Gratitude

I’ve spent a lot of time recently thinking about all the things that I am thankful for. I strive to be grateful throughout every season, but with the Thanksgiving holiday arriving, it becomes a more prominent thought. I could definitely make this post the longest one yet due to the completely endless list of people, events, opportunities, and other things I appreciate. But for the sake of the audience, I will keep it as short as possible. Here are some of the many things I am thankful for this year:

Firstly, I am thankful for my ever-present and growing relationship with God. This year has been tough for me. I lost a close friend in a tragic accident in the early months and I have taken a lot from that experience alone. After that, I focused more on God and doing what I can to show more love and kindness in every day life. I learned not to take anything for granted, say I love you more, devote more time to my friends and family, and to never expect another day. Along with the many things I have learned and grown from that experience, I have had the ability to take part in many opportunities within the church this year. My church created another campus for Cookeville and some friends and I decided that would be a good time to get involved. We started helping in the elementary school kid’s ministry. That was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Since then, we have been recognized for our outstanding dedication and love for the children and teaching them. That alone has encouraged me to become stronger in my faith and even further develop my teaching skills to give them the best lesson possible. It is a joy to serve in such an awesome place with my favorite people and I continually thank God for allowing me to be a part of something so special.

Next up on my list is my friends and family. Another thing I struggled with this year was breaking away from my very best friend. There were a lot of reasons behind that decision that I will not discuss, but I truly believe it was for the better. With that being said, I still have moments of sadness and regret because she was a huge part of who I am. The positive side of the whole situation is that I found my true friends and my family developed a deeper respect and support for me. I now have best friends that I love with my whole heart. They inspire me every day, push me in the right direction, and give me a shoulder to lean on when I need it. Along with that, I am always thankful for my family and how they provide for me. I have been abundantly blessed in this area of life and I could not ask for better people to surround me as I travel through life.

Last, bu certainly not least, I am overwhelmingly thankful for my Teaching as a Profession class and all the experiences that come along with it. The practicum opportunity I get to take part in has dramatically increased my love for education. Getting to work with and teach individual students makes me smile so big. I always leave Jere Whitson grinning from ear to ear and ready to take on the rest of the day. Children are a crucial part of my life and future career so I adore spending time with them when I can. Along with that, my TAP teacher has become one of the most important people in my life. She is my second mom, coach, and friend all in one. I would not be who I am today or have achieved all that I have without her. Mrs. Rawls pushes me to do more than my best in everything. She provides guidance and love in all she does for me and I know that I am prepared for my career because of her. Mrs. Rawls is my role model for what I want to embody when I teach a class. I love her like my own mother and I will definitely never forget what I’ve learned, experienced, and accomplished in her classroom. I think I could go on and on about how truly wonderful she is and how much she has impacted my life, but that would take a long time and make me cry. Teaching as a Profession has been extremely beneficial throughout my time in high school and I look forward to finishing out the program this spring.

Like I said in my introduction, I have so much to be thankful for. This post hardly does it justice! I encourage all of you to find something to be grateful for this holiday season- even if it’s just the good food! A little gratitude goes a long way!!