Energy

As I sit in my car listening to Drake's song "Energy" It reminds me of how important it is to protect your energy and the type of vibes you let into your life! People are always going to talk and have something to say, but you have to be strong and confident enough to know what to value and what not to value. Constructive criticism is different because although we may not want to hear it, most times we could benefit from it. When someone is constantly coming at you negatively, and rudely. You can simply just ignore them! That is SO much easier said than done. But If you let every little negative comment or action into your positive thoughts than you will start to become negative and bitter, making you no different.  In Drake's song he says "I got enemies, I got a lot of enemies, got a lot of people trying to drain me of this energy." I know a lot of us can relate to this, you're living a positive life or trying to and then someone or some people come along trying to drain you of all your positive energy. Thats where being strong comes in so that you can block any negative thing that you don't want in your life. Positive thoughts lead to positive actions. People hate to see you doing better, especially better than them. We all fall short at times and no one is perfect but you shouldn't feel sorry for anyone because they're not living up to their best potential. Unapologetically be your POSITIVE self and keep it moving! :)

Good Karma

There are going to be people who dislike you and may even express that they hate you, but do not let them drag you down to their level. If you are a good person, stay a good person. How people treat you is their karma, and how you react is yours. Stay positive and stay you! When people are always nasty or mean towards you extend your kindness to them. You never know what someone may be going through or experiencing in their life. There are three reasons why people hate you 1. They see you as threat. 2. They are not too happy about their own life. and 3. They want what you have.  Thats why its SO IMPORTANT to motivate other women and encourage them! Find your God given purpose and flourish! We are all unique and powerful in our own way and I think its actually a beautiful thing when a woman is unapologetically herself! Be Bold, Be brave, and go take the world by a storm! Comparison is the thief of JOY! God made us all uniquely different so don't go comparing your accomplishments and materials to the next person because 9/10 God isn't done with you yet and your time is coming! It can be hard to extend kindness to someone who hasn't been good to you, but what about the times kindness was extended to you and you weren't so loving? Not saying you got to trying to be everyones friend but words of encouragement or a smile is sometimes all people need to make it through the day. Moral of the story Be genuinely good to people, even those that hate you. It'll bring you Good Karma and it gives you a peace of mind, instead of thinking how to ruin someones life how they tried to ruin yours.

ALL Circumstances

No matter what you are experiencing in your life. You should always praise and embrace God! Trust him even when he says NO! A lot of us never want to hear "NO" especially if its something we really want or THINK we need! But TRUST GOD, he will never steer you wrong and he always has your best interest in heart. If he is telling you NO he is saving you for/from something or maybe his no is really a "Not right now." Whatever the case is, Have Faith and trust him! You might not understand what he is doing but when he delivers, you will be amazed and speechless over the plans he has for your life. At times we think to small and settle for less than we deserve or what we think we deserve. Know that God already has great plans for your life that sometimes goes beyond what you believe you are capable of and when you make your own and try to follow your own plans he only lets you get so far before you mess up your life. TRUST HIM! God gives even when we don't deserve and that is something to always be thankful for! 

Strong Women

Be strong, you never know who you are inspiring! Don't be ashamed of your story because somebody somewhere needs your knowledge and wisdom on the same situation ;) 

Have a Great week and be motivated to stay strong for not only yourself but for others!

Respect is Eternal

Never be so desperate to hold on to someone or something that you let go of yourself and your dignity in the process- Unknown

Respect will always last longer. All attention isn't good attention! You can sometimes lose not only yourself but your dignity going against your morals and values trying to get some attention for the wrong reasons. Be you, and give people something to respect!   

“Once you figure out what respect tastes like, it tastes better than attention. But you have to get there.” - Pink Reassurance that respect is way better than attention. 
Its important as not only human beings but as women to always seek respect! Of course we love attention, hence our instagram's and 2000 selfies in our phones, but we must know that doing stuff to try to get peoples attention or trying to get people to notice you isn't always the best thing to do. 

When someone respects you they see you as a genuine person, it doesn't matter what your background is, what your mistakes are, what color you hair is, etc. As long as you are a woman that seeks respect people will love you for just being you and not trying to change for attention. Respect is much deeper than surface level, when people respect you it isn't about the car you drive, the jewelry you have on, or how much money you have, its about the person inside. 

Attention can hinder your reputation where as respect can heighten it. Attention leaves you temporary satisfied, its different with respect, once you're gone people will only be able to talk about your reputation and the legacy you left behind. Not sure about you, but I would most definitely like to be someone that people respected versus someone who always wanted attention like crack addicts need their next hit. 

You crave attention, but you wont have to crave respect. People usually want attention from those who pay them no mind and will go above and beyond to get it.  Once you have someones respect its hard to lose it, unless you just mess up in a major way. With respect you can build trust off that and relationships become stronger. 

Happy people go way further in life than temporary satisfied people! Be You, seek respect and live a happy life! 

Staying Inspired

It's been a while  since i've posted something! I came across this quote the other day and I instantly thought I have to do better !

This quote is so true! Day after day I say "oh i'm so tired and exhausted I don't feel like studying or researching things for more knowledge" but could it be that I am simply uninspired? Think about it, if you wanted it as bad as  you said you did being tired wouldn't stop you from trying to better yourself. I myself am looking for ways to stay inspired no matter what, and I would love to share with you all my findings! 

I think the number one rule to staying inspired is Focusing on what makes you happy!; its so easy to get caught up in your daily routine at work which will make you feel in a rut! but I believe that doing things that make you happy will keep you inspired and happy!  You could write down 10 things that you are thankful for,  you can set time aside to relax and watch your favorite TV show or simply read your favorite book/magazine. Make sure that your desk, room, and work area are tidy, Keeping those places tidy will also give you inspiration and energy! 

Another way to stay inspired is to Keep Learning; spend time browsing the internet, reading, and brainstorming. Anything to perfect your craft and better your abilities! 

Finding people who have similar goals or who want change as well will also help you to stay inspired! there some things that are better when you have others around you pushing you and setting examples for you. For example my friends are TheBomb.Com! Just by being the strong women they are inspires me to be a better me. Its like we all just want to be better women and better leaders! Having a support system to inspire you daily is great! 

Something that should inspire you and keep you inspired is doing something that aligns with your purpose in life! If you walk in your purpose you should know that everything will fall into place and everything will turn out great! you might hit a few speed bumps along the way, but if it is Gods intended purpose for your life you should jump out of bed every morning ready to do work for him! Along with the things I've discussed above about staying inspired here are a few more; be realistic, be thoughtful and stay focused! its so easy to get off focus with so many things going on. Get a sticky note, write goals or something positive and post it on your mirror, on your wall, or your computer somewhere that you will look everyday before you go to sleep or when you wake up, that will be your daily reminder to keep going!

Things I Would Say to My Younger Self

• ILove yourself unconditionally 
• Happiness comes from within 
• You are enough
• You are beautiful 
• Someone else success doesn't stop yours
• Dedication and hard work in life are essential 
• Stay focused
• Failure is okay, its how you bounce back that matters
• Another woman is not your competition 
• A man DOES NOT hold your worth in his hands

 These are just a few of the things that I wish I would say to my younger self! As humans we are so unique and different in our skills, abilities, and talents its actually amazing! There are things that people go through at such a young age, that will have an affect on their social life growing into the pre teen, teenage, and even adult years! The younger me was severely insecure, I always looked at other girls and thought "why cant I be pretty like them", "why do I have a mark on my face", "Why am I so thin". If I can say anything to my younger self it would be definitely to love yourself flaws and all unconditionally, never let anyone make you feel less than, never let anyone make you feel insecure. Once you love yourself unconditionally and you accept your flaws, nothing and I mean NOTHING will be able to shake you! People will talk whether you're doing great or you are at your lowest; however that is their problem not yours! Be so secure in knowing who you are that negative words go in one ear and out the other. Everyone wants to just be genuinely happy, in order to be genuinely happy you first have to love yourself and then you must do things that make you happy. Don't do things to impress other people, don't look for validation in a man, your job, your friends, etc. Look for happiness within yourself, only you can control that! A man does not hold in worth in your hands, I feel that is important especially for little girls with out fathers in their life looking for guidance. Just because a guy doesn't choose your over another girl or he says negative things to you all the time doesn't mean you aren't worthy of the love you want. It doesn't mean that the girl is better than you or that he is right, it just simply means he was looking for other qualities than what you offered him and that he has some issues within himself he needs to work on. Comparison is the thief of joy! How can you live a happy life if everything good that happens to you, you look at the next person and see what they have and ask why don't you have it? Just BE YOU, Someones success doesn't stop yours! I personally feel like everyone's definition of success is different, so what one person claims as success, may be different that yours. Also with success comes failure! Failure means you're trying, just because you fail does not mean its the end of the world. Ive failed soooooooooooooooooo many times its unbelievable, but I get right back up with the same enthusiasm ready to attack my goals. Another woman is not your competition!!  I think I need to repeat that.... ANOTHER WOMAN IS NOT YOUR COMPETITION!! So many times throughout middle and high school I thought I always had to one up certain girls, but that gets you no where but drained and miserable. The only person I'm competing with now is the person I was yesterday, or maybe even 2 seconds ago!! I also try to uplift women, especially younger girls,  all the thing that  young girls and women have to deal with, the last thing I want to do is make it harder on you! Lets uplift each other and lets all make it! We can actually learn from one another what I lack someone might be great in, teach me and i'll teach you. We all win! I believe that whatever you go through in life, you should not let it make you bitter! I think everything should make you a better person! If you're a good person you will always remain a good person, whether your a good person or a bad person shouldn't change based on peoples actions! How people treat you is their karma, how YOU react is yours! 

Drop Every Fear

fear

ˈfir/

noun

1. 1. 

   an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

There has been so many things that I put off, and didn't follow through with because of Fear. Fear was the reason I switched majors. Fear was the reason I took Human Anatomy 3 times in college. Fear was the reason I took the Praxis 3 times and didn't pass. Fear if you let it will stop you from achieving goals and living out your purpose. Don't create your own prison of fear caring what other people think of you. How do you see yourself? What do you think about yourself? Thats all that matters.

So many people go through life living inside of their comfort zone because they are afraid of what will be waiting for them the moment they decide to step out of it(that WAS me). I am still evolving and learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. I believe that my purpose is to help, love, nurture, and be that listening ear for the younger generation. If you are walking in your purpose, what could you possibly have to be afraid of? You are doing God's work so be confident! Step out of your comfort zone, do those things that everyone said that you couldn't. Do NOT let fear stop you from walking head up, shoulders back through your purpose. Looking back on the things I once feared; If I would've asked for help sooner, or worked a little harder instead of making excuses I wouldn't have had to change my major. If I would've studied harder, went to class everyday and actually took anatomy serious I would've got a B the first time I took it and not the 3rd. I will not dwell or live in regret because those things that I was once afraid of are my testimonies; They make me who I am today. It gives me wisdom and knowledge to minister to others, that whatever you tell yourself you cannot do, you will not do. But if you walk in faith you and talk to yourself in a positive manner, you will overcome everything you once doubted yourself about!

Fear isn't a forever thing, you can overcome fear, you can kick it to the curb. Write down all of your fears and next to them write down how you will overcome them. Its time to stop living in your comfort zone, go out there and do amazing things! Be BOLD, Be BRAVE, Be COURAGEOUS. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, mistakes are proof that you are trying. Humans make mistakes, although some people act like Perfect Patties, we all have made mistakes. What happens after the mistake matters most; will you learn from it so that you don't make the same one, or will you just keep making the same mistake over and over making it a choice.

Fear is keeping you from growing! The moment you step out your comfort zone and stop living in fear you will see so much growth within yourself! Everything you want is on the other side of fear! Don't let it hold you back!

Becoming More Like Ducks

People always ask how I am able to stay calm and positive through obstacle after obstacle! Not only is my faith in God getting stronger with every valley; but I simply "Act Like a Duck"  When I think of this quote I think of the Duck and how rain beads and runs off the ducks back! They don't let the rain get them down, they don't go sit in on a pity party because its raining, they are still pressing forward, because progression and goals are only ahead of us, we won't find them behind us or being complacent. Let the rain from those rainy gloomy days roll off your back and keep pushing forward! 

Remember that the Rainbow comes after the rain, we all need a little rain in our lives every now and then. Gloomy days are okay, mistakes are okay, bad days are okay! You need those in your life so when you see the next person going through the same situation, you can help them and minister to them. Be the person that loves to help others up off the ground because you've been there before and you know whats its like and how much you needed someone to help you up. 

A Duck is also smoothly moving across the top of the water, what you don't see is how hard the Duck is moving underneath the water! It is not easy to keep calm with everything seems to be going wrong, I know naturally you just want to fall to the floor, throw a tantrum and wait for someone to come pick you up and tell you everything will be okay. Well heres the thing, for every brick wall you hit; there won't be a person there  assuring you that everything will be alright. Sometimes you just have to pick yourself up and keep pressing on! ACT LIKE A DUCK, I'm sure the Duck faces many obstacles but that doesn't stop a duck from working so hard to reach its destination(Goal). There will be times when you want to give in and give up, but DONT. You will lose focus of your goals worrying about obstacles and issues which causes you to paddle aimlessly instead of paddling to progression! Living aimless in life is definitely dangerous, you don't know where you're going, where you want to go, or even who you are at that moment. So stay on track, set goals, stay committed and stay FOCUSED! Never let an obstacle take you out, instead keep pressing forward and working so hard that you have no choice but to succeed and make people wonder how you did it with so much adversity thrown at you! 

Its Time to be like Elsa

Everyone is familiar with Elsa, if not she is the star in the movie frozen and all the little children love the song "Let it Go" I believe that in life there are several things that you will have to let go of to live a positive and healthy lifestyle.

The first thing that I believe you should let go of is things that are out of your control. There are some things that you can control and then there are those things that you cannot control. You can't control how people are and what they do or don't say. You cant control how they treat you, but you can control how you react. Trying to control things that you cannot control is very unhealthy. You become frustrated, angry, bitter, and upset at things that you cannot control. When you should focus on those things that you can control, focus on the positive things, focus on the things that matter. You control your attitude and your outlook on things in life. Things  that you think you control that you cannot are simply holding you back in life, let them go and you will feel so much better! You will feel like you are floating on clouds. 

Let go of the past. Yes everyone has a past, everyone has been through quite a few things I assume. you can't sit and mope and dwell in your past and all the bad things associated with it. What you can do is let go of the past and focus on the future, focus on becoming a better you, focus on making better choices, focus on not making the same mistakes again. Although  in life I want you to know, its okay to make mistakes, mistakes are proof that you are trying and that you are learning. Whats done is done and there is no changing that, let your past make you BETTER not bitter! 

Let go of Life expectations and frustrations. You can create your own reality I truly believe in that. But some people have this picture in their mind based off of society on how their life is supposed to be. I want you to know that if you expect something that is not in Gods plan for you, thats  a failure waiting to happen. Ask God to order your footsteps and walk in faith.  Of course we all have goals that we want to accomplish, the frustration comes when you don't complete those goals in the time frame you wanted. Ive been there before; actually several times. I just believe that what I wanted, wasn't meant for me, at that time! Whats for you will always be for you and it will not pass you by. 

Just LET IT GO!! Be happy, being happy takes effort! Be you, accept your past and move on, don't let anyone hold you to the person you USE to be! Improve yourself everyday.  Let go of things you cant control or they will control you in a negative way.

Communicating Effectively

I believe that this is one of the most important things to learn while teaching behind connections and relationships. It all goes hand in hand, if you connect with your students and form relationships you will learn how to effectively teach and talk to them. I noticed that when I get frustrated and use a high voice with my 2 year olds they don't really listen or they just run versus when I get down to their level and tell them that what they're doing makes me sad or that their friends are upset by their actions. Then Ive noticed they will take a different route and go read a book or do something quiet.

I have the links to a few articles below that I loved about communicating with your students!

• http://www.weareteachers.com/blogs/post/2016/01/12/how-changing-the-way-you-talk-to-kids-can-change-your-classroom-culture 
• http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/NEA_E-BookFall2012.pdf
• http://www.educationandbehavior.com/get-your-students-motivated/

I hope these articles help you out in same way that they've helped me!

Habit is what keeps you going

People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily. - Zig Ziglar 



Getting motivated is never the problem, staying motivated is. I know this from experience, I think of something and all the possibilities that come with it, I'm extremely motivated, then days later I'm like whatever. I have to agree with Jim Ryun when he says "Motivation is what gets you started, Habit is what keeps you going" Your habits and decisions make you who you are and who you will be. Make it a habit to think positive, make it a habit to read more, make it a habit to think and do things that will elevate you higher. Motivation comes with change, it doesn't have to be all at once, it can be slow and gradual but it has to be done. 

I wanted to share with you some things that keep me motivated throughout the day! 

1. The Confident Woman Devotional App by Joyce Meyer.
 This app taps into things that trouble women daily, it helps you to realize that you are a strong, confident woman and that you must first love yourself. It gives you daily tools to address and solve problems. I have had this app for almost 2 years and I believe that it is amazing! I check it every morning for inspiration to start my day with positive thoughts. Every lesson can be applied to anything you are growing through, whether it be intimate relationships, family/friend relationships, or a relationship with yourself. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/confident-woman-devotional/id404880310?mt=8

2. The Sprinkle of Jesus App
 I recently downloaded this app and I instantly loved it! It gives General, men, and women alerts. They pop up randomly throughout the day and it is very inspiring and encouraging http://www.sprinkleofjesus.com

3. Eric Thomas
Eric Thomas is a motivational speaker, I follow him on Instagram and his post are always encouraging and makes you want to get up and grind like no other. His story is also amazing, he doesn't forget where he has came from, or what got him to where he is today! He uses that as his platform and people love him for it! Follow him on IG if you want to fill your newsfeed up with Inspiration. He also has his own website where he has tons of stuff to get and keep you motivated
http://etinspires.com

4. Reyna Biddy 
I just so happened to stumble upon her twitter account one day and fell in love with the words she wrote. She has her own book out now called I Love My Love. She inspires women to love themselves so deeply, that you will never accept less than you deserve. She lets you know that its okay to be hurt, but its not okay to stay hurt, she talks about her hurt and how anyone can get through a broken heart. She also uplifts and encourages women, if you're looking for something to help you gain your confidence back or to start loving yourself more; follow her on her social media sites and you won't be disappointed! 
@DearYoufromWe (Twitter)
@ReynaBiddy (IG)
@Reyna Biddy (tumblr)

Whenever I'm feeling discouraged or not motivated I made it a habit to take time out and seek encouragement and motivation from the apps and people listed above! What are your habits that keep you going?

You Are a Queen

  "Think like a queen, a queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness"- Oprah Winfrey 

This is totally off subject of the usual education posts, but I believe that every girl/woman should know that she is a queen. 

As Oprah said failure is another stepping stone to a greatness, just because you fail at something dosent mean that you give up, you fail at something and you get right back up and keep going.  

Not every girl is told that she is beautiful or this she is a queen when she is younger, and even if she is; sometimes society takes you by the hand and makes you think otherwise. In every woman there is a queen. First step to being a queen is loving yourself! Love yourself so deeply that when someone else comes along trying to love you, you won't settle for anything less than what you deserve. You should learn to validate yourself because if not you will be searching for validation in every person you meet. I believe that a queen embraces her flaws and uses those as stepping stones to create a better version of herself. Flaws are okay, society, peers, and people in general will have you feeling like if you have flaws you're nothing. Thats negative, I believe that flaws are what you make them, you can dwell in them, you can try to change them, you can embrace them and accept you for who you are and move towards a better you. Flaws are probably one of the biggest weapons that you will have thrown at you, so accept them ahead of time and it won't phase you when others bring them up. A queen doesn't try to compete with other queens, we are all different and unique in several ways. As women I think its stupid that we (I've been there) try to put other women down as if we aren't all defending ourselves against the same stereotypes everyday. Uplift one another and encourage one another to show more positive images of women, rather than whats been portrayed on reality TV and social media every second of every day. There is nothing wrong with encouraging and congratulating another woman, I promise it won't block your blessings or make you any less of a woman. 

 

As a queen you should know that you are enough and change any thought that says you aren't. You are GOOD enough, you are SMART enough, you are STRONG enough, and BEAUTIFUL enough. I believe that a queen believes in improvement, yes we accomplish goals and we grow through tough times, but Im a strong believer that there is always room for improvement, not for the next person but to be better than you were yesterday, or even 2 seconds ago. A queen should put God at the center of everything she does because as Psalm 46:5 states "God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day." Whatever you put out into the world will come back to you. A queen should put positive vibes, words, and thoughts out into the universe and all those things will come back to you.  you may already know these things, or maybe you don't; this is a reminder to wear your invisible crown.... every day!

Connections and Relationships

I believe that connections with your students should be the most important goal as teacher. There is a saying "You can't teach what you don't know and who you don't know" You should make it a priority to get to know each one of your students on a personal level. Even as a two year old teacher, I know what makes every one of my kids happy, sad, angry, or any other emotion. Children respect you more when you show that you care about their well being! You learning your students, gives them a chance to also learn you and what triggers your emotions. When you try to give commands or demands to a child that you haven't earned that trust from, its harder to get through to them because they don't feel safe and secure just yet; I see that daily.

Show your students that you care ask them about their morning, how was their weekend, what do they like to do, do they like music, what do they like to play. All those things can even be incorporated into your way of teaching to grasp and keep attention. 

You always want to treat you students with respect. You get what you put out, so if you give respect you will receive it in return. Don't be so quick to always yell, use a kind voice with them. Speak to your students and address them by name or nicknames. Make them feel good about themselves, of course you don't want to be a pushover but try not to always point out the bad in students. There is something good to be said about each student. When they get something right, praise them and let them know how proud of them you are. I believe that every child wants to hear those words; "I am proud of you" is more powerful than you think. I listened to a podcast( Talks With Teachers) on those 5 words and it was very inspiring. With my two year olds when they do something right I tell them to kiss their brain and you would think they just won the lottery how happy it makes them. You have to instill intrinsic motivation in your students, as teachers you have such a huge impact on your students so make it a positive impact! You also never know what a student is dealing with at home, another very important reason to build relationships. They might not get encouragement and positive vibes at home, so while at school its crucial that they get all of that plus an education. Getting to know your students also means you get to know how they learn. Of course every student won't learn the same way, and you might not be able to incorporate each way in one day but try to do one learning style a day; Im sure it will be super beneficial. 

Learn your students, then you can teach them!

Have Faith

      So as mentioned in my first blog post I was once an education major discouraged by the PRAXIS test. The PRAXIS test is the standardized test that you need to pass to become a certified teacher. Whether in an alternative certification program or an education major. I took the test 3 times while an education major and fell short all three times. I started to question if teaching was even my passion, if it was purpose. When I switched my major, although I was interested in Public Health, it did not give me that fix that education did. I felt like I was just going through the motions of being in college.  When I graduated I told myself that I would focus simply on passing all three sections of the PRAXIS test. I made time to study but I really wasn't studying with going right into a full time job and having to deal with the real word, I put it on the back burner. I was praying for something that I wasn't working for. 

          One day I went into work and realized that, where I am is a great place to be in, at this time in my life, but I do not want to be here this time next year. So I registered for the test and signed up for the date November 14th, I bought the PRAXIS CORE for dummies book, I set study times and dates. I took the test and impatiently waited for my scores. When I finally received my scores I was 2 points away from the passing score. I became discouraged again, asking questions as before. A couple of days later one of my best friends had received an email saying that she was accepted to Dental school. That itself was motivation for me, to know that things that we prayed and talked about while in high school and college are reality now. 

         I registered for the test again, taking it on December 31st. This time I studied the book, I downloaded the PRAXIS app on my phone. I prayed and told myself that whats for me, is for me and it will not pass me. I spent hours on multiple choice questions. I spent my break going through multiple choice questions. I was really committed this time and it paid off.  I got an email late last night saying my scores were available, I was so anxious, my phone on 1% percent I logged in and seen that I passed the writing section! I give all praise to God, because through him all things are possible! 

Stay focused on your goals and stay committed to them. Don't give up, just because it looks like work. People often compare their story to someone elses, you can't do that. You don't know what they've went through to get to where they are now. You don't know how hard they worked or how dedicated they were to make things happens. You can't expect overnight success, its all a process. Keep God in the center of everything, work hard, pray, and have faith. You can't lose! 

Perfecting your Craft.

I've recently been looking for ways to become a GREAT teacher. I've been listening to  different Podcast channels, reading blogs, and my favorite reading books! All those things are good but I am more of a hands on person, so I decided to look up education conferences to attend. I found three conferences that look like great opportunities. 

1. Teaching and Learning Conference 2016. 

( http://www.teachingandlearning2016.org )

 March 11-12th in Washington, D.C.

2.  ASCD Annual Conference

( http://annualconference.ascd.org )

 April 2-4th In Atlanta, Georgia. 

3. The 13th Annual NAREN conference 

March 16th-18th in Baltimore, MD. 

( http://narentranzed.org/lodging/)

If you are a aspiring teacher, a student, and of course a certified teacher you are welcome to attend! Look more into them and figure out which one best fits you; but you should never stop learning! Learn new ways to connect with your students, Learn new ways to engage them. Don't be afraid to ask for help and always be willing to perfect your craft. 

Different Routes; Same Destination

You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight- Jim Rohn

There are several routes to one destination, you have to be open to those routes and keep your faith. My sophomore year in college I struggled with passing the PRAXIS test, which I needed to pass to go to the next step in becoming a teacher. The deadline to apply for the teaching program had passed, I had not passed the PRAXIS test and I was discouraged. I started to ask around about different routes to get to my goal. I received several answers and solutions but I had to do what best suited me. From fear of wasting money on classes I simply did not need. I changed my major to Health and Human performance with a concentration in Public Health Education, graduating in May 2015 with a Bachelors in Science

I was told I could go through the ACES program through JCPS to get my teachers certification, or I could get my Masters in Education and become a teacher that way. I decided to pursue the ACES program and learning more about it, I felt that it was for me. I began to look at the PRAXIS test again and decided to take the sections one at a time, that way I can focus on one thing at a time and really study that section. I am currently waiting on my scores from the writing section of the test.

Just because its traditionally done one way, doesn't mean you can't go on and do it another way! I encourage anyone that is feeling discouraged about your journey, your destination or a test.  Pray about it and then work for it! You can't expect results for something you simply did not work for. If you know that you are walking in your purpose then you have to keep your faith and know that God will guide your footsteps to your destination when it is time for you to reach it, and not a second earlier. You go through things that enhance everything that you are, so embrace doing it differently, and know that with God by your side you can accomplish anything!

For those wondering what the ACES program is, I am attaching two links that go more in depth on it.
http://www.jefferson.kyschools.us/Programs/mcconnections/docs/ACESInfoSheet.pdf
http://www.jefferson.kyschools.us/Programs/mcconnections/docs/ACESBrochure.pdf