Teach for Money!

I got into teaching for the money! Although it sounds funny it is true, at least in the beginning it was. Where shall I start? Let me begin by saying, I think inside, I always wanted to be a teacher but my cousins made fun of me when I played teacher as a kid, and my mother loathed them. So, anyway that sets the stage.
Well, I started out as an art major. Although I was interested in history, I hated learning the facts of war. Art took me places that I had never been before and was something that I was good at. After a few years of ceramic study at the University of Wyoming I decided I wanted to become a studio potter and off to Woodstock, NY I went to try it out. I was an Artist in Residence and spent 6 months throwing pots that led up to my first show. I loved living in the woods and having access to gas and wood fired kilns, but it was a little lonesome for a social cat like me. So,one day I was taking a walk with an older wiser friend of mine and when I mentioned my background and how no one in my entire (including extended) family had not been to college, she turned to me with big eyes and said very matter-of-factly, well you must do that. You must finish your degree. She went on to say how it would change my life forever. So, I tucked that thought in my back pocket and worked in NY for another year while picking up some computer skills too. Then I decided to move to Colorado. Well the programming and other computer jobs were out sourced that year, so I couch surfed at a gracious friend of mine while I continued to search for a job that wasn't there.
Then --CRUNCH---- I was in an accident and was boom-a-ranged back to Laramie, WY (the local paper is called the Boomerang). I moved in with my boyfriend of all of two weeks and he nursed me back to health. So, I decided to stay there and get a job. Well, lo and behold, there was a pottery shop next to the coffee shop I worked at and she needed a pottery instructor. That was my first teaching gig. I loved it. I taught all ages and had a load of fun. I then realized, hey, I am back in Laramie and should finish my degree. I had realized that to make money as an artist, one needed serious connections and I had none, so I thought, if I become a teacher, atleast I know there is a job at the end of it, and I loved teaching ceramics. So, I entered the College of Education. After taking a couple of classes about the history of education and learning styles, theorists and best classroom practices, I was sold! What I learned was how I learn and why and how I could learn more. It was a great moment and is when I decided to learn again! (If you happened to read an earlier blog- it was about the day I stopped learning -5th grade 10 years old!). I was inspired to teach in a way one of my favorite teachers in high school taught and through my own understanding, wanted to teach integrated subjects or project based education. Then upon finishing my undergrad and with art training only, I accepted my first job as a project based teacher in a blended class of 4th - 8th graders. It was everything I wanted (I am a powerful visualizer!) I taught there for two years and loved it. I was surprised how my whole life did change after graduation and am still surprised to find that I underestimate my skills and experience because of sheer ingnorance of not seeing the varied opportunities around me. However, I recently realized a need for certification in this state and that having a mentor teacher is invaluable. So here I am and yes, getting my undergraduate has changed my life forever and my family now thinks I am loaded with money!