Life After College

After completing and incredible student teaching experience in Hamilton, New Zealand, I graduated from Utah State University in May. Upon my return to the States, after experiencing a glimpse of paradise, I expected everything to be bliss. I'd graduate from college, find myself a job-in Logan (I was adamant about a Logan job)- and everything would work out wonderfully. Instead I was bombarded with real life. I shouldn't ever have expectations like that. I mean really...who do I think I am to have things work out so easily?

The supportive parents-Thanks for the help with tuition and New Zealand!




The supportive grandparents-Thanks for the help with tuition!



The supportive sibs

I graduated and moved to a different house and started working for Logan City. Things were going smoothly until I started going home a lot. It felt like all of my conversations with my parents were about my future. "What are you going to do about insurance? Where are you going to look for a job? You know you need to keep your options open and you shouldn't limit yourself to Logan." I could almost quote these conversations word for word on my way TO Idaho Falls, before they even happened. I just wasn't that worried about it all. With my luck, I wouldn't find a teaching position but Logan City would offer me a full time job in the fall and I'd be happy with a job I loved and benefits to take care of me.

Suddenly it was June and I had partially filled out two applications and checked job openings about ten times. "Things will just happen. I don't need to worry. I'll get a job. I don't think I need all of this effort." This was a scare mentality now that I think about it. Again, who am I to think I'm so invincible? I was happily mowing for Logan City when I received a voicemail one day from the principal. "Hi. This is the principal from Logan River Academy. I got your name and phone number from the University. I hear you're looking for a PE position and we'd like you to come in for an interview."

I was in shock! I didn't fill out an application. PE jobs are nonexistent in this valley. HE found ME. So I called him back. And I got an interview. And I felt good about the interview. And then I remember him saying that it's a year round school and he would need me to start as soon as possible. And then I got a second interview. And then I hoped I didn't the job. And then I did get offered the job. And then I was in emotional turmoil. And I cried and worried. A lot. I didn't want to quit my current job. I liked the idea of mowing lawns better than molding minds. If I screwed up while mowing, the grass would fix itself and it would all be okay. If I screwed up a child, well that's not an easy fix. But I jumped in with both feet and I took the job.

So now I teach all the health classes and all the PE classes. And I love it. It's definitely not mowing lawns, but it provides some good laughs and some great experiences. There is life after college!

My students are a little rough around the edges. Some have been to detention centers. Some of them were court ordered to LRA. Most were woken up in the middle of the night by an escort, with or without handcuffs, that said "You're leaving, and you're leaving now." And off they went to begin a new era in a treatment center. And here I am, educating them during their treatment. I have a lot of students who had drug problems, I have a couple of students that have OCD, some students with anger management issues, and some students with all of the above. Most of them are boys, some of them are girls. But just like every other high school student, they have an excuse to not change into PE clothes and to not participate in class.

This job has its challenges, for sure. But this job also has insurance, and a salary, and experience that I couldn't get anywhere else. And so I'm not mowing and I'm not outside everyday, but I'm happy. And not every college graduate can claim as much.