The Waiting Walk

Four summers of classes. Three school-years of taking classes while teaching. Forty-nine credit hours. Finally finished. I have a master’s degree!

I’ve always enjoyed school. It comes relatively easy for me. I got an associate’s degree from Lake Michigan College, but declined to march because I figured I’d march for my bachelor’s. But when I was done at Andrews University, I graduated in December and moved away so didn’t return to march there either. I also figured I was done with school….

My first “real” teaching job was in Bentonville, Arkansas as upper grades teacher (5th-8th) and also principal of our 50 student school. I quickly discovered that I really enjoyed the administrative side of things. A lot. They were sad to see me go, and I was sad to leave. It was a wonderful three years and I learned a lot about myself as well as teaching and administration.

When we got to Oregon, I was happy to find a slower pace teaching a single grade with no administrative responsibilities. I have loved my time in fifth grade here! But I still found joy in administrative tasks. Fortunately my principal valued my input and allowed me to take the lead on a few amazing initiatives we’ve enjoyed over the past few years.

When I discovered that one of the perks of being a teacher in the NPUC is that they cover tuition for classes through Walla Walla University, I started working hard towards my master’s. I knew eventually I wanted to go back into administration and having a master’s was necessary for that to be a possibility.

So it began. Forty-nine credits and four years later, my Master’s of Arts in Teaching is complete.

It wasn’t simple. I managed to maintain my personal standard for grades through it all (nothing less than an A… though there were a couple classes that I considered possibly lowering that line…). I won’t say the classes were hard, but I will say that it was a whole lot easier when studying was the only thing going on in my life! Trying to balance parenting five kids, working full time as a teacher, ministry, marriage and then divorce… that’s a lot of stuff to juggle. But God sustained.

And now the goal as been reached.

So what’s next? The long-term is yet to be discovered. My current plan is to continue working in fifth grade here at PAES. But I am very open to God’s leading and very excited to see what doors He may open for me in the future.

On a more immediate note, I can tell you what is next as far as summer plans.

Summer 2023 Agenda: Do absolutely nothing.

Unless I feel like it of course. I’ll do what brings me joy.

But then again I do have five kids, four still at home all summer. So I certainly won’t be literally doing nothing. But I do NOT have a huge agenda or to-do list. I intend to just relax and breathe and rest.

Oh, and hang out with a few friends! To all those who we said we should get together sometime, sometime is finally here. Let’s make it happen!

Finally. It’s here. It’s done. Thank you to everyone who was a piece of the encouragement and support that has brought me to this day somehow still standing and with a smile. I feel like this day represents so much more than simply completing a school program, and I am so grateful to be celebrating it with so many friends and my above-and-beyond supportive parents and children.

I am blessed.

I’m so excited to see where God leads me from here!