As many of you know, I graduated from Missouri State
University on May 17 with my Bachelor of Science in Education. Let me just say,
it is an awesome feeling to be done with school. My plan was to enjoy my summer
– get married, help out at the youth events, hangout with friends, you know,
the usual – and then I would get a teaching job and start my first year of
teaching in August and eventually finish my Master’s Degree in Literacy. That
was the plan and I was set that it would happen.
As the weeks passed, I wasn’t hearing from any schools. I
eventually got one interview, but they ended up going with people who had more
experience. Surprisingly, I wasn’t really upset because I had been praying A
LOT about getting a job. I got to a
point where I felt very content with whatever happened and I had peace knowing
fully that God would provide when the time was right.
Weeks went by and nothing new came my way. I began praying
that God would show me if I was supposed to be doing something else. I had no
clue what I would even want to do, except teach in a school. After a few weeks
of prayer, I really started to feel a pull towards working with kids with
Autism. I had been babysitting two families who have autistic children for two
years and had really fallen in love with the kiddos and working with them. One
of the families happened to be looking for a new behavioral therapist. I kind
of pushed it aside, but it kept coming back up in my mind. Many things happened
within the next month that I believe were clear signs that I should pursue my
passion for working with kids with Autism.
So, with all of that being said, I am happy to say that I
will be taking a job as an Applied Behavioral Specialist. I am so excited for
this new learning experience in my life. I have to admit, it is a huge step of
faith to start a career that I was not planning. I have committed to the
families and if I were to get a call about a classroom job, I would have to
turn it down and that was hard for me to swallow at first, but I am trusting
that this is the path God has for me right now and I am so excited. I am excited to get to know my kiddos better and to help
them become the best that they can be. I am also excited to have a more
flexible job schedule so I can focus on making my marriage Christ-centered and
being able to help support Chris in the youth ministry.
