The Power of a Decade

It's really amazing how much can change in a year, let alone ten. First of all, this post is inspired by the fact that 363 days ago from tonight I was on an airplane to Iceland, which would eventually turn into France. I remember them telling us at our orientation last year that this would be one of the best years of our lives. I doubted them for some stupid reason. (I really do know better.) But it was, by far. I can't believe how different I am now from the me I was in September 2010. I mean I'm still the same in so many, nearly every, way. But so many more things have been added to my repertoire of things to learn and do in life. In the spirit of change, and since we were all recently well aware of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I want to just take a look back at how much a year, and how much ten, can change you.

2001: Ten years ago, I was beginning 9th grade. I was just a couple weeks into my first French class ever, and it was really the beginning of life as I know it. I don't know life anymore without French. And I don't know life anymore without 9/11 having happened. I mean, I was 15. I hadn't even been in an airplane yet, so I never knew any different.

2002: Nine years ago I was starting high school. I'd just gotten my driver's license less than four months ago, and I got my first job three months ago. The job I STILL have.

2003: Eight years ago I began college. No really. I did PESO in high school, and it was such a good choice. Okay so it wasn't like college college, since I was still at the high school for most of the day. But it was the start of my college transcript.

2004: Seven years ago was the beginning of my senior year. It was my last year playing my clarinet, and, you know. Senior year is senior year.

2005: Six years ago I finished high school and had just returned from France for the first time. My eyes were being opened! And I was being sucked in! September I moved out of home for the first time, to Eau Claire. I lived with a roommate for the first time and I was a little bit homesick for the first time ever. I craved Leeann Chin every day and learned how to ride public transportation on my own. Or at least learned how to learn how. I began to appreciate home so much more and looked so forward to returning.

2006: Five years ago I was moving in with a new roommate, decorating my dorm room to it's greatest potential, and preparing to go to France to study abroad. I was about to meet some people who ended up being some of my best friends for life. By now, I'd had my hair short for nearly a year. (And it's finally, now in 2011, longer than it's been since before then.)

2007: Four years ago this September, I was starting my observations in French classes in Eau Claire schools. It was my semester to officially decide whether or not I wanted to be a teacher. I got my mom's car this time of year too, because I didn't know I'd need one for this class.

2008: Three years ago I was about to start block, the super master learn-everything-about-teaching-possible-without-being-an-actual-teacher class at UWEC. That winter, I did my assistantship in high school French, had my first super panic attack with my car in the winter, and finally knew what a true vacation was, as I'd just taken the coolest trip ever that summer.

2009: Two years ago from now, I was three weeks into student teaching. It was only the beginning of the most exhausting 18 weeks of my life. I hope I will never be that tired again. My dad had also been gone for eight months at this point, and I was just adjusting to my new adult life without him. But I kept plugging away, and I'm so glad I did. I learned so much that year. I'd also traveled by plane on my own by this time, and I was discovering how wonderful it was to travel alone. Really, I was learning the power of alone.

2010: One year ago today I was a recent college grad and had a few months of substitute teaching behind me. And boy am I glad I did. I was about to embark on the biggest adventure of my life, and I wouldn't change a thing if I could. I had no clue what I was about to get myself into (well, actually I kind of did), and I was so naïve to everything I was about to experience. But I warmed up to it reeeeal quick.

2011: Today I am working my dream (with a few exceptions) job. I have the job I wanted the day I started taking French and decided I wanted to teach it. I got what I wanted. Each of those years was so critical to leading me to where I am now. Today I am changed. But look at how those ten years developed into my life now. TEN years ago I made the choice to take French in junior high. And look where it got me. :) I just returned from a year away, and I have a whole new set of goals and places I want to visit now, thanks to that year.

If I can change that much in one decade, just imagine what another decade will do. By 35, I should be completely changed from who I am today, ya think? It's hard to believe more changes are still to come!
Today I got an email from Fabienne saying there's not going to be an English assistnat at Lycée Georges Colomb this year. That makes me very sad. Even after she already knew the name of the guy who was supposed to be coming. She told me back in June! I'm wondering why though. Did he change his mind? Did the school change its mind? I hope I wasn't so bad that they don't want another one! (I know that is not actually the case.) I wonder what I would do if they asked me back. Well I know I wouldn't take it. I love where I am too much. But it would be the most heartbreaking thing because I would do practically anything besides give up my current job to go back.