Time for an Update!
The last week or so has been more eventful than most. Last Tuesday I had my Interview Day for TeachLSUS. It involved 5 minute teaching samples by the participants, a group discussion, a writing sample, and a personal interview. For the most part I thought it went okay, although I didn't finish my writing sample and there were some questions during the personal interview that I didn't really know how to answer. Like, what would you do if you had an unruly class (I don't remember the exact phrasing), and what would be the benefits of teaching in an underpriveledged school. They probably didn't like my answer to the question, "What will you do if you're not accepted into this program?" I said I would go to graduate school... in mathetmatics.
Saturday, I took the Praxis II, the Mathematics Content Knowledge test. It went well, except, of course, the part where I had to be there at 7:30am and couldn't sleep the night before. I may have missed a few questions, but I'm certain I passed.
Then yesterday, I got a letter saying I was not accepted into TeachLSUS. I was pissed. I mean, I'm definitely qualified for the program, and I was doing the highest need area, and I have a really strong background in that area. I think it's stupid that they didn't accept me. Now, I admit that I've been really nervous about this teaching thing and worried that it might not be right for me, but I do think I'd be a good teacher. And I definitely know my shit. But I guess they don't want math teachers who actually know math. No, that's just crazy talk.
So, I have no idea what I am going to do with my life. I definitely want to go to grad school, but that requires getting into grad school, which I'm not so certain about (it didn't work before, when I was applying before the first time I was supposed to graduate). And I would still need something to do with my life between now and Fall 2009, which is the earliest point I would be able to start any PhD program since it's way too late for this fall and for most places you have to enter in the fall. I need to find a job. A real job. A job that involves using my math degree.
In other news, my guinea pig died last Wednesday. Tuesday night I'd noticed she wasn't feeling well. When I walked towards her cage she didn't run and hide in her "house", she just lay there. There was also blood in her cage. I was really freaked out. She was still alive but obviously feeling awful. I held her for a long time then cleaned her cage, then held her some more. When I woke up in the morning she seemed to be feeling a bit better. I spend some time with her then made her a vet appointment for 3:15pm. I took my mom to the doctor then we had lunch then when we got home, Zoe was dead. I had no idea I would be as upset as I was when Zoe died. I had her for over four years, so she was getting up there in age, so I knew it was coming. And when my mom and I were out I suspected that she might be dead when I got home. I was still really sad. I kept myself busy the rest of the day. I cleaned all of her stuff. We buried her. Then I spent the rest of the day rearranging my room. I vacuumed a lot but I'm sure I'll still be finding bits of guinea pig food and hay for a long time. I found some in my bed the other day even though I'd washed my sheets since then. My mom found someone through some yahoo group she's on to give Zoe's stuff to. So, it's not around here anymore, for which I am glad. And I'm glad someone else could find it useful.
Otherwise, I've been doing well. I'm taking Real Analysis this semester and it's probably been one of my best experiences taking a class because I've made friends with most of my classmates. (And I also love Real Analysis.) This having friends things has been great. It's amazing what just a small amount of socialization can do. I don't really need that much and I do enjoy my time to myself, but when I have none at all I get incredibly lonely. And it was bad when I only had one friend who never talked to me. I'm a little sad that the semester is almost over (one more class then the final). I fear that will be the end of my social life for awhile.
So, I think that's about it for now. Except: 18 days until Radiohead! :)
Saturday, I took the Praxis II, the Mathematics Content Knowledge test. It went well, except, of course, the part where I had to be there at 7:30am and couldn't sleep the night before. I may have missed a few questions, but I'm certain I passed.
Then yesterday, I got a letter saying I was not accepted into TeachLSUS. I was pissed. I mean, I'm definitely qualified for the program, and I was doing the highest need area, and I have a really strong background in that area. I think it's stupid that they didn't accept me. Now, I admit that I've been really nervous about this teaching thing and worried that it might not be right for me, but I do think I'd be a good teacher. And I definitely know my shit. But I guess they don't want math teachers who actually know math. No, that's just crazy talk.
So, I have no idea what I am going to do with my life. I definitely want to go to grad school, but that requires getting into grad school, which I'm not so certain about (it didn't work before, when I was applying before the first time I was supposed to graduate). And I would still need something to do with my life between now and Fall 2009, which is the earliest point I would be able to start any PhD program since it's way too late for this fall and for most places you have to enter in the fall. I need to find a job. A real job. A job that involves using my math degree.
In other news, my guinea pig died last Wednesday. Tuesday night I'd noticed she wasn't feeling well. When I walked towards her cage she didn't run and hide in her "house", she just lay there. There was also blood in her cage. I was really freaked out. She was still alive but obviously feeling awful. I held her for a long time then cleaned her cage, then held her some more. When I woke up in the morning she seemed to be feeling a bit better. I spend some time with her then made her a vet appointment for 3:15pm. I took my mom to the doctor then we had lunch then when we got home, Zoe was dead. I had no idea I would be as upset as I was when Zoe died. I had her for over four years, so she was getting up there in age, so I knew it was coming. And when my mom and I were out I suspected that she might be dead when I got home. I was still really sad. I kept myself busy the rest of the day. I cleaned all of her stuff. We buried her. Then I spent the rest of the day rearranging my room. I vacuumed a lot but I'm sure I'll still be finding bits of guinea pig food and hay for a long time. I found some in my bed the other day even though I'd washed my sheets since then. My mom found someone through some yahoo group she's on to give Zoe's stuff to. So, it's not around here anymore, for which I am glad. And I'm glad someone else could find it useful.
Otherwise, I've been doing well. I'm taking Real Analysis this semester and it's probably been one of my best experiences taking a class because I've made friends with most of my classmates. (And I also love Real Analysis.) This having friends things has been great. It's amazing what just a small amount of socialization can do. I don't really need that much and I do enjoy my time to myself, but when I have none at all I get incredibly lonely. And it was bad when I only had one friend who never talked to me. I'm a little sad that the semester is almost over (one more class then the final). I fear that will be the end of my social life for awhile.
So, I think that's about it for now. Except: 18 days until Radiohead! :)