Teacher Table Talk: God, Why Did You Open This Door?

Have you ever had one of those moments when you pulled your car ever so slowly into the parking lot outside of your job, and as soon as you parked, you sat for a while and either thought about calling out sick or straight up wanted to pull off right after you arrived? Well, that was me around this time last year. Almost regularly.

I was working as an academic advisor and a communications specialist and while I was making an okay living, had great health benefits, worked with some cool colleagues, and was able to afford my essential needs and some wants, I felt broken, discontented, and discouraged inside. I dreaded going to work every day. And I was mentally and physically drained from the hostile work environment I was in. I also grew weary from working on new job applications and interviewing for different positions I wasn’t getting. It seemed like things were never going to change. Plus, with a global pandemic added to the mix, things only got worse before they got better. So, I endured and kept working, praying, and applying and interviewing for new jobs. And nothing was opening up.

At one point, I thought about bagging groceries at Food Lion. For real. It would have been a major change of scenery, and I’m certain I would have taken an enormous pay cut, but at the time, it was a move and sacrifice I was willing to make. I could wear a mask – hide my real facial expressions, help customers bag their groceries, and do it all in peace. I knew my days were numbered where I was, so I thought I can always work somewhere like Food Lion. I know that sounds like an odd option for an English major, but my mind went there. And then the unexpected happened.

I was contacted and interviewed for a teaching position I’d applied for mid-summer, and it wasn’t a position I thought I had a full chance at getting. Deep down, I knew I was reaching, but I also knew it was time for some changes. After I got through the final round of interviews, I was offered the position and accepted it. Then I found myself wondering, God, why did you open this door? I’m excited and thankful, but why this one? There have been some people who let me know how unqualified they think I am. I’ve heard the snippy and condescending comments about things like my lack of teaching experience, my age, and my race, but even with the noise, I’m working hard and walking by faith. God’s still revealing the why of it all to me, and I’m listening, learning, and paying attention. Each week is different and has its challenges and rewards, but I’m enjoying the work I get to do, and I desire to continue growing and succeeding in my role.

The Day I Became A Kidney Donor

About a year ago, I had a dream my dad wanted to talk to our family about something serious. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to discuss, but I knew it was something I needed to prepare myself for. Around the time after I had this dream, I remember stopping by my parents place and sensing something was going on that they weren’t telling me. I tried to dismiss what I’d been feeling, but I couldn’t shake it. Something serious was happening. As I returned to my home after visiting them one day, I was in my kitchen washing dishes when a heaviness hit my heart like nothing I’d ever felt before. Something’s wrong with dad. That’s what that dream was about. God, what’s going on? As I continued washing dishes, I started crying and praying. Then in mid-spring, my dad held an unexpected family meeting that would change all our lives forever. He hesitated at first, and as his voice started cracking and he started crying, he said, “Well, I wanted to talk to ya’ll to tell you that I have kidney disea...

I’m Glad I’m Not Married

When I was about five years old, I was sitting in the backseat of my dad’s car when me, him, my older cousin (my aunt’s son), and my aunt (my dad’s sister) caught my aunt’s fiancé with another woman. My dad had been driving my aunt out to run some errands since she didn’t have a driver’s license or a car. When she spotted her man with another woman, she told my dad to pull the car over, got out of the car, and immediately addressed him. She wanted the keys back to her apartment and was done with him. The other woman she caught her fiancé with slapped him when she realized what was happening, and that was that. When my aunt returned to the car, she was clearly and understandably upset, and the ride back to her place was quiet. Although I was too young to fully grasp what was happening at the time, I knew it wasn’t good. And now, at 34 years old, I can’t imagine how much pain she was in. Her wedding had been planned and paid for – and she never made it down the aisle. My aunt was a beaut...

How To Respond To A Nasty Email

Technology has made many people bold, rude, and incredibly messy. Often to the point where some may hide behind words they’ve typed instead of verbally communicating a message they want to convey. Such can be the case when it comes to sending emails. Ah, emails. You know what they are. Electronic messages that can be quickly drafted, sent, and misinterpreted (because you can’t always interpret tones or emotions through them). Which is why it’s key to know how to respond to nasty emails if they should ever come your way – especially in the workplace. As a working professional, there have been plenty of times when a coworker or superior sent an email my way that was petty, mad disrespectful, and unprofessional. And before I learned how to properly utilize email etiquette, my first instinct would always be to clap back. I just felt the need to respond and to communicate that I wouldn’t allow anyone, no matter who they were, to disrespect me. And while I haven’t taken t...

Making Waves