Here’s some banter about my future.
The Suicide Note show was great. The amusement park at Darien Lake was a lot of fun also; I hope we can go again on Labor Day. I got sun poisoning or something but didn’t realize at the time. I was nauseous and dizzy during the sunniest parts of the day, and when I got home, I noticed I had a horrible sunburn. We were going to stop at Rite Aid for sunscreen before we went, but we were late and had to run. I feel so stupid because I know that it’s dangerous and accelerates aging and such… and I don’t want any extra freckles on my cheeks! 
The fall semester starts in 6 weeks and I’m actually really excited, even if it means the end of summer. I can’t wait to teach Social Studies, and I can’t wait to move back east to New York or Philadelphia where the demand for inner-city teachers is high. As a kid, I lived in housing projects in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and even southeastern Virginia. I moved from foster home to group home and back again. I went to “bad schools” in crip-infested areas, and I went to well-funded “white schools” in the Poconos, where stock brokers buy lake houses. I know the difference, and I think I could bring something unique to the table and maybe even make a difference. Justin laughs at me when I talk like this, but I’m serious. 
Somehow though, I think the toughest trials with teaching will not be with the kids, but with the administration…
Anyway, I always beat myself up over waiting so long to get in school, but I’m trying to get over it. I can’t undo the past. The fact is, I’m 21 and I waited 3 years to start my post-secondary education, instead of the 1 year I thought it would be. I’m ready to get started with “real life”.
Aww…I hope you feel better. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten sunburned like that, but I guess aloe and staying out of the sun helps. Bleh, I suck at giving advice for this kind of stuff. Shows how much I paid attention in health class.
Social Studies is a pretty interesting class, I guess. I just really hated World History with a passion, but our teacher was pretty decent. He let us watch movies like Gladiator and 300 in class because they were loosely educational.
I have to agree with you with the fact that the school administration, especially in my area, is pretty much a huge joke. For some reason, they’re willing to waste millions of dollars on a crappy new pointless curriculum and yet they aren’t willing to do anything to improve the buildings.
So yeah, good luck in school.
- Jenny
Good luck with everything! I am sure that you will do wonderful things once you become a teacher. My boyfriend is trying to be a teacher and football coach after he graduates also!
- Stephanie
Yeah, but the thing is…You’re still going. Who cares that you waited 3 years? At least you care enough to start. That’s the important thing, for real. I know kids who went straight out of HS and are wasting way more time than you did.
I’m glad you got everything sorted out. AND I’m excited for you too. :)
- Heather
My brother teaches in Brooklyn, in a less than great area, and he loves it. It’s scary sometimes, he was told not to go to his car during a certain hour becuase of gang stuff that was suposed to go down, but he also helps kids on a daily basis.
You have the determination to help. Don’t lose that!
- Mab
Good luck with school. I think I respect people who take time off after high school to really, honestly figure out a). if post-secondary school is right for them and b). what they want to study more than people who jump right into college after high school because it’s the thing to do (read: me). A lot of times I wish I would have fought my parents more on letting me take time off because I’m so lost as to what I want to study, what kind of job I want to hold, or even what makes me happy. It’s really frustrating thinking of all the money my parents have “wasted” just because they didn’t think it was a good idea to take a year off and I was so angry that I purposefully went to a school that cost a lot of money.
So, yeah, I like that you have a plan.
- Rachel
Hey Ashley.
I’m excited you’re starting school soon. Great job. I haven’t really talked to you in ages. We should change that, yo.
Anyway, good luck. :)
- David
Awww, Im excited to go back, school isn’t so bad at all when your doing something you love. =D Are you getting my emails? Just checking up and making sure x)
- Natasha
I know what you mean about the one year break, I did the same exact thing you did and I’m at the point now where I’m just like “on with it already”!
I don’t think it’s silly to think you can make a difference. When I went to school in Baltimore my counselor there made a huge difference in my life. One she’ll probably never know, but she made one. Just the fact that you want to make a difference means that you will. The people who really care and want to make the difference are the ones who do.
So I know you will. :)
- Ashley
By the way…new domain. :)
- Heathee
Came across your website via a fanlisting and I <3 it.
I hope all your wishes come true with regards about future teaching.
No worries, I started college right out of school and I’ve changed majors so many times…I’m going to be 2-3 years behind. I can’t wait for my “real” life either. Only time will tell! :)
See you around the ‘net!
- Emily
That sun poisoning thing, anything like heat exhaustion?
And I know exactly what you mean about the freckles, gah, I hate mine, I have always had them, hopefully they will dissipate as time goes by.
What grade’s are you going to be teaching?
A friend of mine is just about to start studying to become a primary school teacher, I guess you wouldn’t be teaching social studies to a bunch of 6 year olds though.
- callan
Thats too bad you got sun poisoning! I hate sunburns, and I always get them because I forget to put on sun screen >_<
Good luck with teaching, I’m sure you’ll be great :)
- Kelsey
Awww I’m sorry about your sun poisoning *cuddles*
I had a huge ass sunburn two weeks ago,it hasn’t even fully healed now,I’m pretty red.
Sounds exciting about the teaching,I feel kinda reminded of the movie Dangerous Minds right now :P
Well,good luck!
- tina