Students, students, students!

Wow! I'm officially a teacher. I can't believe it! Do I love it? Absolutely! My students and I are having such an awesome time.

I wouldn't say that I was nervous for Day 1 of teaching, but it was really weird standing up in front of a class to teach for the first . . . umm 10 seconds! It was so amazing. I can't believe how much I'm enjoying it. Talk about loving your job, THIS IS IT! Of course lesson planning is annoying and grading countless papers everyday is a pain, but I love doing it because my students are awesome. I feel so incredibly blessed to be loved by them already. It's a mutual feeling!!

Third day of class, I had my Biology students write down "how they've seen God work in their life" for bell work. Just a quick tidbit on bell work, best way to ALWAYS have your kids come in the classroom quietly (the way it should be) having something to do. Back to the story. I felt like it would only be right to share how God has worked in my life since they were telling me how He's worked in theirs. I started telling them a little bit of my past as a student and what helped me to become successful, in school, and how I completely gave everything to God and told Him to show me what He wanted me to do, which led me to Yap. (Yes I just shortened the story so much, sorry.) I told them, "I can clearly see why God wants me here. He wanted me to come to teach and to love you guys and that's so easy for me to do with each of you. Then one of my boys raised his hand and said, "Miss, please stop! You're making me cry." I said, "I can honestly say that I love you guys and I have no idea how I'm going to say goodbye at the end of the school year." (Almost tearing up, of course) He says again, "Seriously Miss, I'm crying now. We love you so much." I had to let them know how blessed I feel to have them as my students. When I was in high school, I always had an attitude towards the "new teachers". I can't imagine what my experience would be like if they treated me that way. (Sorry to any "new teachers" that had to deal with my attitude.)

Friday afternoon I'm about to start algebra class. Everyone is sitting down and I walk over to my desk to retrieve my book. One of my students comes up to me and whispers really quietly, "Miss, I am so sorry that I don't have an apple (apples are SUPER expensive here) but I need you to pretend that you're going to high-five me."At this point I'm super confused, but trust him and pretend to high-five him. He puts in my hand two chocolate bars and says, "Don't tell anyone because I didn't bring any for anyone else." What a sweetheart, right?

A student that I invited to church comes into my classroom during lunch and says, "I really don't want you guys to waste gas on me to pick me up for church." I replied, "Are you kidding me? That is NOT wasting any fuel. I will pick you up and we will sit together at church. I want you to be there." "But Miss, I don't like when people do other things for me. I want to be able to do things for myself. I can't accept a ride." I said, "Look at it this way, God called me here to do everything and anything for you guys. That's what I'm doing right now. I have no other priorities besides my students (and God). So you can go tell God that you want Him to stop me from loving you guys." Finally he says, "Okay Miss, I really want to be there. I will accept the ride." It's so important for the kids to know that we love them so much and we would do anything for them but not because of who we are but because of who God is, in us.

Students from day 1 of my PE classes where so shocked to see that I was going to play some ball with them. We have been enjoying our time in this heat. It's still burning hot and we are constantly sweating, but I have to say that I think I'm pretty used to it.

Last one, I promise!! I gave out a Biology quiz on Friday and every single one of my students got an A. I was so proud of them. They have so much potential. I just want them to understand the abilities they have! These kids absorb things like a sponge. I couldn't ask for a better group of high-schoolers.

A huge thank-you to everyone for all the prayers, love, and support. It really means a lot. Just wanted to share SOME stories with you. Of course there are many more, but these were some of my favorites. I hope you enjoyed them.

To all my friends going back to college, good luck :) I am praying for you. Make this a great year. Be successful and always try your best. Let go and let God.

God bless you all.

Until we meet again,

Ivana