First Day of Grad School!!

Well, we're NOT in Kansas anymore ladies!  The first day of grad school was terrifying!  The best analogy I can concoct is that the first day of grad school is reminiscent of the first day of middle school. You go in feeling like a pretty confident and secure 6th grader...then you see all the "other, older 8th grade girls"and you freak out inside.  All these girls are older than you.  All these girls are more mature than you.  All these girls have more experience than you.  And suddenly you are transported back to walking through the doors at Delran Middle School wearing your Scooby-Doo overalls in a sea of actual teachers who are married, have children, actual careers and lives.  They pay big people bills, wake up early to feed their children, and have far more worries/cares/fears than I do.  Sooooo, what is one to do during the first day of 6th grade grad school?  CLING TO YOUR FRIENDS FOR DEAR LIFE!  I've said it before and I'll say it again, the girls in my cohort are seriously the best people in the world.  Truly the face of NJ teaching is blessed to have these women.  Truly the most caring, generous, creative, hilarious, sweet people of all time.  So my friends and I all huddle together in the back of the classroom.  We all exchange anxious glances and sideways eyes and get ready to buckle up because it's going to be a rough ride.  

The atmosphere was completely different than my regular undergrad classes at TCNJ.  In our regular classes the atmosphere is jovial and light and 22.  Last night's class was fun but more mature.  I have the feeling that no one will be bragging about their weekend being too rough in this room.  There was fear coursing through our veins last night.  Legit fear.  Not like my fear of rodents or cats, but real fear.  A fear that makes you sit up and realize that you don't know an ounce of what these people know.  

This class will make me work.  REALLY REALLY REALLY WORK!  I'm not saying that I don't work my butt off now, but I will be working harder than I've ever worked before.  It's usually pretty easy for me to get an A in a class but I have a feeling that I'm going to have to work overtime/extra long  and hard to get the kind of grades that I want.  

Our professor is awesome.  She is very knowledgeable and approachable but tough.  I know that I will learn an insane amount from her and I am blessed for that.  I also know that I will know what it means to work hard after having her as my professor.  She gave our class a very strong talking to and bestowed upon us a great amount of responsibility.  I'm sure this speech is given in 10000000's of classrooms and lecture halls around the globe and I know it's just to separate the girls from the women but it was still scaryHORRIFYING.  We had to do an activity with a partner, luckily my partner was my friend (phew), and our prof handed us a paper with 12 boxes on it.  The boxes all were filled with legal jargon and requested more concentrated answers then we knew.  We knew the meat and potatoes just not all the trimmings.  Everyone else seemed to know exactly what she was referring to.  The SPEDs just looked around like "holy crap, what have we gotten ourselves into!"

I am still excited about grad school, but I have my reservations about what it will actually be like once syllabus week is over.  Oh Lord I'm scared already and it's only syllabus week!  God help me the rest of the semester!  LOL  So long story short, I'm terrified but in a good way.  I still love my program and know that this is the best possible career path for me.  I am excited and can't wait to be a teacher.  I know that passing through this scary grad class full of real life grown ups is just a stepping stone towards being Dr. Erin Kitley, EdD.  I keep repeating Dori's mantra...Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming. 

xoxo,

Er

My 2013 New Year's Resolutions!!

Since 2013 has been here for 11 days I can say with full confidence that I think this year will be a FABULOUS one!!  (Actually I have no idea what this year will be like but I believe that if you put positivity out there you will get it back.  So here's hoping!)  I have never been the kinda girl who makes outlandish resolutions because I will most likely definitely not keep.  Last year my NYR was to save all of my change and cash it in at the end of the year.  I actually stuck to this resolution and saved about $300.  I was very impressed!!  Mostly I credit this to the change I receive from my daily caffeine fix of a medium coke with no ice.  

So here are my resolutions:

1)  Save my change!!

2)  Donate every month to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

3)  Run

Reasons:

1)  I am a huge shopper and I think that I need to save my money.  This is a quick and easy way to make sure that I save my money.  

2)  I love the idea of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.  Deserving families can sign their children up for Imagination Library and every month until the child turns 5 the child will receive a new book.  This facilitates reading, imagination, sequencing skills, etc!!  It's a great charity idea!

3)  Run...I hate running.  Running sucks.  I only run when I'm being chased by a murderer (which has never happened) or I'm running towards a sale (which happens all the time).  But running is good for you, blah, blah, blah.  I can run I just get bored easily and I'd rather read a book while riding the stationary bike.  In order to keep my motivation for running high, I'm getting new shoes!  They're hot pink leopard Nike running shoes.  I love new shoes and I'm hoping this motivates me!

XOXO,

Erin

Why Denzel Washington Should Be Andy Reid's Replacement

     
     Soooooooo, with Andy Reid graciously leaving (I agree that we need a change but I will be sad that he's leaving.  He's an iconic person in Philadelphia sports' history and deserves that much respect.  I wish him all the best with his future NFL endeavors.) the Philadelphia Eagles are in search of their next coach.  I have taken it upon myself to help narrow the selection for Jeff Lurie.  Here are my top 5:

1) Denzel Washington
2) Coach Beast
3) Matthew McConaughey
4) Pat Summitt
5) Rudy Ruettiger


I think Denzel is our safest bet.  Here are my reasons

1) Geography:

Denzel's son goes to UPenn.  Therefore he's already in the area/knows the people/gets the vibe of the city/MOST importantly he knows how nuts Philly Phans are!  WE BLEED GREEN!


2) Acting Cred:

Denzel has played everyone.  Literally EVERYONE!  He was a Civil War Hero in Gettysburg, a gangsta, a pilot, fairy-tale voiceover, and he even filmed on location in Philly for Philadelphia.  He's been nominated for numerous Oscars and Golden Globes.  He's perfect.  He will study up and be ready come Training Camp.  


3) Football Knowledge:

We ALL saw Remember the Titans.  He coached TC Williams' High School to a winning season.  He overcame adversity, racial divides, lack of skill/talent, personality conflicts, and violence.  He's a great coach.  If he just channelled Coach Boone he would be GOLDEN!!  He also is tough as nails!  His "If you drop my football, you run a mile!" quote is amazing and so inspirational.  Also, training camp would be a blast!  I think the Eagles should interview each other to get to know each other better.  So Cute!!  Also, Ryan Gosling will tap dance.  The Rev and Louie will duet.  All of this is just perfect and not something they have ever done before.  #Yourmamajokesrunwildpuuuhhhllleeeeeze


4) Built In (Trustworthy) Staff:

Hayden Panettiere, as Cheryl of course, could be our new announcer.  

Coach Yoast is a great Assistant Coach!

Louis Lastik, great high school lineman, plus he has a great personality!!  Philly girls will eat him up!  And Geno's will be glad that he's here!  And since I doubt he will be reprising his role as Frankie in the upcoming and much anticipated (and feared) Girl Meets World.  He could be O Line coach!  



5)  Ryan Gosling

I know that I don't really need to give anyone a reason why Ryan Gosling is an additional bonus main reason that Denzel should come coach the Birds. In my mind, they are clearly friends, like besties status.  Ryan will want to come to support his main man Denzel.  Therefore Denzel will bring Ryan to Philadelphia and make every woman in the tri-state area swoon and happy.  The living embodiment of the Ryan Gosling memes in our very own backyard!  EEK!  


Okay people, so while the Philadelphia Phans are waiting with bated breath, I just want you to let this idea roll around in your phanatical minds.  Denzel is our guy.  The remaining cast of Remember the Titans can feel free to come along, too.  Because I think they are stronger together than apart.  


xoxo,

Er