"stay gold, ponyboy. stay gold."

I loved teaching. For 7 years it filled my days and nights and weekends and summers. Despite what some may think, teachers work far more than a 40 hour work week. (And to all the people who "can't wait" for school to begin again after having their kids home during the summer -- teachers spend 9 months with them :) I've always said that if you go into teaching for the summers "off", you'll never survive. But this is not my point.

For 7 years I taught junior high English. I had a few high school classes in the mix as well -- AP Lit, American Lit and Oral Communications. Junior high was my main focus though. Junior high kids are so great. Seriously. They really are. Sure, they may have had their moments, but don't we all? And not only do I love junior high, teaching English was really the best. At one point I wanted to be a math teacher. Then I was going to be German teacher. By the time I started my second semester of my sophomore year in college I finally decided on English. And I am so glad I did. I got to do so many things with my students: grammar, poetry, plays, speeches, skits, creative writing, research writing, debate, reading. The list could go on and on, those are just the first things that came to mind. I've even benefited from everything. Except maybe one...

For 7 years I have primarily read books written for junior high students. Don't get me wrong, I could be happy reading books written for young adults for a long time. I mean come on, "The Outsiders", "Where the Red Fern Grows", "I am David", "Out of the Dust", "Fever 1793", "The Hunger Games", "Harry Potter". I could go on and on.

But I need to remember that I'm not a young adult anymore, I'm 31. I should probably be able to pick up a novel written for people over the age of 15 and enjoy it, not feel like I am trudging through every page.

And so I begin a new journey. It's funny because while I am trying to challenge myself in my reading I am also becoming reacquainted with picture books. I can already recite a few. My days are spent getting my brain to go between "Big Bird Brings Spring to Sesame Street" and "The Poisonwood Bible". I'll let you know how I keep up.