A+little+about+me!

===My name is Rachel - It took me almost a year to finally jump into this program. I emailed a Lamar counselor so many times I can't keep track asking "are you sure a NON-teaching, teacher can really do this degree". I kept being told yes, but for some reason was still unsure. I decided I should just leap and see what happened. My husband and I are connected to St Louis while he attends Graduate school for four years and from 2008-2010 I was in charge of one of Concordia Publishing House's St Louis Bookstore locations. I love my job, co-workers, and manager. I am learning so much that can relate back to teaching! Retail is a major lesson in human resources and management! Late Summer 2010 through Summer 2011 we are living in a "large" Nebraska city where my husband is completing a year long internship. While here I am still on the CPH staff roster and help out at our Seward location from time to time. My proximity to this location allows the manager to have days off here and there when I come in. While here I am volunteering several times a week in a first grade classroom. It is such a joy to be around the children once again. I also obtained my third state teaching certification here in Nebraska (Texas and Missouri are the others) and substitute when needed. I often say substituting can be harder than having your own classroom because you have no real control over the kids and no none of their day to day procedures. I also teach Sunday school with First and Second grades. Despite not teaching I am surrounded by students on a weekly basis and it keeps me learning. When we move back to St Louis I will continue to run the St Louis Bookstore for 2011-2012. I have found a wonderful St Louis career home, but I miss teaching terribly. Obtaining my degree will allow me to keep current in technology (or gain more knowledge compared to what I do know now), keep my Texas certification valid, have an edge when applying for jobs back in Texas (hopefully), and become a "Master" at something before my husband. That last one is only for fun. I'm proud of him for his four year program too! My mind is overwhelmed by the vast amount of neat things technology can offer for students and teachers now. What's //your// story?===