So what kind of person would I be if I didn't include this lovely writing piece in this post?! Well, my friends, it's your lucky day because I'm going to include it! In my english class, my teacher, Mrs. LeFevre, gave the assignment to write about what our lives would be like ten years from where we were currently at. I was 15 at the time that I wrote it and hence, wrote about what my life would be like at age 25. This writing piece has really struck me because my life has not gone according to my 15-year-old self's plan. I'll be honest, it bummed me out a little bit just because I wished I had attained some of the goals I listed as being fulfilled in my 25th year of life. I still have two years to fulfill some of those goals, but boy, do I have some catching up to do! Haha! You'll see what I mean after you read the piece. This writing piece has shown me that life doesn't always go as planned. We can set goals. We can plan, plan, plan, but when it all comes down to it, only God knows where we'll go and where we'll end up. He knows when we'll succeed just as He knows when we'll fail. Despite Him knowing these intimate details of our lives, our knowledge of what our futures hold does not change. It is so pivotal that we set goals for ourselves and that we have dreams for our futures. I know that even though my 23-year-old self hasn't quite accomplished the things I thought I would when I was 15 and looking toward the future- despite that, I know that I can do whatever I dream possible. Walt Disney once said, "If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse." Surely, Walt Disney never imagined that his dream of creating an amusement park for wide-eyed, curious children would turn into the Disney World we know today. All of our choices, all of our goals, lead us to something great. I truly believe that. We may not become the next President of the United States or travel to the moon in a rocket ship, but we will leave our imprint on the world somehow. What will you be remembered for? That is a question I think I ask myself everyday or at least, think of often. It is my hope that I will never lose the hope I had in myself as that 15-year-old freshmen girl had nearly ten years ago.
Okay, enough blabbing. Here is the piece of writing entitled, "My Life."
Looking back on the past ten years of my life never ceases to amaze me. I have come so far and accomplished so much in the past few years. I still reflect on my graduation ceremonies from both high school and college from time to time. Oh how meaningful that time of my life was! It holds such a special, tender place in my heart. I can still remember the numerous emotions of excitement, optimism, and hope for a good future that I felt at each of those ceremonies. I remember the look of approval and praise on both of my parent's faces at both my high school as well as my college graduation. They were so proud of me. They had such high hopes for me in life- encouraging me to always do my best and to strive to do anything to achieve my goals and fulfill my dreams. As I look back on all of those years, I realize that I have not, to this day, disappointed my parents or myself. In fact, I have gone above and beyond my expectations in achieving my goals.
Today, I'm a 9th grade English teacher at Hempfield High School, the high school that I had the privilege to grow up in. I am a 25-year old graduate of Brigham Young University, the college of my dreams and I am married to a wonderful husband, whom I met there. I have two beautiful children- two boys. They are adorable. I love them so much! It was always a dream of mine growing up, to have a big family. Up to this point in my life, that dream is coming true. I am 3 months pregnant with my third child (NOW DO YOU SEE WHY I SAID I HAVE CATCHING UP TO DO? LOL). My husband, my children, and myself lived in Provo, Utah for about a year prior to moving back to Pennsylvania. We decided to move to Pennsylvania when my husband had a job transfer there. I was fortunate enough to find the job I did in teaching at the school.
As I stated earlier, I am a 9th grade English teacher. English has been my favorite subject since my freshmen year of high school. I always found it to be interesting and exciting. It was in my freshmen year of high school that I decided to be an English teacher. This year is my first year teaching. I have enjoyed every last minute of it. It has given me such a great sense of achievement and a great satisfaction to not only teach teenagers, but also to see them excel and learn how to grow in English. I don't think that there is any other job in the world that could give me such a feeling of purpose as English does. I am so grateful to be doing what I have always dreamed of doing. I have always wanted to teach students as I was one taught; to instill in them the attributes and qualities that my teachers did in me. What a wonderful feeling it is to be able to do that!
Not only have I been able to attain the job of my dreams, but I have also been able to have the family I have always wished for. As I stated earlier, we have a third child on the way, and are extremely excited, awaiting its arrival. My husband and myself are doing very well financially and are saving necessary funds, which will be needed when the new baby arrives. Currently, my family lives in a beautiful house. It reminds me of the house that I grew up in. It has similar rooms and is decorated in the same fashion. My husband has supported me in everything that I do since I first met him. He is such a caring man. My sons are also great kids. They have the close bonds of brotherhood. It is very rewarding as a parent to see such a close relationship between the two of them.
In my spare time, when I am not pregnant, I enjoy doing sports. I take pleasure in: riding my bike, running, swimming, doing aerobics, lifting weights, etc.. I made a pact with myself a long time ago, when I was a teenager, to never allow myself to get "out of shape" as an adult. When I am not exercising, I enjoy: spending time with my husband and family, scrapbooking, playing the piano, reading books, etc.. My number one priority is spending time with my family. They are more important to me than anything on this earth and I would do anything for them.
When I think of myself ten years ago, with all of the many dreams and hopes that I had for myself, I find a great sense of achievement as well as happiness in all of the goals that I have accomplished for myself since then. I worked hard to be the person that I am now. All of the hours that I spent studying and doing my homework paid off. I am glad that I can look back on that time and have no regrets. I lived life to the fullest then... I see no reason in doing it any other way now.
Even though I'm NOT: married, pregnant with a third child, teaching English at the high school I attended, living in a beautiful house like the one I grew up in, completely staying true to my pact to "never get out of shape," or drumroll please... playing the piano, I am happy with where I have ended up thus far. The important thing is that I had goals when I was a 15-year-old teenager and I will continue to have goals til the day I die. Goals really do guide our lives and shape us into what we become. This piece of writing has inspired me to make new goals and I think that I just may write a new letter to myself to read ten years from now. We'll see where the wind blows me by the time another ten years breezes on by. Heck, we'll see where the wind blows me by the time two more years go by. After all, that would mark ten years since the time I first wrote this writing piece. Wherever I am and whatever I am doing in the future, my ultimate goal is simply to be happy and surrounded by the people I love.
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