Job interviews

I have another job interview today.  It's one of many in a long, drawn-out series of interviews for the Spanish Immersion "pool of applicants" as they call us at Portland Public Schools.  I went to 7 interviews last year, and all that time and energy and nervousness resulted in - no job.  I'm sure it was because I was pregnant and no one wanted to hire me and deal with the issues that come with a teacher going on maternity leave.  I've been bitter about it, but now I can see that although it has been a financially difficult year, I was blessed by not having my own classroom.  A classroom comes with many obligations and responsibilities, and often long work hours.  This past 7 1/2 months have been by far the most difficult months of my life, as you well know.  There were many days I didn't have the strength to go to work, and many days that I went, but my heart and mind were not invested in what I was doing.  I am thankful I didn't have a classroom full of kids and parents depending on me this year.  As a substitute, I just show up, manage crowd control for the day, and go home when the kids do.  It's a good thing I didn't have to do much more than that.

So, now I'm ready for my own classroom again.  Today's interview is the most important, and the most nerve-racking.  I have to go sit in front of a panel of school principals and teach them a lesson - in Spanish, followed by a 30-minute interview in English, followed by a 30-minute written assessment of my Spanish.  If they approve, then I will get called in for interviews with schools throughout the summer, and hope one of them likes me enough to give me a job.

Here I sit, preparing for my day and praying for calm nerves.  I am good at what I do as a teacher, I am qualified to do it, and the only reason I am feeling nervous is because I have to get up in front of a bunch of adults and do what I do in front of children every day.  I am praying for confidence and peace.

I found this today, and it helps.

"I pray that God, who gives you hope, 

will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him.  

May you overflow with hope 

through the power of the Holy Spirit.  

~Romans 15:13

Selah.