Saturday, December 15, 2018

When I was a kid I really don't remember what I wanted to be when I grew up. I think I went through a stage of wanting to be a pediatrician, but realizing how long you had to be in school and all the other gross stuff that came with being a doctor I decided I did not want to be that. When I graduated high school and went to college, I really did not have a wide range of choices, so like most females at this college I entered the teacher education path. My sophomore year at school I felt strongly that the Lord was calling me to pursue a mission degree instead of a teaching degree. It would be in that new course of my life that I would get to know my future husband better, meet a couple who would impact my life more than I can even explain, and develop a love for people from all over the world. I would graduate with my missions degree and Jeremy and I planned to go to the mission field, France actually. We had big plans, God had other plans. Our lives would forever be changed with a cancer diagnosis. Our plans for the mission field would come crashing around us as I went through treatments, surgery, and then at least a five year recovery. We had lost our dreams for a family and for missions all in a single diagnosis. We moved back to TN to be closer to family and friends. We needed a safe place to find love and healing and try to figure out the "what now" for our life. Jeremy took a position at the Christian school that he graduated from. A few weeks after our move back to TN I would get a call that a preschool teacher was taking a year off and offered the position to me. I took it and it would forever change the course of my life. That year I had the sweetest kids that brought so much healing to my life and planted a fire in my heart and soul for educating and making a difference in the lives of students. It was the first time in my life that I felt like I was good at something. Teaching and thinking through ways to reach students became so natural to me and it changed my life. I would go on to finish that teaching degree that was started years before and it is hard to believe that that very first class graduated from high school last year! Many years have passed since that first year in the classroom, but one thing that hasn't changed is my drive to change the lives of students. I have a soft spot for those students who are looked at as trouble or difficult. Over the last 14 years the Lord has brought many kids into my life and I believe with all my heart that He places me in the lives of students that I can show love and help them believe they are valued and can be world changers. I believe the Lord as opened up an opportunity for me to help a group of students.

I was hired back in May for a position at my new school. The position was for a preschool class. I would be the support teacher until November and then would take the lead when the teacher went on maternity leave. You see our school is really unique and kind of unconventional when it comes to the way they do things in the classroom. Because they do things a little different a new hire must be a support teacher for at least a year before they are the lead of a class. Anyway, back int August I got a call asking if I would switch to Kindergarten. I would be the support teacher working with another teacher. It would involve me helping and observing until October and then I would start planning and teaching lessons part of the day. I was totally okay with that! The thought of having a easy year sounded amazing to me. It has also been amazing because the team I am working with is so much fun and we get along so well. The kids are sweet and we have seen so much growth in many of them. It has been a little bit of a struggle because it's not easy teaching in a classroom that belongs to another teacher and there are moments that I haven't felt entirely connected to the class because there are so many things that I am not part of planning, but once again I have been enjoying my nice little comfort zone.

Well, it seems every time I am like "Ok, I am just gonna stay nice and comfy" the Lord is like "sorry girl it's time to get back to work". A few weeks ago I was approached about considering taking over a 2nd grade classroom in January. The teacher is going on maternity leave and they wanted me to take over her class. I almost laughed when they asked me because this stuff happens to me all the time! I was also kind of mad because my nice little comfort bubble was about to be popped. My first reaction was like "NO WAY!" Life in kindergarten is really good. Stepping into a classroom in January will be so hard and so much work! I would be the lead and so I would be taking on all the other things that come with that position. Ugh, I could not believe that I had to decide what to do. All the information surrounding the situation made me want to run away from this opportunity, but the Lord got a hold of my heart and I realized that the only thing keeping me from saying no was my own personal comfort. I couldn't move past the fact that God was orchestrating this move and the last thing I wanted to do was walk away from an opportunity God was offering me. So, with a lot of nervous energy sprinkled with some excitement I will be teaching 2nd grade starting in the middle of January. Thankfully I will have a few weeks to ease in and learn from the other 2nd grade teacher as well. I taught 2nd grade one year but it was a while ago. I feel a lot of pressure that they are trusting me with my own class after only being there for a few months. I am asking for prayers. I want to do a good job. I want to be what each of these new students need. I want to be a blessing to the families connected with each student. Change is not easy for anyone, but my prayer is that the transition will be smooth and that when I look back on this year I will see how God worked because of my obedience. So stay tuned for the next adventure of Mrs. Riggs. And seriously pray for me!