Graduation

I cannot believe that as I sit here typing, I will be graduating in just over 24 hours with my masters degree. Well, I won't officially be receiving my diploma and teaching certificate until late January. But I am still adjusting to the reality that the hardest part is over. I have one more day in my ELD practicum. Then Christmas break (hopefully with some snow). Then New Year's (2009 already?). Then three weeks in my final student-teaching placment. And THEN I will be a REAL teacher! I am praying that I will be busy substituting so that I can start paying off those nasty loans! I feel pretty confident that I will be busy, since there are only a handful of Spanish-speaking substitutes in the Eugene/Springfield area. But before all of that, I am looking forward to being home with my boys. Neftali wants to go with me every morning as I head out the door. I have definitely struggled with leaving my boys behind as I pursue my degree. But I know in the long run, I will look back and be so glad that I did this. Besides, I am the first person in my family EVER to graduate from college - not to mention with a masters degree. Needless to say, I'm pretty proud of myself and this momentous occasion. Merry Christmas to me! :o)