We had been reading Christy’s Dream and talking about our own dreams or wishes. Some of the students wished that they could fly and others dreamt of more practical things like playing football (our soccer) or becoming singers (not totally out of reach for some of my students). When it came to me, I said that I had already had one of my dreams come true. I told them about my dream I had wanted three years prior—to get accepted for the Ireland Exchange so I could student teach the best children in Ireland. I told the students that my hard work and dedication made it happen. They then asked if I could have another dream come true, what would it be? Without any hesitation, I told them that it would be to be able to stay and teach at their school forever.
All the students wrote goodbye letters to me when I left. All were extremely sweet, thanking me for being “the best” teacher. Not sure about that, but it made me happy all the same. One student came up to me and as she handed me her card she said, “I hope your dreams come true and you come back to Ireland.”
I am a happy person and I always see the glass as half full. I know that wherever I end up in the next few years, I will be content. I have been so fortunate to be given such great opportunities in my life—this is mostly due to my brilliant parents. I am only twenty-three and I have studied abroad in Germany for seven months, Ireland for four, received a bachelors degree in Liberal Studies, have my own car (under my parents’ names of course), will be receiving my California Multiple Subjects Credential shortly, and owe no student loans (only a promise to help pay my parents back). I owe my happiness, my world travels, and my education to my parents because without them I would be just another broke adult trying to work her way through college and most likely giving up after eight years for a four-year degree. Instead, it is my parents struggling to make ends meet because they supported their children through college.
I have been back from Ireland for three days and it has been 2 ½ days too long. I long to go back to Ireland and have been coming up with crazy (well my family thinks is crazy) ways to be able to return. I would have to learn Gaelic to teach in Ireland, so I’m looking at other jobs. Yes, my teaching credential that I worked so hard to get—I actually did it in four years instead of the five and worked full time during part of my schooling—is not the most important thing for me right now. I want to be back in Ireland ASAP, and while teaching in Ireland would be my ultimate goal, I would be willing to get there in whatever ways I can.
I am applying to a teaching job in Chico, California at a school that seems like a near perfect fit for me. Their philosophy of education mirrors mine exactly. Its downfall is that it is in California. The pro would be that I would be getting a salary that would allow me to visit Ireland for long periods of time (if I live frugally and save my money).
My other option of work that I am totally stoked about even though my family is not as enthusiastic about is becoming a nanny in Ireland. The money would not really allow me to save and may not be enough to slowly pay back my parents, yet the location would be perfect. I would not be using my teaching credential, but I would be happy all the same and I would still be working with children. Another pro about this situation is that it would be much easier to learn Gaelic and work towards being able to teach in Ireland.
Okay, so there is another option. That is to take any teaching job that I can find in California. I would do this for a year or two for a steady income and stability—and the money to be able to visit Ireland.
My mom wants me to apply to elementary schools in California and then if nothing comes of it, apply for nanny position in Dublin. She is probably right that I should apply to teaching jobs first, but I am more of the adventurous type (it’s ironic that that comes from mom because I am like her when she was my age). Or maybe I am the impatient type. Impatient is more accurate. When I want something, I want it now.
I may be impatient, but I also am focused. When I have a goal in mind I will get there even if it means going to bed at 2 a.m and up at 6 a.m. for a semester, commuting an hour and a half (one way) seven days a week, working over 25 hours per week on top of 21 units at school, or becoming lifeguard trained when you are pretty terrified of water. Yes, when I have a goal in mind, nothing stops me.
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