Perfectly Imperfect

Motivational Pep Talk

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 22:41:51 -0500

Since finals are here, for me, I have been super down. This is my pep talk in order to motivate myself.

I have seen many great teachers in my lifetime, but I have been in training with some of the best future teachers there are in the great state of Illinois. I have become even closer to those who are in the field of secondary education. The art of teaching is hard within itself, but once you have to become a master of art in education and your field of choice, the art becomes that much harder.

I have chosen a life where I have to master two arts, the art of secondary education and the art of Biology. I am studying alongside future doctors, future dentists, future environmentalist, and future chemists. When asked what I am going to do with my major I proudly say “I’m going to be a teacher.” And, without fail, the next question always is “why are you taking this class?!”

Maybe, this is just a guess here, I need to know just as much as you do! Maybe I need to be as competitive as the future doctors and dentists in order to give my students the education that they deserve. I need to be able to give the answers about the things they AREN’T learning with this hidden curriculum. I need to be the one that pushes them farther than they ever have before. I NEED to be the teacher that cracks open knowledge that they may never see again.

Another thing that scares me is how many people that I started out training alongside with in the realm of Secondary Education have changed their majors for Elementary education. The most common cited reason is because it was too hard to be a __________ major and education major at the same time. It’s sad to see some great high school teachers quit because it was too hard. I’m not going to sit here and say that I never thought about quitting, because I have, but I have never thought about leaving high school. My passion is in the Secondary field. I cannot even imagine going into the lower grades, that just isn’t my style.

The reason I put myself through torture every time midterms or finals come around is because of all the students I have yet to meet. The reason that I cry at nite and don’t eat for days or don’t sleep is because I want to be the best educator for my under-served Chicago Public School students. They DESERVE to have good teachers and I am going to try my hardest to work hard for them so they can see that one of their own can make it. I am a minority student who went to CPS her whole life and there were so many times that I was told that I wasn’t going to make it, whether it be by my father, teachers, counselors, or statistics, I was determined to show them all what I was made of. And finals are the time that those statements are tested the hardest and I am worn down the most. But I cannot forget what I am here to do. I am here studying to be an educator of Chicago Public School students. I am here to put my blood, sweat, AND TEARS into MY education because I value it more than anyone else. And NO ONE and NOTHING is going to stop me

This girl is great.

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Sat, 02 Jun 2012 12:03:15 -0500

"Don’t settle for less than what you deserve, and you deserve, at a minimum, someone who sees you for..."

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:21:25 -0500

“Don’t settle for less than what you deserve, and you deserve, at a minimum, someone who sees you for the awesome woman of God you are, and someone who wants to help you become the awesome woman of God you can be.”

- Unka Glen (via lykie)

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Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:15:52 -0500

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Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:15:48 -0500

bendoeslife: Fascinating/depressing obesity infographic. click...

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:15:01 -0500

bendoeslife:

Fascinating/depressing obesity infographic.

click through for big.

today-isawindingroad: (via Pride And Prejudice)

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:13:59 -0500

today-isawindingroad:

(via Pride And Prejudice)

Do you know what today is?

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:35:05 -0500

June 1st. That means it’s Sarah Dexter’s 21st birthday! WOOO! SARAH DEXTER!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!

Things I Love About Sarah:

She will drop anything for a friend in need. I know that whenever I need some girl time, she will be there in a heartbeat.
She makes the most hilarious videos. Sometimes she’s doing something crazy with Gipp, but most of the time she’s dancing. And you have to love her dancing. It’s crazy and spastic and outrageously funny. My abs and mouth always hurt after watching them because they make me laugh and smile too hard!
She loves DIY things. She’s always down to try something crafty and new.
She’s so friendly and lovable. So kind. She invites new people into her arms so gently and with such warmth. She’s a fantastic communicator and relates to people well. It seems effortless. I’m jealous of that. haha.
She loves Jesus. : )
She’s really smart. She works really hard and knows so much about her field! I can tell she really loves sociology because it comes up in normal conversation. It’s cool to grab tidbits of information from her. I know that she’ll be a great social worker if she chooses to do that because she’s so passionate about the field and about kids. And she’s so personable. It would be impossible for someone to not like her.

There are so many more things! She’s just so wonderful! I miss her. I wish I was down in Champaign so we could hang out this summer. Anyway, today is her birthday and I just hope she has a FABULOUS one! Nashville will be a celebration of allllll our birthdays, not just mine. <3<3

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Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:22:24 -0500

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Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:22:09 -0500

touchoftea: DIY: Fruity Button Embroidery Napkins by Martha...

Thu, 31 May 2012 23:43:53 -0500

touchoftea:

DIY: Fruity Button Embroidery Napkins by Martha Stewart

yummyinmytumbly: Homemade Horchata This is my favorite drink...

Thu, 31 May 2012 23:43:47 -0500

yummyinmytumbly:

Homemade Horchata

This is my favorite drink ever. Hands down.

scissorsandthread: Side Twist Fishtail Braid | Running On...

Thu, 31 May 2012 23:43:17 -0500

scissorsandthread:

Side Twist Fishtail Braid | Running On Happiness

I’m not the best at creating fish tails, but that’s not going to stop me from trying! I think this might be especially easier because it’s on the side - a much easier place to access than the back of your head!

I thought of Heathnor when I saw these.

Thu, 31 May 2012 23:43:00 -0500

I thought of Heathnor when I saw these.

Flowered Head Wreath How-To

Thu, 31 May 2012 23:42:51 -0500

beecurious:

With my daughters engagement shoot coming up, she was hoping for a wreath to go with her outfit and found this on pinterest.

I made it using just silk flowers and paper coated wire from our local craft store. I started by winding the wire together using her inspiration pic (and her head) as a guide:

Here it is after finishing the wire twisting:

Next I took our silk flowers and separated them from the stems. When choosing flowers be sure to try and envision them without the stems. Sometimes the stems give them a more artificial look:

Much prettier without the stems:

I started by placing the larger buds and hot gluing them into place:

Next I added the smaller flowers to fill in a little space:

That’s it!

Here are some of the pics from the engagement shoot! This was a fun photo shoot for me because I actually got to be the main photographer. My son came along as assistant and they were really happy with the outcome:

To see more pics from this engagement shoot, click here.

a-wondrousplace: This will happen in my apartment. Nash can get...

Thu, 31 May 2012 23:42:31 -0500

a-wondrousplace:

This will happen in my apartment. Nash can get over it if he disagrees.

nights-in: DIY Lampshades using jello molds and colanders

Thu, 31 May 2012 23:42:22 -0500

nights-in:

DIY Lampshades using jello molds and colanders

I miss you. Maybe that’s stupid, but I miss you. We haven’t said a word to each other...

Thu, 31 May 2012 23:20:44 -0500

I miss you. Maybe that’s stupid, but I miss you. We haven’t said a word to each other since the baseball game. And maybe that’s what you want…I dunno. I think I’m gunna send you an email, though. I was thinking about you earlier today for some reason and I wondered if you had applied to Greenville. And I want to ask. So I’m going to. And if you don’t respond, you don’t respond. *shrugs*

Positively Persistent Teach: 20 things we should have learned by age 20...

Thu, 31 May 2012 22:46:06 -0500

Positively Persistent Teach: 20 things we should have learned by age 20... :

source-of-my-youth:

I saw this post written on a blog by my favourite boys from The Buried Life and I couldn’t get it out of my head for at least a couple days.

1. The world is trying to keep you stupid. From bank fees to interest rates to miracle diets, people who are not educated…

inspiremethin: I call this the “Just Do It” series. :) Aimed to...

Thu, 31 May 2012 22:41:49 -0500

inspiremethin:

I call this the “Just Do It” series. :) Aimed to motivate you to get off your tush and work for the tush you want!

And tomorrow it will be. Promise.