This is what I want to do.
Why you ask? Why wouldn't I want to teach in a Catholic school, I mean lets be honest you went to a very Catholic college...so why not be a Catholic school teacher?
It is simple...they don't need me.
I mean yes they need teachers...but the students in public schools need me in a different kind of way.
It is hard, indeed, to be a Catholic teacher in a public school. Don't get me wrong. All of my actual teaching experiences so far have been in public schools.
You cannot teach your faith, you cannot speak up about certain things that you believe to be wrong and society believes to be right. And what happens during that moment when one of your little ones does start talking about the faith?
It is DIFFICULT...but it can be so rewarding.
Public schools...they have a lot of poor kids right? Depends on where you live...but the schools I want to teach in do indeed have plenty of examples of poverty.
A student over here doesn't have a bed; not even a mattress. This one isn't eating properly because mom can't afford it. This one's water has been turned off...and this one's electricity. These students are on the adopt a family list and if no one steps up it will be a disappointing Christmas morning for them.
Heartbreak...sadness...all you want to do is adopt every single one of them right? but you can't....but you can have hope...
How? How can there be hope with such sadness?
Because, with God all things are possible.
Because with God there is hope...even if I cannot directly help those students after they leave my classroom, I can pray for them. I can ask God to watch over them. I can pray that someone is put in their path that CAN help them financially, even though I cannot.
I cannot tell them I am praying for them, they may never find out, because we are in a public school, but I will pray for them. Students in a Catholic school...the way I see it, they're covered...they are in the good hands of their teachers already...Students in a public school though, they are the ones I want to help.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Poverty is not a Cycle...
IT IS A CHALLENGE!
Let's talk about poverty for a second here...Many people you would not expect are living well below the poverty level...I did for a good chunk of my life...yup that's right...but this post isn't about me (you could read about me in a different post)...its about the way the world views poverty...
Now I know that the cycle of poverty is a real thing...very real indeed...but it doesn't have to be...
We talk about the cycle, we are taught about the cycle, and we hear about the cycle again and again and again...A poor family receives aid from the government; they begin to rely on it too heavily...and then they have kids who learn to do the same...
Well OK I get that...their families teach them it is ok to live off of the government's aid and be poor for the rest of their lives...So now the cycle is taking over...but...but ... but IT DOESN'T HAVE TO
First things first...there are families, who although considered poor by every label any research has ever dished out manage to live life normally...Now your normally and my normally are potentially different...So maybe the heat doesn't get turned on until the temperature outside is very cold...maybe name brand is something unheard of...maybe hand-me-downs and bags of clothes from random people are thought of as the best thing in the world...but hey those aren't the worst things in the world
These families carry themselves normally and do not mope about their financial situation. They are proactive and find as many solutions as they can to their problems rather than complaining, moping and burdening their children with their financial problems. Heck in some of these families, the kids don't even realize they are poor...these families care; they stress the importance of education and hard work. A little hard work can go a long way. These families are what we call resilient.
What about families that aren't resilient you ask? Those who don't know how to stress the importance of getting out of poverty before it can become a cycle? Those families who need someone to tell them that they can break the cycle?
There it is...THEY NEED SOMEONE TO TELL THEM THAT THEY CAN BREAK THE CYCLE
Why is the cycle so prevalent in today's society? Well sure because there is quite the build up of generation after generation after generation of poverty in some of these families...the kids don't know any better...someone needs to tell them they can get out...
someone needs to BELIEVE in them
The cycle can indeed be broken...is it hard to do? Oh yes it is a challenge for sure! ...but it can be done.
Someone needs to show these kids that it is worth it to work towards a better life. They are stuck in the illusion that they don't need to work because the government gives them enough to live off of...I mean who wouldn't love to live for free...but is that really all there is to life? A limited budget, government housing, maybe a part time job to get extra groceries? There can be so much more with a little work...sure the beginning will be difficult...and hard...but in the long run they will be earning their own money and living in their own apartments or houses and buying their own food, and who knows maybe able to help other people.
Kids need someone in their life to show them that work can be a good thing. That there are jobs people actually like doing. They just need to explore their interests...what? People would actually pay me to do something I like? Yes, yes they will.
Can you be that person? Can you go out into the world, and in some small way inspire someone? Can you show them that there is more? That reading and learning are useful? That working is rewarding? Can you?
Let's talk about poverty for a second here...Many people you would not expect are living well below the poverty level...I did for a good chunk of my life...yup that's right...but this post isn't about me (you could read about me in a different post)...its about the way the world views poverty...
Now I know that the cycle of poverty is a real thing...very real indeed...but it doesn't have to be...
We talk about the cycle, we are taught about the cycle, and we hear about the cycle again and again and again...A poor family receives aid from the government; they begin to rely on it too heavily...and then they have kids who learn to do the same...
Well OK I get that...their families teach them it is ok to live off of the government's aid and be poor for the rest of their lives...So now the cycle is taking over...but...but ... but IT DOESN'T HAVE TO
First things first...there are families, who although considered poor by every label any research has ever dished out manage to live life normally...Now your normally and my normally are potentially different...So maybe the heat doesn't get turned on until the temperature outside is very cold...maybe name brand is something unheard of...maybe hand-me-downs and bags of clothes from random people are thought of as the best thing in the world...but hey those aren't the worst things in the world
These families carry themselves normally and do not mope about their financial situation. They are proactive and find as many solutions as they can to their problems rather than complaining, moping and burdening their children with their financial problems. Heck in some of these families, the kids don't even realize they are poor...these families care; they stress the importance of education and hard work. A little hard work can go a long way. These families are what we call resilient.
What about families that aren't resilient you ask? Those who don't know how to stress the importance of getting out of poverty before it can become a cycle? Those families who need someone to tell them that they can break the cycle?
There it is...THEY NEED SOMEONE TO TELL THEM THAT THEY CAN BREAK THE CYCLE
Why is the cycle so prevalent in today's society? Well sure because there is quite the build up of generation after generation after generation of poverty in some of these families...the kids don't know any better...someone needs to tell them they can get out...
someone needs to BELIEVE in them
The cycle can indeed be broken...is it hard to do? Oh yes it is a challenge for sure! ...but it can be done.
Someone needs to show these kids that it is worth it to work towards a better life. They are stuck in the illusion that they don't need to work because the government gives them enough to live off of...I mean who wouldn't love to live for free...but is that really all there is to life? A limited budget, government housing, maybe a part time job to get extra groceries? There can be so much more with a little work...sure the beginning will be difficult...and hard...but in the long run they will be earning their own money and living in their own apartments or houses and buying their own food, and who knows maybe able to help other people.
Kids need someone in their life to show them that work can be a good thing. That there are jobs people actually like doing. They just need to explore their interests...what? People would actually pay me to do something I like? Yes, yes they will.
Can you be that person? Can you go out into the world, and in some small way inspire someone? Can you show them that there is more? That reading and learning are useful? That working is rewarding? Can you?
Friday, December 6, 2013
Take my Heart Lord
So I'm packing up my apartment because I finished college and it is time for me to move out!!!
While going through things and deciding what I actually need to keep I found this which I wrote as a song in high school...I wrote it to be a song, but can only remember how the chorus was supposed to sound...here goes
While going through things and deciding what I actually need to keep I found this which I wrote as a song in high school...I wrote it to be a song, but can only remember how the chorus was supposed to sound...here goes
Take my Heart Lord
Take my heart Lord
And do with it what you will.
I am yours Lord,
All of me may you fill
Let me grow
Teach me to show
Your glory every day.
Help me to love
The Godhead above
In every single way.
Take my heart Lord
And do with it what you will.
I am yours Lord,
All of me may you fill.
I give myself to you,
Trusting all you do.
Please show me the way.
I'll love you Lord
With every chord
For your people I play.
Take my heart Lord,
And do with it what you will.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
In less than a week it'll all be over...
That's how I thought I would feel about this week...My last week of undergrad coursework...
Even going into this week...SWEET BEANS LAST WEEK OF STUDENT TEACHING...
Even arriving at the school on Monday...ok self just one more week here
but...and there is always a but...it is different...
Now, I know what you are saying...it is only Tuesday, how did you already change your mind?
Well ...
in less than a week student teaching is over.
In less than a week there is no need for me to be on this campus anymore (ok, well I mean I still have my job for the rest of the semester and household...but still my education will be over)
In less than a week I will finish what I have been investing literally more money than I have into
What I have invested four and a half years of my life to...scratch that seventeen and a half (can't forget kindergarten...well and preschool so make that eighteen and a half years)
EIGHTEEN AND A HALF YEARS of my life have been leading up to this Friday, the day I complete the coursework for my Bachelors Degree
In less than a week I will be done working with these students. I will no longer be considered a part of this school.
And in less than a week I will no longer have the opportunity to make impacts on the lives of these particular children...I can only hope that in some way I did. That in some way they are better off because of something, some tiny thing I have done. I can only hope that they know I love them, and I expect great things from them.
In less than a week I won't see their little faces every morning, and receive their little hugs, or hearts drawn on the back of their assignments for me. I won't be able to dry their little tears when they fall, or give them a high five for being good.
In less than a week I will leave this school that I have been a part of for three and a half years. I could not be more grateful for the experiences I've had here, and the faculty and the students who have changed my life. I hope to hear great things about them in the future!
Even going into this week...SWEET BEANS LAST WEEK OF STUDENT TEACHING...
Even arriving at the school on Monday...ok self just one more week here
but...and there is always a but...it is different...
Now, I know what you are saying...it is only Tuesday, how did you already change your mind?
Well ...
in less than a week student teaching is over.
In less than a week there is no need for me to be on this campus anymore (ok, well I mean I still have my job for the rest of the semester and household...but still my education will be over)
In less than a week I will finish what I have been investing literally more money than I have into
What I have invested four and a half years of my life to...scratch that seventeen and a half (can't forget kindergarten...well and preschool so make that eighteen and a half years)
EIGHTEEN AND A HALF YEARS of my life have been leading up to this Friday, the day I complete the coursework for my Bachelors Degree
In less than a week I will be done working with these students. I will no longer be considered a part of this school.
And in less than a week I will no longer have the opportunity to make impacts on the lives of these particular children...I can only hope that in some way I did. That in some way they are better off because of something, some tiny thing I have done. I can only hope that they know I love them, and I expect great things from them.
In less than a week I won't see their little faces every morning, and receive their little hugs, or hearts drawn on the back of their assignments for me. I won't be able to dry their little tears when they fall, or give them a high five for being good.
In less than a week I will leave this school that I have been a part of for three and a half years. I could not be more grateful for the experiences I've had here, and the faculty and the students who have changed my life. I hope to hear great things about them in the future!
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Catholics! Come out of your bubble!
So I have noticed something...
As Catholics, we just love to talk about evangelizing. We love it; talking all about how great it is to reach out to others and share the Good News (aka the Gospel)...well that's great and all, but how many of us actually do that? and how?
Ok, mission trips...they are great. Love them, really I do and I know that we need them. It is great to reach out to the hurting, and the hungry, and the lonely, and the poor. Mission trips are necessary for us to help those who need it!
Are there other ways to evangelize though?
I know what you're thinking...oh heck no I am not going door to door to try and sell my religion...and I am not asking you to.
I am just saying that I have noticed something about Catholics...we tend to stick together. We form little Catholic bubbles...sure we break out of them some times like when we go on mission trips...but what about in our day to day lives?
Helping those who are faithful to grow in their faith...ok a good place to start...
what about just being friends with other people.
Being friendly with someone who does not follow the Catholic faith is not a bad thing. You do not have to push your religion on them, you don't even have to talk about religion if you don't want to. Just to be a good friend can be exactly what they need.
But we are scared sometimes I think, to make friends outside of our Catholic bubbles. We are scared that they may pop our little bubble. We are scared that they may reject us.
It takes someone strong in their faith to be able to enter into the rest of the world, no doubts about that, but some people learn from example. Some people need that warm loving friendship...that unconditional love just in order to be open to the idea of following a religion.
Sometimes just being nice to someone is enough to get them to start questioning...why? Why are they being so nice to me? How can they find good in all this bad?
and then that starts the ball rolling...
As Catholics, we just love to talk about evangelizing. We love it; talking all about how great it is to reach out to others and share the Good News (aka the Gospel)...well that's great and all, but how many of us actually do that? and how?
Ok, mission trips...they are great. Love them, really I do and I know that we need them. It is great to reach out to the hurting, and the hungry, and the lonely, and the poor. Mission trips are necessary for us to help those who need it!
Are there other ways to evangelize though?
I know what you're thinking...oh heck no I am not going door to door to try and sell my religion...and I am not asking you to.
I am just saying that I have noticed something about Catholics...we tend to stick together. We form little Catholic bubbles...sure we break out of them some times like when we go on mission trips...but what about in our day to day lives?
Helping those who are faithful to grow in their faith...ok a good place to start...
what about just being friends with other people.
Being friendly with someone who does not follow the Catholic faith is not a bad thing. You do not have to push your religion on them, you don't even have to talk about religion if you don't want to. Just to be a good friend can be exactly what they need.
But we are scared sometimes I think, to make friends outside of our Catholic bubbles. We are scared that they may pop our little bubble. We are scared that they may reject us.
It takes someone strong in their faith to be able to enter into the rest of the world, no doubts about that, but some people learn from example. Some people need that warm loving friendship...that unconditional love just in order to be open to the idea of following a religion.
Sometimes just being nice to someone is enough to get them to start questioning...why? Why are they being so nice to me? How can they find good in all this bad?
and then that starts the ball rolling...
Monday, October 7, 2013
His intentions should be...
...to lead me to Heaven.
You know how in the movies a father will ask a young man "what are your intentions with my daughter?" Usually the answer is "I want to marry her sir, and I'd like to ask for your blessing."
Well I was thinking about this the other day, and on that day when my father asks that question of a man for me I wan a different answer.
I want his intention to be getting me to Heaven.
What Britt? You don't want the man to marry you?
Oh guys of course I do, I hope to one day be married, but listen, marriage is serious.
Marriage is a vocation; a sacramental vocation.
When you get married, you take on a very serious job. It is your JOB to lead your spouse to Heaven. When you get married, you are saying that you love your spouse. That you want the best for your spouse, and you care about them. It is not just a feeling kids, it is a serious desire for your spouse to have the best and to be their best.
I don't want my future husband to only want me to be happy. I don't want him to be all typical like "I want your daughter to be happy, and I want to provide for her."
I mean, those things are great and all I would LOVE to be happy all the time....providing for me financially? well that sure would be nice, but let's be honest it isn't necessary.
Now, providing for me spiritually...whoah! Seriously imagine it, a man wanting with his whole being that you, SPECIFICALLY YOU, make it to Heaven; wanting to make sure that you are filled spiritually. A man who wants you to know your Lord, and know His love...seriously guys I don't think it gets any better than that on this here planet.
You know how in the movies a father will ask a young man "what are your intentions with my daughter?" Usually the answer is "I want to marry her sir, and I'd like to ask for your blessing."
Well I was thinking about this the other day, and on that day when my father asks that question of a man for me I wan a different answer.
I want his intention to be getting me to Heaven.
What Britt? You don't want the man to marry you?
Oh guys of course I do, I hope to one day be married, but listen, marriage is serious.
Marriage is a vocation; a sacramental vocation.
When you get married, you take on a very serious job. It is your JOB to lead your spouse to Heaven. When you get married, you are saying that you love your spouse. That you want the best for your spouse, and you care about them. It is not just a feeling kids, it is a serious desire for your spouse to have the best and to be their best.
I don't want my future husband to only want me to be happy. I don't want him to be all typical like "I want your daughter to be happy, and I want to provide for her."
I mean, those things are great and all I would LOVE to be happy all the time....providing for me financially? well that sure would be nice, but let's be honest it isn't necessary.
Now, providing for me spiritually...whoah! Seriously imagine it, a man wanting with his whole being that you, SPECIFICALLY YOU, make it to Heaven; wanting to make sure that you are filled spiritually. A man who wants you to know your Lord, and know His love...seriously guys I don't think it gets any better than that on this here planet.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Sometimes the Triumph is in the Trial
I know what you're thinking....Britt, how can a trial possibly be a triumph?
ok, I hear you, a trial is a bad thing right?
well, no, not always...it is a challenge is what it is.
For example: math was never...I mean never an easy subject for me...let's go back..wayyy back to the third grade...multiplication? never stuck with me. nope...had to memorize those times tables three summers in a row. And I still need to review them before I can properly teach them. I never took algebra, but I took AP Calculus AB...tell me that wasn't a giant tear-jerking challenge...
but you know what? every time I was able to correctly solve a problem I felt like a million bucks! No kidding. Now if math came easily to me would that triumph be so great? No, I don't think so. I think part of what made me feel so good about finally solving a problem correctly was that it took so much effort.
Or English...maybe you're like me and writing at the high school level was not an issue. Turning papers in never left me with a sense of accomplishment...there was no triumph...because there was no trial. When I got to college, however, (ohhh look at the fancy use of the word however) ...when I got to college my classes were harder, and my professors expected more of me. Writing became difficult. I had to attempt to figure out just what it was the professor wanted from me...and the papers got longer and longer as I progressed through college...and it was THEN that I struggled with writing, and THEN that turning in 20-25 page, professionally written papers made me feel like a boss! Only after the trial did I get the triumph.
Do you see what I'm saying?
Or when I'm teaching...which is new for me, to actually be teaching instead of pretending to teach my peers who are pretending to be first graders...actually teaching is difficult. Some days I just hop on that struggle bus and ride it all day until I get home from school...It is hard when you can tell that your students don't understand something...partly because you've been there, also because you care about them and their grades, and also because you are being watched like a hawk and you really need these kids to understand something. ...Well I'll tell you what...after teaching and teaching and struggling and struggling...that day when they finally understand and they can tell you the right answer...is amazing...there is just no feeling quite like it...it makes the trial...the struggle...the hard work...worth it...the greatest triumph comes through the greatest trial.
Still don't get it? ok well here's something for all you theological/philosophical types
ok so free will...why do we have it? Right? people are all like why did God even give us free will? why would He let us make the choice to hate Him? Why wouldn't He just want us to love Him forever...well its kinda like the triumph being in the trial. Our love is worth more if we choose it. The trial? well that is temptation, the desire to live the "easy life" to choose ourselves over God and others...the triumph? when we do remember that God comes first and we choose to love Him. If we didn't have to choose love would it be so meaningful? No, no it wouldn't. Mandatory love is just not meaningful.
So do you see what I'm saying?
Without the trial, the struggle, the temptation, the sleepless nights, and the great amounts of effort, the end result is not a triumph. Without having to try, the success means nothing. When it really means something is when you have to work for it. When you have to put your whole self into what you are doing. And then when it is finally over, when you have finally won, there, that is the triumph.
ok, I hear you, a trial is a bad thing right?
well, no, not always...it is a challenge is what it is.
For example: math was never...I mean never an easy subject for me...let's go back..wayyy back to the third grade...multiplication? never stuck with me. nope...had to memorize those times tables three summers in a row. And I still need to review them before I can properly teach them. I never took algebra, but I took AP Calculus AB...tell me that wasn't a giant tear-jerking challenge...
but you know what? every time I was able to correctly solve a problem I felt like a million bucks! No kidding. Now if math came easily to me would that triumph be so great? No, I don't think so. I think part of what made me feel so good about finally solving a problem correctly was that it took so much effort.
Or English...maybe you're like me and writing at the high school level was not an issue. Turning papers in never left me with a sense of accomplishment...there was no triumph...because there was no trial. When I got to college, however, (ohhh look at the fancy use of the word however) ...when I got to college my classes were harder, and my professors expected more of me. Writing became difficult. I had to attempt to figure out just what it was the professor wanted from me...and the papers got longer and longer as I progressed through college...and it was THEN that I struggled with writing, and THEN that turning in 20-25 page, professionally written papers made me feel like a boss! Only after the trial did I get the triumph.
Do you see what I'm saying?
Or when I'm teaching...which is new for me, to actually be teaching instead of pretending to teach my peers who are pretending to be first graders...actually teaching is difficult. Some days I just hop on that struggle bus and ride it all day until I get home from school...It is hard when you can tell that your students don't understand something...partly because you've been there, also because you care about them and their grades, and also because you are being watched like a hawk and you really need these kids to understand something. ...Well I'll tell you what...after teaching and teaching and struggling and struggling...that day when they finally understand and they can tell you the right answer...is amazing...there is just no feeling quite like it...it makes the trial...the struggle...the hard work...worth it...the greatest triumph comes through the greatest trial.
Still don't get it? ok well here's something for all you theological/philosophical types
ok so free will...why do we have it? Right? people are all like why did God even give us free will? why would He let us make the choice to hate Him? Why wouldn't He just want us to love Him forever...well its kinda like the triumph being in the trial. Our love is worth more if we choose it. The trial? well that is temptation, the desire to live the "easy life" to choose ourselves over God and others...the triumph? when we do remember that God comes first and we choose to love Him. If we didn't have to choose love would it be so meaningful? No, no it wouldn't. Mandatory love is just not meaningful.
So do you see what I'm saying?
Without the trial, the struggle, the temptation, the sleepless nights, and the great amounts of effort, the end result is not a triumph. Without having to try, the success means nothing. When it really means something is when you have to work for it. When you have to put your whole self into what you are doing. And then when it is finally over, when you have finally won, there, that is the triumph.
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