I don't even feel like the same person I was 2 weeks ago, boarding a small plane in Omaha for the unknown. After a week in South Carolina and now a week in Mississippi, I have grown leaps and bounds, and learned so much.
This past Friday I officially became Ms. Hoffschneider (Ms. H to my students). The first week was a crash course in lesson planning, community building, and behavior management. I felt like a sponge through most of the sessions, and now completely understand why there is so much emphasis on reflecting.
Growing up on a farm has certainly helped me this week, and not just with getting up early (my day starts at 5:00 am). The personal responsibility, work ethic, and perseverance will certainly serve me well in the classroom. While my students are significantly more intelligent than my show calves, I know that like the heifers, they won't always do exactly what I want.
I have always said that I treasure the culture in agriculture, and that is proving true with teaching as well. I love the people I work alongside as educators, and am extremely excited to meet my students on Monday. While our days might be long, they are infinitely more enjoyable because of the people I have met.
My motto for the summer is this beautiful quote by Elizabeth Elliot: "The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances". I've been complaining for the past couple of days since I discovered our classroom will not have air conditioning. This is the Mississippi Delta which means temperatures are significantly higher than Nebraska. This is only a minor inconvenience compared to the many struggles I know my students face, and the blessings I have been given. So with Christ in me, and a 90 degree classroom, I will set my focus on teaching and learning.
'till the cows come home,
Ellie
