The Next Chapter...

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.