25 Before 25 Archive

2013 Here I Come

2012 in a nutshell:
1. I witnessed Bama win the National Championship in New Orleans, LA.
2. I was accepted into one of the greatest teaching programs on the planet: Teach For America.
3. I graduated from college and earned my bachelor’s degree, something most people said I wouldn’t accomplish.
4. I traveled to some of the places I once only dreamed about: New York, London, Paris, Rome, and Vatican City.
5. I started teaching in a middle school.
6. I started graduate school.
7. Dallas turned the big “7.”
8. God blessed me with a new apartment, a new doggy (Tobey), and a new car (Pearl).
9. I sustained some very healthy friendships with people who keep me motivated and moving and I met some amazing new friends too.

I’m not a fan of resolutions, but my goal for 2013 is simply: MOVE WITH PURPOSE. If I’m not moving with some sort of purpose, I’m not doing it. Most of my focuses will remain the same: Dallas, motherhood, my family, my spiritual relationship with God, my true friendships, teaching, my kids at school, and my education.

After a year of blessings galore in 2012, here’s to 2013.

So I Graduated From College

May 4, 2012. The day my life changed. The day that I worked so hard to see. The day I did what most people said I wouldn’t. The day I graduated college. After four years of blood, sweat, and tears, I now hold a Bachelor’s of Science in Education. Thank you to everyone who supported me over the years, especially my son, my momma, my aunt Shundra, my grandmothers, and my host of brothers and sisters whom I believe are my biggest fans, my best friend Crystalline whom I got to share another milestone in this thing called life with, and of course my line sisters who have a separate post coming, so stay tuned. Here are just a few pictures from my special day. Enjoy!

I feel like I just accepted an award. Lol, but yep, I was pretty overwhelmed with joy that day and that feeling has yet to go away. Thank you God for seeing me through. Remember, never allow anyone to dictate what you can and cannot do in life.

Have an amazing day.

MAJOR UPDATE: 25 Before 25

Bonjour!! Buongiorno!! Ciao!!

Wait. I mean hello there. Excusez-moi. Mi scuci. See, there it goes again. My native language and time clock are off tremendously since I’ve returned from Europe. Once again, it has been a while since my last post and I do apologize for the major delay. I was busy graduating from college and traveling the world, but now I’m back in the states and so ready to start the next chapter of my life. I am so grateful to God for everything I have accomplished so far (which isn’t much yet). Each day that goes by I am realizing just how great and amazing my God is; I am extremely blessed. So here is an update on THE LIST:

THE LIST

1. ~~Graduate from college~~ AND ~~enroll in graduate school~~ AND ~~start my teaching career~~.

2. ~~Change at least one of my student’s lives~~ AND ~~indulge in random acts of kindness–at least one per week~~. (ONGOING)

3. Become financially self-sufficient AND get Dallas involved in the sport of his choice (anything besides football).

4. ~~Visit a castle~~ OR visit an African country.

5. ~~Start a stock portfolio~~. (ONGOING)

6. Attend a music festival.

7. Attend a Los Angeles Lakers game.

8. Learn to speak Spanish, fluently.

9. ~~Finish a book every two months including a reread of some of my favorites like The Bible and The Giver~~ AND read at least 10 banned books AND read The Hunger Games and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogies. (ONGOING)

10. ~~Expand my cooking skill set~~. (ONGOING)

11. ~~Visit London, Paris, and Italy~~.

12. Start a business. **Changed**

13. Run a marathon.

14. ~~Develop~~ and follow a workout plan. (ONGOING)

15. Take Dallas to Disney World in California and Florida AND ~~visit New York~~ and Vegas. (I’ve been to Vegas, but not as an adult.)

16. ~~Maintain The Guide to Scholarships~~ AND ~~my personal blog~~.

17. ~~Grow hair back fully and continue natural journey~~. (ONGOING)

18. Start a nonprofit OR be invited to join a nonprofit board.

19. Write a short story OR write a collection of short stories OR write a picture book OR write a novel.

20. Figure out what type of wine I actually like.

21. ~~Try an exotic food I cannot pronounce~~.

22. ~~See a Broadway musical~~ AND visit an opera performance OR ~~play~~.

23. Obtain my master’s degree. **Changed**

24. Drink out of a coconut in Hawaii.

25. Buy a piece of jewelry to later use as a meaningful family heirloom.

Progress has indeed been made since I started this journey FOUR months ago. Geez!! I think it may be time to either start a new list or make some additions to this one. Okay, just kidding. One list at a time. Notice that I did change two of the items on my list to reflect things that I actually want to accomplish before 25: #’s 12 and 23.

Lastly, I hope I’ve inspired a few of you to actually start a list of some sort or at least just jot down some goals. Wouldn’t be right if I didn’t thank my original inspiration: Tatiana Richards Hanebutte. She’s pretty amazing, so follow her blog at www.tatianainflux.com and follow her on twitter at @tatianarichards.

Be blessed and have a great day all.

Growing Pains

As I prepare to move into a new chapter of my life, I realize that I have grown tremendously since the beginning of the year and even more since just April. I have experienced everything from graduating from college and traveling the world to heartbreak and having to say goodbye to my first group of students. I have learned that growth and movement are the hardest things in the world to actually go through, but it’s a necessary evil. I did not imagine leaving college and transitioning into the real world to be as emotionally hard as it has been for me.

I have seen many things in the places that I visited since graduation (New York, London, Paris, Rome, Vatican City); some of which made me appreciate life like the love and beauty exhibited in Paris and the different people around the globe, and other things that caused my heart to be extremely heavy like the city beggars in Rome and the attitudes of some towards Americans. All of my experiences have contributed to this reflection. I’ve asked myself three questions: 1) Who am I? 2) Where am I going? 3) How am I planning to get there? Here goes!

1) Who am I? – I am an African-American, twenty-two year old, college graduate. I am the mother of an incredibly brilliant six year old who recently graduated from kindergarten. Yayy!! I am a teacher, or at least that’s what my Bachelor’s of Science in Education qualifies me to be. It means I am certified to teach six through twelfth grade English, journalism, communications, and theater. I have a huge family and an even larger heart. I value life and appreciate personal growth, change when necessary, and the acquisition of knowledge. Everything that I’ve seen and experienced in my twenty-two years has molded and shaped me into this person.

2) Where am I going? – The next chapter consist of raising my son to be the best that he can be, showing my family just how much they mean to me everyday, getting my master’s degree and later my doctorate, involving myself in the lives of my future students via Teach For America in Alabama, maintaining positive friendships, and continuing to grow and learn as much as I can to be better than I am now.

3) How am I planning to get there? – Road map: My map or plan to get to the “finish line” of my next chapter consist of first and foremost, keeping God first in everything that I do. My favorite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 and it reads “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I believe God has a cake plate cover over me because in every situation where I normally think something strange or bad is going to happen to me, it never does. God is covering me and protecting me and I can honestly feel it. Next, I’m putting all my time and energy into my son, my family, and my classroom. I cannot exhaust energy in places and circles that do not add value to my life. Lastly, I’m planning to stay focused and strong in my pursuit of all that God has for me and my son. I know for a fact that He is doing His part, and I’m definitely planning to put in the work to do mine.

Need a better perspective on your life and where it’s headed? Ask yourself those three questions: 1) Who am I? 2) Where am I going? 3) How am I planning to get there? It will definitely add a much more focused perspective.

Have a great day!

UPDATE: 25 Before 25

Greetings!!

It has indeed been a very, very long time since my last post. Goodness, I was starting to think I would never again have time to spend with LoveFran, BUT, internship has almost reached an end. This week marks the final week. Thank God. I love my kids to death, but I have this burning desire to have my own classroom and to do things my way. The sad part about that desire is I cannot pack all of them up and take them with me, so it’s definitely going to be a bittersweet Friday.

So here is an update on THE LIST (if an item is not listed, that means I do not currently have an update):

1. Graduate from college AND enroll in graduate school AND start my teaching career.
I have yet to graduate from college, but I will in exactly twelve days. Yes, you read that correctly. I will have my B.S. in Education in TWELVE DAYS!!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow. As far as enrolling in graduate school, I have applied for a master’s program, but I cannot officially enroll until I have my teacher’s certificate in hand, but I am eagerly anticipating furthering my knowledge of educational pedagogy. Gosh, I love what I do. Speaking of what I do, of course I do not have my own classroom just yet, but I am very much so actively pursuing having my own classroom. In my current placement, I have taught everything you can think of this semester including but not limited to the life and times of some of the greatest writers imaginable like Earnest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and F. Scott Fitzgerald just to name a few. My kids have been beyond great and they have taught me so much in terms of classroom management, creating the perfect classroom atmosphere, and selecting appropriate classroom materials. Every single day is different. This experience will be one in which I cherish for the rest of my life. With this being the last week I get to spend with them, I must remind myself to carry Kleenex everywhere. As far as having my own classroom goes, I have started my search and I think it’s going pretty well so far. I’ve interviewed with districts in Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Huntsville, and Houston (that last one is strange, I know). I’ll pretty much be happy anywhere, as long as I’m in a position where I can make a positive difference.

2. Change at least one of my student’s lives AND indulge in random acts of kindness–at least one per week.
I’m not sure if I have had the opportunity to change a student’s life just yet, but I am sure that I have made a heck of an impression on several of my kids. Here is a note to me from one of my students (The kids tell her we favor so she thinks she’s my sister. I would never tell her my first name so she made one up for me. Lastly, she gave me a book to start my classroom library; she said it was her way of imprinting herself in my classroom):

“To Ms. Juanita,
OMG! You’re the best sister from an unknown parent EVER! I wish we could keep in touch, but you won’t give me your contact information! *shaking my head* That’s fine! You’re truly amazing! I’m being so serious right now! You’ve taught me more than you will ever know and that’s not just about ALL of the classroom stuff you assign us. You expect the best from me and it’s like I HAVE to be the best in your classroom. I wish you much success on becoming a teacher. Your students are going to LOVE you! WOOOO!! My hand is hurting! So…. You’re leaving on 4/27/12? WHYYYYYY?? Can you babysit me sometime? Lol! I enjoyed you teacher intern! Don’t forget about me. Be blessed. *insert huge heart*

Love,
Mary Joe Ann (Yeah, I made up a name to call her too.)

3. Become financially self-sufficient AND get Dallas involved in the sport of his choice (anything besides football).
Yeah, I’m sure this will happen post 05.04.2012. Dallas still wants to play basketball. If I can get him in a league of some sort that hosts all sports, that would be great, but that’s going to weigh heavily on where I’m living post-college. Yep, I have no idea at this point.

8. Learn to speak Spanish, fluently.
I have refocused some of my time and energy into developing my foreign language skills. Don’t get me wrong though, I’m definitely still in the beginning stages of recalling what I remember from my two years of Spanish in high school and the two years in college. I’m getting better though. I can hold a beginner conversation again.

9. Finish a book every two months including a reread of some of my favorites like The Bible and The Giver AND read at least 10 banned books AND read The Hunger Games and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogies.
Reading, reading, reading. I honestly feel like that’s pretty much all I have been doing this semester and I have been loving every second of it. I have read novels, short stories, poems galore. Some of the pieces on my list include, but of course, are not limited to: my Bible, The Giver by Lois Lowry, The Hunger Games by Susan Collins, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and “My Dungeon Shook” by James Baldwin (which I encourage everyone to read). Right now, I am currently reading The Wealth Cure by Hill Harper.

10. Expand my cooking skill set.
This semester I have been forced to cook more often than I ever have in the past. It’s been challenging, but when you have to eat and there is no fast food option, it’s amazing how something always comes of nothing. I’ve been experimenting with many meats, vegetables, and desserts. I think I have done a good job teaching myself some things I do not know. I think it will be helpful to record what I do in the kitchen more often though.

11. Visit London, Paris, and Italy (take gondola ride in Venice, preferably a romantic one).
*GOOD NEWS*: I am going to Europe this summer. I’ll be visiting London, Paris, Rome, and Vatican City. I’ll be sure to take tons and tons of pictures and visit as many places as possible to get the most out of my experience. Yayy!!

12. Own a very expensive pair of shoes.
Eh. I honestly cannot remember the last time I went shopping. This really isn’t even a goal for me anymore. Is it too late to change it? Wait, this is my blog. Yeah, I’m going to change this one, but I cannot think of anything to change it to right now. More than likely, it will revolve around having my own business. I’ll let you guys know soon.

14. Develop and follow a workout plan.
Well… Ummmm… There has been absolutely no consistency in my workouts, but I try to do lunges and squats everyday.

17. Grow hair back out fully and continue natural journey, meaning do NOT cut, color, or perm under any circumstances.
Oh, I colored my hair. I like it though. I’ve also had box braids too. I only had them for about three or four weeks, but I think they took some of my hair out. I’ve developed a full regimen that I follow which included washing my hair weekly and using certain products, but I will share that information in a separate post.

22. See a Broadway musical AND visit an opera performance OR play.
*MORE GOOD NEWS*: I’m going to New York this summer. Actually, it’s more like I’m walking across the stage and my feet will be landing on a flight to New York, no joke. Definitely will keep you posted with more information and photos.

I say all this to say, get excited. Life’s coming and it’s coming quickly. I’m tremendously blessed and I have so much to be grateful for in terms of where my life and career are headed. EEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKK!!!!! I’m really about to graduate from college. Be on the look out for more post to come. Thanks for visiting and as always I love y’all.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Recently, I took a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana with about 15 of my line sisters. Shannon was my car buddy. Yayy!! I also had the opportunity to wine and dine in a few of New Orlean’s best restaurants including The Praline Connection Restaurant on Frenchmen and Muriel’s in Jackson Square. We witnessed art, music, hand grenades, and at times pure craziness, but I loved every second of it all. I also had the opportunity to watch the Crimson Tide win their 14th National Championship too. The experience was nothing like Bryant-Denny, but then again, there is nothing in the world like Bryant-Denny. At the start of the game, the stadium was about 75% LSU and 25% BAMA, but the few Bama fans that were there made sure to hold it down for Bama Nation. The atmosphere of the stadium was so ridiculously live. By the end of the game, the stadium was about 95% BAMA and 5% LSU. With a score of 21-0, Bama pretty much dominated the field. This trip is an experience that I will never forget and I’m glad I could share it with some of the people that mean the most to me. Let’s just say we had a blast. Take a look at these pictures to get a small glimpse into the craziness that was New Orleans. Just a heads up, the majority of the pictures are of me, but hey, it’s my blog right? Enjoy!!

2011 – A Simple Reflection

With the new year quickly approaching, I took some time out this week to evaluate my life and the things and people in it. I have never really been into making resolutions or anything like that partly because I am so progressively minded. I am always making changes and trying to doing things better. Similar to every previous year, I like to see how things have changed, look at the things I have had the opportunity to accomplish, and make changes to things that either frustrate me or just do not seem to work in my favor.

Throughout the year, I have been working to better my spiritual walk and as a result I can see some of the changes that God has made in my life. I’ve learned the power of prayer. I’ve learn to focus more on laying my treasures in heaven as opposed to indulging in the earthly and worldly pleasures around me. God has truly smiled on me and blessed me with certain opportunities that I will forever be grateful for. Everything that I have accomplished this year is a reminder of God’s grace and mercy towards me. Overall, I am happier than I have ever been.

So let’s take a look at how the year unfolded:

*The year started in Orlando, Florida with some amazing friends.
*Then I threw myself a 21st birthday celebration which was wonderful. Thanks again to the 200+ people who showed love.
*My son, who is healthy, brilliant, and more vibrant than ever, graduated from preschool started kindergarten and turned six.
*My youngest brother graduated from high school.
*My friendships and relationships all began to flourish in every aspect.
*I bonded with my line sisters like never before.
*I worked with a group of incredibly talented individuals with a project called Boomtown, Inc.
*I got the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles, California for the first time.
*I planned my last NPHC Homecoming Step Show.
*I cut my hair off.
*I fell in love with my first group of students: 5th period from Duncanville Middle School.
*I can honestly say that I have become much more organized in my life too, which is an absolutely wonderful thing. My organization was the only thing that kept me alive and kicking during methods this past Fall semester.
*I’m proud that I have been able to keep my grades above average through focusing and prioritizing. I was initiated into the Alpha Sigma Chapter of the Kappa Delta Epsilon National Education Honorary. I also made the Dean’s List twice. Lastly, I was accepted as a 2012 Teach For America Corp Member for the Alabama Region also known as the BamaCorps. Word cannot express my excitement when it comes to this opportunity.

As far as things that I want to improve:

*First and foremost, I need to spend more time reading my bible. I do best with schedules so I plan to make myself a schedule to follow. If anyone wants me to shoot them a copy of the schedule, please let me know and I will do so.

*Secondly, I need to do a better job communicating with my close family and friends. The relationships flourished this past year, but of course, there is always room for improvement. I am horrible at calling people and even worse at going out, but I plan to make a positive effort at improving all of my family relations and friendships.

*Next, I need to improve my eating habits because they are quite horrible. I rarely ever eat three meals a day and I love to snack. This just cannot be healthy.

*Finally, I want to gain a little weight. Nothing major, nothing big, I’d just like to look like an adult. Lol

What’s next you ask?

*I am looking forward to the Lord using me in a more dynamic way to accomplish His will.
*Internship in the Secondary Education English/ Language Arts Program.
*Napa Valley for the B I G 22!!
*On May 5, 2012, I will graduate from college with my bachelors degree in Secondary Education and English/Language Arts. It will definitely be one happy Cinco de Mayo!!!!
*Of course, there is Teach For America in Alabama, prayerfully in Birmingham, so Dal won’t have to move anywhere except into our new apartment.
*I’m planning to get my master’s degree in either Educational Leadership and Administration from George Washington University or in Curriculum and Instruction or School Counseling from University of West Alabama.
*And lastly, most of the things on my 25 Before 25 list are ongoing, but I’m definitely planning to knock out a few of the things that at least need initiating like:

Graduate from college AND enroll in graduate school AND start my teaching career.
Become financially self-sufficient AND get Dallas involved in the sport of his choice (anything besides football).
Start a stock portfolio.
Learn to speak Spanish, fluently.
Develop and follow a workout plan
Start a nonprofit OR be invited to join a nonprofit board.

Anywho, I’m very excited about the new year. I’m high off life right now and I feel like God has some great things in store for me.

My advice to everyone is to pray a little more than you do now and set some goals. As far as prayer, a simple morning prayer can start your day off the right way and a simple night prayer can ease your mind and all of the day’s frustrations. When it comes to making goals, I think they are essential to everyday living. Even if it’s not a 25 Before 25 list or a 30 Before 30 list, you can still make every effort to live with purpose. Everyday that I wake up I set a short list of things I want to accomplish for the day, partly because I just like making lists and crossing things off of it. It gives me some sense of accomplishment. But making a list can really pay off because you have better control over how you use your time on a day-to-day basis. People say all the time that life is short, so I would say enjoy it and do things that are meaningful and worthwhile while you can.