Where I Belong 1.12.21

Since I graduated Middle Georgia College and moved for the first time to Valdosta, I feel a sense of belonging. There have been several times in my life and my career when I knew I was in the right place at the right time.

My first year teaching at Clinch County High School, there was no doubt that I was meant for the high school classroom. I bonded with my students and my colleagues. I still visit Clinch County often. I enjoyed my neighbors and my friends, and I was able to see purpose in my life experiences as I finally had decided to teach high school instead of college. Years like that one helped me know that I am on the right track with my purpose and my goals.

This morning, my high school English colleague and I spent our planning periods together in my room. I opened my email to find that my illustrator has painted some of our pages already, and immediately, I cried happy tears. The fruit of my labor appeared in pastel color on the page, and I felt in my soul the joy of a job well done.

I shared the painted pages with my colleague (C.U.), and she praised me as she always does. Our friendship and our work environment give me the opportunity to flourish and to grow. Our students definitely benefit from our collaboration because we plan together, and we solve problems together. For the last three years, I have prayed for friends and for receptive colleagues, and this school year, I see the favor of His blessing and His answers to my prayers.

C.U. is just one of my many dear colleagues who make my days brighter and who inspire my love for teaching. Just like the day my 2014 senior honor students at WCHS and I chatted during our journal writing about dreaming a new dream, I realized today the beauty of dreaming and achieving new dreams.

I dreamed of a rural high school to spend the rest of my career, making a difference in young adult lives. I have longed for good friends. I have hoped to write and to be published. I prayed that God would bless me with a husband and a male child. I have asked, and I have received. I have sought, and I have found. I prayed for purpose, and He has led me to it. Each of these dreams and requests has been realized. God is so good all the time. Just like my character Sarah, God has also led me to my purpose.