income area, people in the community usually do not have high expectations for their young new high school graduates. My parents, on the other hand, encouraged my sisters and me to do our best in school so that one day we could succeed. We were always told that there was no other option than to go to college or continue our education in some way. I remember my mother always saying that I could be anything I wanted to be if I tried hard enough. “You can sleep when you’re dead,” is something I recall being said once.

There are not many opportunities for young adults living in the little town I grew up in. Jobs are scarce, income is low, and there are not many ways to succeed in any career. I remember at one point in High School when I was feeling quite defeated. My parents had told me that college was the only way for me to make it in the world. How was I supposed to go to college? How would I afford it? What would I major in? There were too many questions that needed to be answered. It took a few months for me to realize that college was my best option, as my parents had told me. I would go to college, find something I was interested in, and head into it full force.

I came to college with an open mind and open eyes. There was such a variety of majors to choose from, so many interesting paths. The first semester I was at college, I decided to take a Career Exploration class. One of the requirements for the course was to go to the annual Majors Fair, an exhibit of most of the majors offered on campus. Declaring a major was difficult for me because of my lack of knowledge of choices that I had, so I figured that this would be exciting. Little did I know, I would find my passion and calling at this Majors Fair.

Walking in, there were tables upon tables of fascinating careers and majors. Right in the front was the Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Deaf Education table. I picked up a few brochures and read them, but decided I would check out the other tables. Wandering around the displays, my mind kept coming back to the table out front. In a matter of about 10 minutes after talking to the professors, I had made up my mind. My goal from there on out was to become a Speech-Language Pathologist. I knew it would be a lot of work and take a lot of time, but I was determined. I am determined.

Every time I think that life is challenging and classes and obligations are demanding, I push through it because I know that if I try my best and do what needs to be done, I will make it. I hear my mother’s voice in the back of my head every once in awhile telling me, “Just try hard and you will succeed.”

This little bit of advice has really led me to where I am, which I feel is a long way. If I had never been encouraged to work hard and go to college, I may have never found my passion and become who I am today. Hearing that voice in my head every now and then makes my life a bit easier. I’m a small town girl with big dreams. And like Napoleon Hill said, “What ever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”