I think I speak for most people when I say that this year is not what we expected it to be. So much has happened this year that has changed some norms and aspects of society.

I like to plan ahead on most things, and honestly, part of me wasn’t sure I was going to be able to or want to celebrate my birthday.

But life has this funny way of working out exactly the way it needs to. So today, I want to acknowledge some of the things that have happened since my last birthday a year ago.

• In October of last year, I finally got my student teaching placement.
• I started student teaching in January of this year.
• Also in January, I was told I wasn’t graduating in May because some of my credits were not going to count (still a little salty about that one; I ended up getting it originally worked out to walk in May even though I wasn’t graduating)
• In March, my student teaching ended and I did not get to say goodbye to either my students or my cooperating teacher.
• Also around March, I found out that my graduation was moving from May to July.
• I finished and submitted my first thesis about baseball history in April.
• I got offered a job in the same district that I did my student teaching in May. (I accepted said job)
• In June, I found out that graduation was getting moved to October
• Early July, I finished my second thesis about Edward Porter Alexander (a Civil War artillerist)
• Late July, I had a party for graduation.
• Early August, I started Professional Development for teaching.
• Middle of August, I started teaching full-time (currently virtual).
• September, I bought a new to me car in my name with my money.

I’d be lying if I said this year had gone to plan. But as I look back, yeah it sucked, but I think it taught me a lot. And you want to know something else? I like where I am now. My job doesn’t stress me out, even as a first year teacher. I drive a car that I can easily afford, but is still a major step-up from what I used to drive. I wrote not one but two 20 page papers in about six months.

I don’t know what the future holds. I’m not psychic. But I know that life is going to work out as it’s meant to. The way I see it, you can either resist the change or do your best to adapt to it. I don’t know about you, but adapting to the changes life brings is often the much easier and better option.