What's Been Happening Lately!
First, I have my new car! I am so happy to say that through the help and guidance from my sister, mother and father, I was able to eliminate the unnecessary (and ridiculously expensive) car warranty! I am now driving the new car consistently, gave away my old one to my sister and not wasting thousands of dollars. I currently send my dad a few hundred dollars a month (scheduled for four years) but other than that, the car is officially mine! I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders not worrying about the older one potentially breaking down at any time as well as feeling comfortable in something new. It was a lot to convince myself that the money that I have worked so hard to get is now gone but I think it's for the best.
Speaking of money, that was my other big stress at the end of last year and it continues to be. My monthly costs continue to pile up but I have to remind myself that I am also gaining a steady income with opportunities continuing to arise. Teaching is my main job and does provide the most in amount but most in consistency as well. As far as I can tell, my current district is happy with the work I do and the impact I make so I will continue to increase my salary as I work for more years. I also have my part time job as a tutor that provides a little bit of pocket money and is always so flexible.
There are also two other possibilities when I think about how to earn money. One involves the theater organization I recently started with in the fall of last year. They don't guarantee a stipend for stage managers but the upcoming show, Beauty and the Beast, does come with one! When I first signed up to do this, I never wanted money to be a motivator but it definitely acts a bonus. Not to mention, I also just today saw a posting for a director in my town for a show that I am very fond of. The best part is that it would start in May and into the summer so I could really focus my energy on it without getting too overworked. Something to consider for sure...
I have also been receiving very little but some money for the resources I have created and put on a website for other educators to purchase. At some point, I do want to upload more and really see more money flowing in without too much work on my end. There are a few worksheets and materials I use with my students already that it would just take a few minutes to publish and make it look perfect but it's currently not on the top of my to-do list.
Another big purchase I have made is my flights and show tickets to LAS VEGAS. For a few years, I have been dreaming of visiting Las Vegas primarily to watch a magician and just to say that I've been. My brother was the biggest supporter and with lots of encouragement, convinced me and my parents to book our trip! We leave in a little over a month and I am so excited! It reminds me of my Disney trip last year where it was only a few days and definitely cost more than if I just stayed home but it will be an unforgettable experience!
The last part of my stress comes from the amount of students that I am responsible for at school. I attempt to remind myself that I am doing my best and that's all anyone can ask. If it's not working, I am confident that my colleagues and I could work together to create a better solution. What I am grateful for is those situations that aren't ideal are being treated with flexibility and understanding. I have one set of parents who did report positive things about me from last year and that's been helping going into any difficulties this year but still brings up a lot of negative feelings.
As always, I keep in mind what I am grateful for and the small victories. For example, I am still loving living alone and smile to myself just how much I love it. I get giddy thinking about how much my family loves me, even if they don't always express it. This last weekend it was very snowy and my friend who originally said yes to going to a musical we had planned for months was too nervous to go. I completely understood but also didn't want to lose out on the fun experience (and 90 bucks) so my sister was kind enough to go with me. She said something along the lines that it wasn't her favorite thing but was the best it could've been, which I am so thankful for.
I am so happy that I do have a job to go to each day, even through all the stress and cold mornings. I don't think I would be the same person without my students and colleagues pushing me to remain positive and authentically myself. Every day brings new challenges and I do have thoughts of what else I could be doing but it's not because it's unhappy, it's because I think I can do more. Some possibilities include going into the mental health field or even becoming a professor down the road. And to wrap up this first post of 2024, I look forward to learning more about how to be the best educator for my students and to my side quests along the way to provide limitless positivity!