the final days

tonight we had a cookout/bbq for all the pre-service teachers graduating on friday. FRIDAY! i still can't believe how quickly not only this semester, but my entire college career has passed by. they say "savor every moment" and i'm starting to feel the truth of this statement more and more. i read this quote on one of the VT memorial boards (large, wooden boards placed on campus for people to sign and share their thoughts) that stated...

"yesterday is a memory.
tomorrow is never promised.
but today is a gift,
that's why they call it the present."

our days are numbered and each day is a gift. i'm not sure why i was one of the lucky ones to be away from campus on that fateful day, but i was. and i was protected. and i was safe. this makes it even more important for me to pursue my dream and follow my passion. each day i have to be a teacher is a privilege. each life i have the privilege to touch is a gift. i praise God for the opportunity to be here today and surrounded by people that feel the same way.


these girls are amazing, each in their own, special way. some have the patience and energy to teach the youngest of ages while others have the capacities and desires to teach the older grades. everyone in our cohort has her own strengths and abilities. however we all have something in common: we desire to teach children, to touch our future, to make a difference in the world. whether the difference is in the form of learning the colors or learning the parts of a plant, we all desire to better our future by creating futures for our students.

Paige, Elizabeth & Heather

Kristie & Me

*NOTE: can you tell that i've spent my last two weeks off in the sun?!

playing taboo!
(such a fun game!)

Abby & Me

(this girl has gotten me through my student teaching;

i don't know what i would have done without her!)

and of course, emmy had to come along, too!

i know it's awful lighting, but this is the only shot i had of everyone at the bbq!