How fast time flies!

I cannot believe that there are only 8 weeks left of classes until I begin my second teaching block.  Although I'm anxious about all of the assignments that will be due and the quizzes that will be had, it's extremely hard to believe that it's finally happening - I'm finally going to achieve the goal that I set for myself at about age 4 (20 years in the making!)... I'm going to be a full-fledged, Ontario-certified teacher.

It has been quite the journey, especially because I did not take the route that may have gotten me to this place as soon as possible.  I decided to extend my 4-year degree at McMaster University into a 5-year trek and then take a year off to work full-time at a daycare centre, rather than go straight from high school into the 4-year concurrent education program at a university, which would have gotten me to this exact same place (albeit probably a few alterations) two years ago.  I feel as though these two extra years have given me the opportunity to really know and become confident in myself and know that I still do want to pursue a career in the field of education.  I have absolutely nothing against the concurrent education program - I think it is a great option for those who are totally confident in their choice of career and applaud those who have combined both their undergraduate degree and teacher certification into an all-for-one feat.  However, I know that for myself, I was not so sure that after 4 years my desire and passion for education would remain the same and honestly, that I would be cut out for the teaching profession.

Regardless of my ramblings above, the main point to my reflective post on the past 20 years of my life is that it is possible to achieve your dreams and goals, even if you take a few detours along the way.  I hope to inspire the same drive and ambition in my future students because the feeling of accomplishing goals, especially those set at a very young age of 4-years, is invaluable.