Learning Lessons

So, it's my first year out of college. I was blessed to get a good job in the same town, at the same university. With no training and little experience, I find myself teaching English as a second language to college students. And it's good. But I say good with the understanding that good isn't always easy.

These past few months have been a challenge. I've had to switch from being a relatively carefree and low responsibility college student, to a working professional on the same campus. Most people think I still am a student...which is fine, really. I still work with a majority of the people that I worked with before in my part-time job on campus. I'm just in a different capacity. The only change that most of my previous student peers see is that now I'm there all the time, and I dress up everyday. But that's good...they aren't MY students, so we can still have our same relationships even though I'm in a different position now.

As far as teaching goes, I've been somewhat flying by the seat of my pants--at least it feels like it. Things were rushed at the beginning and, I'm told, this isn't the typical ESL teaching experience. I find that correspondingly good, but interesting. I'm thankful for the challenges in and out of the classroom, but part of me wonders, "what is a typical experience like?"

There's a voice inside my head--totally legit, I swear-- that seems to say that this is somewhat of a preparation for something to come. That's exciting, very exciting, but I don't want to get wrapped up in that thought. If I'm constantly thinking about what this could be preparing me for, then I will lose the only moment guaranteed to me: NOW. And I am reminded of a good quote that is becoming increasingly important to me: "Wherever you are--be all there." --Jim Elliot

I cannot offer a good conclusion to this story yet for it hasn't yet been created! But I'm excited because this is from God. It is my gift, the situation which he has given to me for a reason. I've had to learn practical things about the job, things about relationships, and things about myself. Through that fertilizing and often pruning, I think (hope) I have been able to grow a little bit. And that is good.