Fall Goals

In college, I made goals for every quarter. I continued this in the summer. Probably, because it didn't really feel like college was over.

Now, though, that I haven't moved back to Athens, and have a week and a half of my big-girl job, it has sunk in. This is it. Life. For the next 35 or so years.

It's cool. I totally love this life.

So, I think I am going to keep writing out goals seasonally. It works for me. A month doesn't give me enough time to feel like I am achieving what I set my mind to, but isn't so long that I forget about them.

Might as well keep the ball rolling. So, without further ado...

Fall Quarter Goals

1. Keep on top of my lesson planning.

I am definitely an over-planner. I try to have all my materials and plans figured out for next week by Thursday of this week. This helps me to keep the curriculum in sight, have more time when I'm at home at night, and make sure the print shop at my school (who does all the copying, we don't have a central copier) has time to et all the copies run off way ahead of time. I know that keeping up with this is going to be the key to my sanity as the year progresses.

2. Work out 4 times a week.

Again, a way to preserve my sanity. Running has really been a head-clearing activity for me, and I don't want to lose it. I have been missing a good gym work out, though, so when the $$ finally starts rolling in, I think I am going to suck it up and by a gym membership. I usually take 2 rest days, but I know that as things pick up, unexpected rest days might pop up. So, I'm being forgiving and allowing myself that.  

3. Make 3 new friends in my new city.

Now that I have finally started working, I have been introduced to a huge family of amazing people. And, finally, I have a bit of a social life again. Albeit, it's all entirely work-related. I can see a couple that will definitely become friends, but I won't really count that until we hang out outside of school stuff. Maybe I can even mooch off their friends and make even more!

I've got a ton on my plate with right now as I cannonball into my first year of teaching. So, I won't bog myself down with too many goals. I think if I get these under my belt, I'll be on my way to a great year!

Here's to making it happen!

~Rach

Summer's Over

Well, tomorrow is the first day of school. My first, first day in the teacher's seat. How quickly this crept up on me!

I successfully completed

• 4 years of college 
• A crazy quarter of student teaching
• 5 days of straight staff meetings 
• New teacher orientation

And, tomorrow, the kiddies are going to invade, and I will be charged with their safety, security, and, oh yea, their minds. 

Holy crap!

Actually, this week, I have felt oddly calm and prepared. Mostly, I'm excited to get started!

The countdown is starting...

***********

The beginning of the school year also signals the end of the summer. So, I thought I would take this opportunity to check in with my Summer goals.

1. CURRICULUM PLAN
      Check! Didn't really have a choice on that one. SCHOOL STARTS TOMORROW      
2. Run 2 miles without stopping.
      Done and done.

3. Be ready for the school year to start.
      Feeling good

4. Make 3 new local friends.
     Did it! Thanks to some introductions from some college friends.

5. Get Zumba certified.
    Did it! 

6. Fill my apartment's blank walls.

    Cross that one off the list!

That's a big 100% for me! Solid A+! I hope I can keep this ball rolling as the year starts! Update soon!

Here's to hitting the ground running!

~ Rach

Major Achievement

Today, I am giving myself pat on the back. And a standing ovation. And a gold medal. And a raise.

Ok, not a raise. How many days till the paychecks start rolling in? By my count, 34.

So what happened?

I ran 5 miles without stopping!

And the crowd goes wild!!! I'm not sure I can even believe it! At the start of my running mission, I don't think I could even run 5 minutes without stopping. Back when I set my summer goals, I thought a 5k seemed far-fetched.

Then, today, I surprised myself with running for 50 min strait without a walking break. Yes, I know a 10 min mile isn't all too impressive, but from where I started, I could through myself a fiesta!

Check out that self-satisfied, red, sweaty, face! And giant hand? Damn perspective. 

Actually, today was the second day in a row that I surprised myself with how great my run felt. Yesterday, I did 40 min, with only two 1-min breaks. Not sure on the distance.

Both days though, I felt great. Like I could go on forever! Try of a half! Ok, that might be a bit hyperbolas. Even so, it was amazing to feel like that.

So, being the math-y I am, I looked for a common factor. Both nights before I had gotten decent sleep. Then, I woke up, had a cup of coffee and a full breakfast. Not a mini meal. I digested and set out, and had the 2 best runs of my short career.

I think I figured out a good routine for myself. Just in time for the start of the school year when I won't have enough time in the morning. Perfect.

After a much-needed shower, I created this random mess. And a blurry pic to boot.

That would be a some frozen greenbeans, frozen mushroom/rice burger, canned chick peas, and delicious ketchup.

Why the lack of anything fresh? Because my fridge looked like this.

Yea, beer, wine, and condiments. Total college guy style. I'm embarrassed. But hey, at least I did a good job eating every last bit of last weeks grocery haul.

Now, I'm off to restock... and probably spend more money than I should. Later, it's some chocolate PB cupcake baking for my dad's bday. Then, a friend from high school is coming for a night out! It's shaping up to be a pretty fantastic Friday!

Here's to celebrating the small achievements!
~ Rach

Summer's Slipping Away

Holy-freaking-moly. It just occurred to me that the first week of July is almost over! Where did June go!?

I have only 7 and 1/2 weeks until the first day of school, and while that seems like a long time, I know that it is going to slip away from me. And, there is so much I need to do!

It's time to get some goals set. I like to set goals seasonally, and write them down so that I can reflect on them later.

So, without further ado, here's the list for the next 7.5 semanas:

1. CURRICULUM PLAN
       I have been procrastinating on this one. It seems so daunting. To sit down and plan how the entire year will go for my Spanish I and II classes. I know it will seem easier once I start doing it and getting organized. And I know I can do it. It's just the actual act of sitting down and sorting it all out that is looming ahead of me. The best thing to do will be to do a little each day so I don't get overwhelmed. So I'll start on that... tomorrow.

2. Run 2 miles without stopping.
      This goes back to my new, free exercise plan. So far, I'm sticking to it.

3. Be ready for the school year to start.
      Along with curriculum planning, I have to organize my classroom, figure out how I want the daily procedures to go, get my body adjusted to the timing schedule, etc. I can't get into the building until August, but when I can, you better believe I will be a prepping monster.

4. Make 3 new local friends.
     Moving to a new city alone is quite the challenge, and I haven't quite figured out how to meet new people yet. I have met a few of my neighbors, but they all seem to be young couples. It's great and everyone is super friendly, but I'm a single girl on the prowl! I really want to make some friends my age who are in similar "life situations" that I am. It's going to mean stepping outside my comfort zone. Alone. But, I'm up for the challenge, I think.

5. Get Zumba certified.
    I have already signed up for the certification in late July, and I canNOT wait to get there! Hopefully I  can find a little teaching job on the side to help supplement my first-year-teacher's income.

6. Fill my apartment's blank walls.
     I have some original works from both my mom, myself, and even my grandmother all ready and waiting be hung up, and I would really like to use the free time I have over the summer to create some more! I need to get back to my creativity, and my art is one of my favorite ways to do that.

Seems like a pretty solid list to me. All attainable with some work. And mostly measurable. Just like they teach us in the college of ed.

Here's to reaching high and meeting my "Summer unit objectives"!
~Rach

Winter Quarter Goals: The importance of self-reflection

Every quarter (my college is on the quarter system rather than semester, I set goals for myself. I write them in my old-school, pen-and-paper journal, and I refer back to them to keep myself motivated throughout the quarter. Before I get into my self-over-analyzation, let's see how they turned out:

1. Get and Stay < 115 

 Yep, that's a weight goal. One that I didn't need. I am proud to say it was crossed off the list at the waaaay beginning of the quarter and forgotten. I haven't weighed myself in over 2 months, and I'm loving the freedom from the numbers.

2. Work out at least 3xs a week

Success. This one was in an effort to develop and workout routine that I could really keep up. I have done this and then some, and I have to say, I feel awesome. I can tell I'm getting stronger!

3. 4.0 GPA

Haha, yea right. Abstract Algebra has ruined this one for me. But, I'm still trying to get as high as possible for the quarter.

4. Write a new song and work on getting better at guitar.

 Sorry to say, this one fell by the wayside. But, I made a new friend who also plays, and we vowed to "jam" together next quarter.

5. Spend Money more responsibly

Yea, that's still a work in progress. I just love grocery shopping!

6. SKIP

If you can read my handwriting about, you can figure that one out for yourself

7. Continue building important relationships

Done and done. I am closer with my core group of friends than ever before, and we are all heading to HHI for Spring Break next week. This one will, obviously, continue indefinitely in the future.

******

I think personal reflection is really important. In the last 7-or-so months that my world has turned upside down, and I have begun the process of figuring out who I am and what I like about myself, the time I spent thinking about myself has sky rocketed. I know, I sound like am uber-conceited person right now, but what I have come to realize is that self-reflection is crucial. For me, it keeps me grounded and focused on what is truly important - something I have always seriously struggled with.

I have made assertions recently that I am making a conscious effort to focus on doing things and making decisions that I feel are right for me. Instead of pleasing all of the people around me first, I am considering my needs and responding to them. My tendency to do the opposite of this leads me to let myself get absorbed in others' lives rather than concentrating on making mine exactly what I want it to be. Honestly, this is one of the major reasons that my last relationship failed. I gave all of my time and effort to making him happy, and he (being the really good guy that he is) realized that this wasn't fair to me and ended things. He said that I needed to figure out how to love myself and make myself happy before I could do the same for someone else.

Although it was hard for me to see at first, he was right. Damn, that kid is smart. As I began to pull myself out of the heartbreak, I realized the work I needed to do on myself and began the whole "figuring out what I love about myself process".

To my surprise, I was overcome with feelings of guilt. I felt like I was going from being a complete giver to someone whose daily focus was on themself. It was really weighing me down, so I opened up to my amazing Dad about it. He understands me on a level that no one else does. I have always been a Daddy's girl, but as I have gotten older, we have gotten even closer. He knows just what to say to me to cheer me up or, in this case, shed some light on something that I am struggling with.

During our heart to heart (which happened in the car this weekend- that's were all the best talks happen), he inspired me with this little nugget of wisdom:

"There's a difference between being self-centered and having a centered self"

He elaborated by opening my eyes to the difference between being only concerned with my own wants/needs and taking the time to make sure my self is balanced and fulfilled.

I should never apologize for taking the time and energy to work on centering myself and making sure that I feel fulfilled in all parts of my life. I also need to learn to ask for help when I am struggling. I hate putting my anxieties and fears on the backs of my loved ones, but no one can get through everything completely on their own.

Although it's hard, I am taking the time to really make myself happy, and I have never known myself better. As much as it hurt at the time, the heartbreak and subsequent rebuilding that I experienced this year has been a blessing. When I am finally ready to let someone back in again, I will be confident in who I am. I will love myself and make myself happy, and that alone, will make them happy.

Here's to allowing what I've learned lead me on the right step towards tomorrow.

~ Rach