Change. My life has been characterized by this concept for the past several years.
When you are in High School they tell you, "The next ten years will change you like no other, you will experience a million new things, and make the biggest decisions of your life"
They are taking about the span from 15-25, and decisions like: what courses to take, what college to attend, what degree to earn, which job/career, who to marry, where to live, when to start your family???
For me these were exciting adventures that I was confident about. I knew I wanted to go to Christian high school and college since I was 14. I knew I wanted a biblical education to make me qualified for ministry by the time I was 18. I knew I wanted to work with children, as a school teacher, since I was 7.
When I met Jared I knew if we dated, I would marry him. I was 17. My goals had always been to live where there is mountains, water, trees, and be married with a baby by the time I was 25.
Confident in my "plans" I pursued them. I graduated Calvary Christian School 10th in my class. I went to WOLBI and MCC pursuing both biblical education and teacher training. I then was accepted into Baptist Bible College's Teaching Program, Elementary Education K-8.
I attended BBC with Jared graduated summa cum laude, marrying Jared 7 weeks later, July 7th, 2007.
I was an overachiever, focused on my goals and dreams and blessed by God. Jared felt led into ministy and God had been working in my heart also to pursue missions and ministry and counseling women. We were starry eyed and elated to witness the many ways God provided for us that first year. Jared took a position as Youth Pastor at my church. I was a one on one at an early childhood program center, connected to the local school system.
Jared was able to invest in short term missisions trips; I was learning to love special education and its puzzling challenges. 7 months after we were married I received a kindergarten teaching position in a new kindergarten program in the public school. 3 months before our first anniversary (May 2008) I started taking courses at Rivier College for my special education teaching certification.
It ended up being a Masters Degree in Education, Educational Studies, concentration in General Special Education. I graduated Sept 2nd 2009 and gave birth to my son Oct 5th 2009.
I was in my second year of teaching and I was just 24 1/2 years old. I had met every goal I had set for myself. I had done everything perfectly. But things were far from perfect. The ten years between 15-25 had shaped me in numerous ways. But today I have the feeling the next ten years will shape me even more.
-an excerpt from my journal
