Recently I was asking my officemate if she thought I’d be at my school next year since I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do to which she responded: “Be serious, Kelly. The writing’s on the wall.”
My presentation in Chicago at the NCLB conference went excellently and I couldn’t be more pleased. I could have been more prepared, like remembering to bring a projector or copying off my powerpoint, but whatever. It’s not like I’m a teacher that has gotten upset when a student comes to my class unprepared. Do you remember when I said that the owner of that company offered me a job but not like a job-where-I’d-have-to-leave-my-current-job?
Well, after I presented, he offered me that type of job.
I didn’t answer him.
Then, on Monday of this week I ran into my favorite professor and advisor in the Reading Master’s I was getting before I quit to get the Educational Administration degree which I’m finishing this May. She not only discussed my finishing that degree when I’m done, she also asked where it is I’ll be getting my PhD.
However, it was yesterday that blew me out of the water. For the past three years I have been e-mailing and corresponding with the Reading and Writing Consultant at the State Board of Education. Actually, it started with me saying something like, “Hey, it is SO stupid the way you guys…” After that, she invited me to work with her and now I’m helping to write the Illinois Learning Standards for the state.
I am, at once, reminded of the skit on In Living Color with the Jamaican family who admonishes their kid for being shiftless.
How many job you got, mon?
I got tree job, mon.
Tree job? Awwww, you lazy, mon.
Does this explain this coffee love I have? This inappropriate licking of lids when I’m pressed for time and can’t get another cuppa when I need one? Or why I’m tired all the time? I got too many job right now, mon.
When I got to the conference center where we got our directives for writing the standards I saw a familiar face, but one I haven’t seen in about 10 years. It was Nell, the fantastic, outrageous, inspiring teacher under whom I did my student teaching. She stood, staring at me, waiting for me to recognize her before we squealed and hugged for a long time. When I got my assignment in her classroom to teach high school English everyone else in the program was jealous. I hadn’t realized how wonderful she was or how lucky I was to have learned from her.
She said that she’d asked about me ever since I left but couldn’t remember my married name but she’d hoped I was doing ok. Right away she asked about Mallory and was shocked that she’s all grown up and a junior in college. When I graduated college she came to my graduation party and brought a card with a $100 bill in it which I promptly refused.
“Take it, honey. I never had children of my own and you kids I’ve had as student teachers became my kids. Take it. I want you to have it.”
It was an incredible gift back then and it never lost it’s power over me. Neither did Nell. She and her husband ride their motorcycles to Alaska every year. When I asked her about it she said she still had her hog, but that she drove her hot rod Mustang to today’s meeting.
“It’s black. It’s cute. I just love it!”
Nell, by the way, is older than my own mother. I can’t even guess how old she is, but a friend of mine who is 52 had Nell when she was in high school. Nell is a tiny little blonde-haired woman I can only describe as a sparkplug. Oh, how I want to be her when I grow up.
Which brings me to what she requested of me. She said she was proud of me for continuing my education and pleaded with me to get my doctorate degree just like her. In the time I was learning under her tutelage, I found out that her title was that of “doctor“. Not once did she allow me to address her as Dr. So-and-So even though she earned it.
“Oh, honey! You should do it! You should go on and get that doctorate. Do it. You’d be perfect. Do it for me.”
She was bouncing up and down and squealing and grabbing for my hands as she pressed me to continue even further with schooling. I wish I could have seen my own face when I told her that I would because saying it aloud made it real for the first time when it’s something I’ve only secretly dreamed about. I don’t know if I will. Hell, I don’t know what I’m doing next year.
In the meantime, though, I will be checking that writing on the wall and answering that damn, pesky door where I hear opportunities knocking. If nothing seems to fit, I’ll carve out my own place and step off on a new path. Who knows where it leads?
February 22, 2007 @ 6:08 am | Filed under Education | Permalink |
Jenn Said,
February 22, 2007 @ 6:43 am
From one lover of learning to another, go for the doctorate! If there is one thing no one can ever take away from you, it’s knowledge. Not everyone has the stuff it takes to earn a doctorate, but I think you are definitely cut from the right cloth to earn the privilege to hang that particular lambskin on your wall.
If I could I would quit my job today, take on freelance work, and start working on my master’s.
Heather B. Said,
February 22, 2007 @ 7:24 am
Hey there, care to send a little of that opportunity my way?
Thanks!
Zygote Supreme.
Chris Said,
February 22, 2007 @ 7:35 am
WOW! It reminds me of the song that Maria Sings in the Sound of Music, “I must have done something good.’ You are one very lucky and blessed chic. But honestly, I think you deserve every single one of them.
Juli Said,
February 22, 2007 @ 8:03 am
Umm, what’s all that banging going on over here? Uh, it’s loud and I think you should answer the door sister. Wow, I’m so proud of you and happy for you. Perhaps this is why you have been so anxious lately, you’ve been waiting for ‘what’s next.’ Looks like this is it. You know your direction and you will be going. It says YOU all over it. Go for it and don’t look back, except to wave to your little friends in the dust that you are leaving behind. Chris noted the Sound of Music, You are the whirling dervish, who must’ve done something good! Go Maria, I mean Mocha! Love ya, and good luck kido.
tanilan Said,
February 22, 2007 @ 8:03 am
Dr. Mocha Momma! That sounds good already.
Go for the doctorate. You are so smart and witty and have a different approach to education that we need in our schools. We need more people like you (and I’ve always said that) in education to get our kids interested in learning again. Big Hugs!
VENTL8R Said,
February 22, 2007 @ 8:09 am
And that’s half the fun, the self-discovery of your own talents and gifts and wondering where that bend in the path will take you. Scary, but oh so exciting.
Lady M Said,
February 22, 2007 @ 8:10 am
Wow, those are terrific opportunities indeed, but you’ve made your own luck with all the great things you’ve done along the way. Dr. Mocha sounds great!
Jennifer Smith Said,
February 22, 2007 @ 8:40 am
Wow, Such wonderful things are coming to you! Do I see more….?
kapgar Said,
February 22, 2007 @ 10:38 am
People have high expectations for you, don’t they? Wow.
A different Ken Said,
February 22, 2007 @ 11:00 am
This is exciting. I’m struck that people who receive opportunities most often are those make the best groundwork for them. These things didn’t fall out of the sky, but were/are seeded by your hard work and ability to articulate in ways that others aren’t capable. You’re carving out your own path above the fray. Congratulations and carry on!
RWA Said,
February 22, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
My grandfather told me years ago that if you work hard and do a good job, people will recognize that and reward you. You’re being rewarded. You’ve worked hard (and working harder with all these friggin’ jobs).
Get the doctorate. These folks know you can handle the “next level.”
Just don’t forget all of us little people here in blogworld, OK?
Daisy Said,
February 22, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
Dr. Mocha — it has a nice ring to it! I hope you’ll blog your progress so the rest of us lesser-educated folk (y’know, with only Masters Degrees) can live vicariously through your experiences.
sizzle Said,
February 22, 2007 @ 5:09 pm
that sounds pretty damn exciting! so much possibility unfolding…relish in it.
as for people having high expectations of you- that’s got to be one of the highest forms of flattery around.
Tom Said,
February 22, 2007 @ 5:31 pm
Wow, all that talk about extra jobs reminds me of Steve Martin in “The Jerk”.
-r- Said,
February 23, 2007 @ 7:03 am
Very cool opportunities! Should we call you Dr Mocha Momma or Mocha Doctor?
Dana Said,
February 23, 2007 @ 8:06 am
You are an amazing inspiration. I know you know that, but I can’t help but say it time and time again.
I’m in awe of you, Kelly.
TSM-terrifically superiorily mediocre Said,
February 23, 2007 @ 10:14 am
I’m wonderfully jealous of your accomplishments!
All these opinions, but only you can make this decision. You have a ton of opportunities, and any of them would be wonderful. Picture your greatest aspirations and shoot for the stars. Hokey, but true. You can do it!
MommyWithAttitude Said,
February 23, 2007 @ 11:08 am
Oh that’s exciting — so many cool things to do, so little time!
J to the Wall Said,
February 23, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
Um….you are NOT leaving!
A Million Paths Said,
February 24, 2007 @ 8:07 am
I second TSM with being wonderfully jealous of your accomplishments. It’s nice to have opportunities especially when you’re not looking for them!
Shash Said,
February 24, 2007 @ 8:33 am
Wow. So many amazing things happening for you now. I’m so proud of you and so excited to see what happens next. I just made that same promise to someone close to me about schooling, and I feel the same way you do about it. Just vocalizing it though made me feel so amazing though, like putting on a pair of jeans you haven’t worn in awhile and finding they fit even better than they did when you first bought them.
I’m so excited for you Kel. Thanks for sharing with us.
Shash
Bipolar Housewife Said,
February 24, 2007 @ 10:21 am
I am so impressed and (simultaneously) jealous of you right now!
If only I could get my s**t together enough to get my master’s degree, or better yet, a doctorate. And I only have ONE toddler at home. Somehow you’ve managed to do all I have with your life and THEN some, with opportunities up the wazoo, and I have yet to find a single direction to expend my energies and try to excel. I just don’t know who I am anymore. And I watch you just trying to decide WHICH Mocha to choose. You are every woman.
It sounds like you are an exceptional human being, and I know you have only yourself to thank. You have done well with your life and your children. So, now, what do you want for yourself? Where can you make the biggest difference? Who do you want to have been when you look back?
I’m impressed that you have opportunities to choose from, and not just opportunities left to CREATE. Go for it!
Take care,
R
Barb Said,
February 24, 2007 @ 11:11 am
I am SO glad to be done with grad school. Too bad I have that incredibly useless MFA in creative writing degree, even though it still qualifies me for tenure-track positions. I don’t get the “Doctor” title though, just “Professor.” And English departments are so divisive when it comes to their MFA and PhD staff. The doctorates think we’re dumb because we’re artists. I think they’re just jealous. I mean, we have to write and defend a thesis, too, but they’re creative not literary criticism crap that no one outside the field (or even in the field) would want to read.
However, if you do decide to get a doctorate, make sure you don’t have to pay a dime. You may not end up going to your first choice of school, but if they offer you guaranteed funding for your entire program, then that’s the school to go to.
Ariana Said,
February 24, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
Wow, Kelly! NCLB conference! So impressive!
Ami Said,
February 24, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
You’re an inspiration! Opportunities abound for you and I know you’ll do what’s in your heart to do! And you’ll do it with the intention of making the world a better place for learners. Awesome!
(And isn’t it great to run into those people who made such an impact on our development as human beings?)
Aafrica Said,
February 24, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
Kelly you must do it! it’s not even cheering-you-on words. it’s an order!
kate5kiwis Said,
February 25, 2007 @ 2:45 am
oh, Nell.
i just know it.
i love Nell.
mizangie Said,
February 25, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
Good Lord. I get tired just reading your dang blog. I often wonder why I’m content just chillin’ at my crib - not finishing any degree higher than an associate’s from junior college, not worrying about a new career after retirement, blah blah blah. It’s obvious to me now that God was saving all the ambition genes for you!! Thanks a lot. Remember me when you’re famous, like, maybe a Nobel prize winner or sompn because you OWE me!
Reality check (and Debbie Downer moment): Don’t do it unless the jobs for which you’ll qualify after will pay off the student loans…
Missy Said,
February 26, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
Go for it Kelly! I plan start working on mine next year (clinicla psychology)…We could be doctoral candiditates together:)