Old Year Out/New Year In: Resoultions and more

Every new year people reflect on how the past year has gone and make up New Year’s resolutions. This year, I’m doing the same. While all of the events this year weren’t necessarily ones that could be called positive, they were there just the same and I had to live through them.

Last January, I was fresh out of college. I had graduated in December of 2007 and was waiting for my diploma to come in the mail (which wouldn’t happen until February). I was somewhat regretting my refusal to walk across the stage in the winter commmencement ceremony. (What if I got into an accident or something and couldn’t walk across the stage later?) I had decided to wait until May of 2008 so I could walk with more people I knew and get to graduate at the XL Center rather than in the university gym. I spent the month of January taking a much needed vacation from anything I considered “work” and only pulled about 10-15 hours a week at my part-time job as a sales associate in the shoe store in the local mall.

February was when I decied I had done enough partying and lounging around. I began to job search in earnest and two potential jobs literally fell into my lap. The first was information one of my Japanese friends sent me concerning teaching jobs overseas and a very accessible looking open position. The second was a job at the middle school where I had completed my student teaching requirements. The permanent building substitute had found a new job and there was a vacancy. After a few days of phone tag, I was able to speak with the vice-principal. I was interviewed and given the job since I was familiar with the students and school system already. As the permanent building sub I just had to come in each day and I would either already have an assignment for the day or would be given one. I started the last week of February and made my official debut as a college-educated, working citizen and a teacher. (Valentine’s Day was exceptionally nice this year as well. My girlfriend and I celebrated our third year together.)

March through May was rather tumultuous. I was getting used to my new job and realized that with more cash I could get what I wanted when I wanted it. I decided to forget about any real budgeting until after April. I went to Maine the weekend before Saint Patrick’s day for a friend’s birthday. I even visited the beach and stuck my feet into the water! I recieved my teaching license in the mail when I came back. In April, ended up going to the Sakura Matsuri, better known as, the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. with my girlfriend. I took great photos and ate lots of delicious food and was spoiled by the luxury of public transportation. May was when I walked across the stage and officially graduated in my own eyes despite having had a diploma for nearly three months prior. Finally, I got to spend some bonding time with my younger brother before he took a three week study abroad course in Japan as I had done in 2007.

June brought the end of the school year. I had been guaranteed my job as the building substitute for the 2008-2009 school year. I also got a job as a creative writing teacher, assistant ballroom dance instructor, and the assistant residency director for an multicultural arts and technology summer camp. Also, my girlfriend’s sister gave birth to a second beautiful, baby son.

July was dedicated to the summer camp, but was puntuated by a birthday every other day. I was happy to celebrate my birthday and reflect on how far I had come along. I met many amazing and talented people. August was my earned summer vacation and I practically lived at the beach for two weeks.

September through December was filled with a flurry of events. My best friend, whom I’ve known since 1995 when we both entered middle school, was married to another equally amazing individual in October. I started working on CV’s, resumes, essays, and applications for graduate school. I quit my job at the shoe store in December to make more time for the application process.

Aside from trying to discover a niche for myself I went to more funerals than I would have liked to I lost count after the fourth one to be honest. So, I end the year feeling successful, apprehensive about where I’m going next, and feeling nostalgic about some faces I’ll only see in photos and my dreams.

I strive for a 2009 year that will bring me change, new adventures, deepening relationships, new things to learn, and maybe a 400 mile move away from home. I’m just as worried about the economy and current world events as everyone else. I also feel a somewhat lost and overwhelmed by all the choices I have and all that has happened, but I’m ready to move on to new endeavors.