New York City

The Sweetest Place on Earth

Winner, Winner, Winner!

Where to begin?
Well, I flew back to Utah on May 10th in search of a job teaching in an elementary school in the Alpine School District. I had two interviews on the 11th and really thought I would get one of them. My plan was to interview, find out I had the job, and fly back to Philadelphia all within the week. I knew I had high hopes considering every place I had interviewed has had several hundred applicants per open position. I really thought I was going to get the job at Highland Elementary because the principal told me that he was impressed by me and I felt really good about my interview. So, I waited a few days and found out that I didn't get either job.

To make a long story short, after applying for 27 positions, interviewing at 6 different schools, and living out of my suitcase for three weeks, I HAVE A JOB teaching 1st grade at Ridgeline Elementary starting this fall! In the past years the district has been short teachers, but this year is completely different. I think less people are retiring and more people are coming back to teach. There were 700 people who applied for the first grade opening at Ridgeline and they interviewed 10 of those 700 people. I was one of those 10 lucky ones thanks to Mrs. Dajany, the teacher I student taught for. I first had an interview with Ridgeline's principal and then I had an interview with all 6 of the other first grade teacher's at Ridgeline. I had heard from two different teacher's at Ridgeline that they already had somebody in mind for this position and to not waste my time even interviewing there. So, walking into the interview I didn't even know if I had a chance, but I did it anyway. Lucky for me I was hired for the position! I am pretty excited to say the least! I really didn't know if I would even have a chance teaching this fall.

I had a fun time in Utah even though I had to live without Kory for 3 weeks. I was able to hang out with some of my SUU friends, go to a baby shower, see a friend and a cousin's new baby, go to the parade of homes, go camping/4-wheeling with my family at fish lake, shop for my new classroom, and the list goes on.

Graduation!

On May 1st I had my Elementary Education convocation at 8:00 A.M and then the big commencement ceremony with everyone at 10:30 in the McKay Event Center. There were 146 people graduating in the Elem Ed Program and 3,743 people graduating from UVU.



Since I was one of the Valedictorians in the Elementary Education Program, they had me speak at my convocation. Okay, that was not true, I just took a picture at the podium


This picture is of me right after they read my name and gave me my diploma.



This is Julie, one of my good friends in the Elementary Education Program. Thanks to her there was never a dull moment in class.



Without Kory's help with my math classes I would have never graduated. Thanks!



Kory's parents flew in from Virginia for their son Brandon's graduation. Luckily our graduation ceremonies were on different days so they were also able to come to my convocation and commencement as well.



Thanks Mom and Dad!



These are my best buds in the Elementary Education Program. We sat together for two years worth of classes. Thanks Jill, Julie, and Hayley for the fun times in class.



President Monson spoke at commencement. It seemed strange to hear his voice at a school function.



After graduation was over, we had lunch at Tuconos with my parents and Kory's parents and then we were off to Philadelphia. We drove for 7 hours that day, 14 hours the next day, and 11 hours that last day. We finally made it on Sunday night!

Exhilarating VS Beautiful

Kory and I had the opportunity to go to Miller Motorsports Park for Kory's company party. After the meeting and lunch, three people were selected out of a raffle to take three "fast laps" with a professional race car driver around the track. Being the lucky person that I am, I was one of the three people who were chosen to speed around the race track. I had so much fun! I was honestly scared for my life and thought for sure the car was going to roll. We were going somewhere around 130 MPH on the straight aways and 90 MPH around the the corners. It was so freaky, but I loved almost every second of it. The track isn't just an normal oval track, this track was had all kinds of zigs and zags throughout it which made it even more scary. The car slid and screeched around every corner. It was pretty awesome, I had a permanent smile on my face when I got out of the car!






Kory did not get chosen out of the raffle, but they snuck in a few fast laps for him too!







Everyone who came to the party got to ride in Jeep Rubicons around the Moab course. They drove us up and down some really steep hills. It was pretty cool to see what those Jeeps could do.




I got to spend a girls day out and go with my mom and my sister to Thanksgiving Point's Tulip Festival. The tulips and daffodils were so pretty! I loved walking around the gardens and enjoyed the perfect 75 degree day.

FoR ThOsE WhO LiVe OuT oF StAtE

Wow, Orem got about 10 inches of snow yesterday! Even though I don't like to mix seasons, the snow looked so pretty on all the trees. I just had to take some pictures!

Being Finished with my Student Teaching or Going to the David Archuleta Concert?

I can't decide if I am more excited that I am finished with my student teaching or that I just went to the David Archuleta concert last night.

I just finished my student teaching on Tuesday! My students were so cute, they all made me a card and a huge poster. They had a surprise party for me too. I really enjoyed student teaching, but it is nice to be done. Here is a picture of my students. I have better pictures of their faces, but I'm probably not suppose to display them on the Internet. I think this picture is probably okay..don't you think.



So, I only have two more weeks of school left and I only go on Wednesday nights. Basically I only have 8 hours of school left before I graduate. Sounds great huh....well actually I have a huge senior project due and a portfolio of all of my main assignments that I have done in the past two years. So far my senior projects 32 pages long and I probably have 15 to go. Some of those pages are worksheets, but a lot of them are lessons and reflections. It will be nice when it's all over with. I guess when I'm finished with that I will have something else to worry about like interviews and actually teaching. I hope to get a teaching position this fall in Alpine School District.



Kory and I went to the David Archuleta concert last night. We are not really concert goers, but when I heard that David Archuleta was coming to town I couldn't resist (and neither could Kory). I just think he is the cutest little thing and he is such a good singer. So.. when we walked into the E-Center we instantly became surrounded by thousands of 12 year old girls who probably are capable of screaming louder than any other age group in the world. His concert was really good!I can't wait to go to the next one.

By the way....don't let Kory tell you that he HAD to take me to a David Archuleta concert, because he loved every minute of it. You should have seen the smile on his face when David came out!







I have some good video footage but I can't get it to upload. Sorry. Oh, and I saw my good friend Sharmaine at the concert too!