Yep... I'm a Narnian Nerd.

One of my favorite books is definitely

"The Chronicles of Narnia."

I know that it is kind of nerdy, but i just love the story, the world that was created, and how C.S. Lewis is so amazing with words that you can almost see and hear and smell everything that the characters are experiencing.

I just finished the final book... again. At the end of the book the Pevensies witness the end of the world they had come to love. As they find themselves in a new world, all of the characters from all of the history of Narnia are reunited. The place in which they find themselves is very similar to the Narnia that they knew, but somehow more real. More vibrant, more alive, like the Narnia they knew was just a shadow or a reflection of the real thing. As they travel Further Up and Further In to this new country, they discover that Narnia becomes even more real, more amazing and that their real adventures were just beginning. C. S. Lewis is a man of great faith and was very spiritually in tune. The ideas that he illustrates about eternity and life after our time here on earth are amazing to just sit and ponder.

At the end of the book, at the end of so many wonderful adventures, he leaves you with: "All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.

I also believe that this life is the beginning of much greater things to come. I think that most people have felt this way at some point in their life. Many times we have moments of excitement, glimpses of what it might be like after this life, dreams or visions of our real selves and our incredible potential. But then, just as quickly as they came upon us, those moments fade away like an amazing dream vanishes as we open our eyes in the morning.

How does one hold on to the "magic" of those moments. How does one get back into the wardrobe and find the land where everything is more real, more vibrant, more alive than everyday mundane life?... Create It! Fight for it! Search for it everywhere! Hold on to each precious glimpse! And even when you do find those "magic moments," remember that they are still just the cover and the title page of the Real Story and the amazing adventures that await each of us "Further Up and Further In."

My Destiny

This past semester I was required to give 20 hours of service for my english class. The class was all about understanding other points of view and avoiding prejudice in writing. The topic for my paper was: Prejudice in elementary school, (understanding students with disabilities). Since teaching is my chosen carreer, I figured that this service would get me some great experience in the classroom.

One of my friends got me connected with a few classes at her school that work with groups of students on different ability levels. The thing that I learned most from my observation and my research for my final paper, is that many students that are "behind" just need a little more attention and someone who is interested in their progress. Many of the children that were struggling in these groups were children that didn't get much attention at home and families that were not really interested in their childs' education. I want to be that person that gets students excited about learning. I learned so much and I am so excited to be a teacher.

While I was there I met my carreer twin. There is a male teacher there that is currently doing everything that I have pictured doing in my future classroom. He has implemented Spanish and helps his hispanic students feel more welcome. He uses Theater to help students really get into the books that they are reading. I think that he has an even balance of student centered and teacher centered teaching in his classroom. The students really look up to him and have fun learning in his class.

I feel that teaching is one of the most worthwhile things that I can do with my life. It is awesome to see students grasp a new concept and gain confidence in themselves. I can't wait until I can actually get into a real classroom.

I have just finished my first year of school and if all goes as planned I won't be able to start teaching until the fall... of 2012 dun, dun, dun!!! It is a long way off but I am super excited.