As with everyone else, I’ve encountered a plethora of challenges in my life. I’ve handled some better than others, but I’ve managed to survive no matter what I was facing or dealing with.
Probably being a divorced mom of three children (at the time ages 3, 5, and 7) and deciding to go to college was one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever faced. I wanted a job that would provide for us in the long haul, so I earned my BA teaching degree in elementary education with a psychology minor.
When I accepted my first teaching position, it was for students with special needs in a small, rural school in the far southeastern corner of Colorado. I went to school three summers in a row to earn my MA in teaching students with special needs.
From there, I went on to get my principal’s license, a superintendent’s license, a special license to be a school psychologist, and also a Director of Exceptional Student Services license. Later, I returned to the classroom as an English and history teacher. I retired eight years ago.
I’d say I faced the challenge of providing for my three children in a way that set them on a positive road toward their own successful and productive adulthoods with their own children, and I overcame all the obstacles along the way.
I recently had this discussion with my oldest son. He told me what he appreciated most about how he grew up was that I taught him (and his sister and brother) resilience. He said he is instilling resilience in his girls (ages 10 and 8), because if you are resilient, you can overcome just about any challenge that life hands you.
But, because I’m pretty much irreverent about everything, and this post was a little more serious than I’d intended, I’ll leave you with this thought on resiliency.
Resiliency according to Monty Python:
“‘Tis but a scratch…”
Until next time,
Kaye Spencer
writing through history one romance upon a time
This is a great story, a big journey of how you kept going farther and farther in your career. Yours is my favorite that I’ve read so far in response to this prompt 😉
Thank you. 😉 I did keep going and going. I had planned to go further with my education, but life circumstances interrupted and it was time to step back and retire. I don’t regret retiring early at all.