Last Day at Lincoln

Helping a student in my 4th grade classroom

Semester 1 group

Yep...we're so professional :)

Doing the Lincoln Elementary school Pledge

One year.

I can't even believe it was year ago I was trying to figure out what I was going to do for the rest of college career. I didn't have a major or a minor and was thinking about taking off to Colorado for a semester via National Student Exchange. Then I heard about an opportunity to take classes at Lincoln Elementary in Waterloo.

I had know idea what to do. I prayed a lot about it and decided I would at least apply for LEPDS and see what happened. It turned into me declaring a major, minor and throwing myself into education. I have learned so much! God has provided me with many memories from the past year. I can't even remember college before I drove to Lincoln every day.

I have formed so many relationships both socially and professionally. The thirteen girls that took off on this journey with me are some of my best friends and I have had so many laughs with. At the beginning of this semester our professors didn't know what to do with us because unlike all of on campus classes we all talked, even on the first day. People often get annoyed with us talking about all of our inside jokes. DO IT! :)

Professionally I feel like I have grown so much. I remember the first day I stood up in front of my 4th grade class and introduced myself. I was shaking and SO nervous! My last lesson I did I felt so comfortable and even confident standing in front of an unfamiliar 4th grade class with all of my peers and an instructor watching. I also made so many connections with classroom teachers. I know I could go into almost any classroom at Lincoln and ask to do a lesson or observe something and the teacher would welcome me. What great connections!

I feel like being at Lincoln has stretched me in so many ways. I have learned so much about the diversity found in so many schools across America. I have been able to be apart of a professional environment that most students don't experience until they get in the workforce. I have been held to higher expectations then I believed I could meet. I have seen the difference in my other classes. I am aware of so many more strategies and techniques than many of the pre-service teachers in my other classes.

I will miss the women I have done life with for the past two semesters. I can't even wait for what God has in store for my last two semesters before student teaching. I have confidence that God will open more opportunities and more chances to build relationships with the people I am around daily.