It was April of 2003. Eight college choices were widdled down to two. A decision had to be made that afternoon. The front runner included taking general education classes, tuition-free, for a semester and then becoming a Nittany Lion. The other candidate was a school discovered only through a college version of e-Harmony. In the span of five minutes, and for no explanation other than teenage, female flightiness, I completely changed my mind and bounded downstairs to announce, "I changed my mind. I'm going to Millersville."
It was August of 2007. I was an unemployed college graduate armed only with a diploma and a conviction that God was planning to provide a job in close vicinity to my church, despite that the available jobs that I qualified for numbered 2. Two weeks before school was slated to start, I received a call for an interview from a school that I never applied to.
It was June of 2011. My final class was lined up, ready to leave my classroom for the start of summer when I told them I had an announcement to make. "I wanted you all to know that I had a wonderful year with you, and I am proud of each of you for how you've grown as fifth graders. You have made my job a real joy. I do want you to know, though, that I will not be here next year." After the jaws dropped and the "What?!"s had subsided, I explained my plans and received twenty-six truly precious tear-filled hugs. After having made the speech to twenty-four groups of kids, I was relieved to finally be done with it.
I was truly blessed to have taught in such a fantastic school district during those four years. My administrators were supportive, my co-workers were helpful, my music department was incredible and close-knit, and the students were the most amazing kids you'd ever meet. It was not without it's hardships or stress, but the fact remained that it was a great job and I loved it.
So why on earth would a seemingly rational person sacrifice this gem of a job, particularly in an unstable economic market? In short, it is because God has proven that He has a plan to use the musical giftings He has provided me with. At length, well, it is precisely the reason for this blog. Let's witness God's faithfulness together, shall we?
