BecomING a Teacher

A few weeks before graduation from the Weber State education program, I was talking to my friend Sherylee about my post graduation plans. 
"I'm either going to become a Disney intern, go on a mission, try out being a waitress for kicks, or....or... there's one other thing...."
"Teaching??"
"Oh yeah.... teaching."
Sure, I had been playing school and making my sister Chelsea complete Hailey-made worksheets since I was 8. Growing up I always made sure to walk the school supplies aisle every time I visited Target or WalMart, even when it satisfied nothing on my shopping list. Working in an after school program throughout my high school and college years as a reading tutor, then teacher, then director I found my passion in making children smile, teaching them life lessons, and helping them recognize who they could be....
But I was just Hailey Achter. There was no way I could possibly be a teacher over a classroom of 26+ students for 7 hours a day every day. Despite all of my natural and college preparation, the idea of having my own classroom was rather terrifying. 
And so, I often gave into those fearful thoughts, and put them at ease with the thought of postponing my possible career and doing something unexpected...like becoming a Disney intern. 
A boy came into my life around this time. It was actually our second round of dating, so things progressed quickly and I became engaged to be wed. My once single status thoughts became marital status thoughts of, "I will need to help support my future family!" No longer was I daydreaming about dancing in HSM parades, but rather securing as many interviews as possible to become a teacher. 
A call came, with my principal and the whole 6th grade team at Syracuse Elementary on the other end. "We would like to offer you a position as a 6th grade teacher." When I accepted, I felt a variety of emotions, a major one being relief for financial security as a soon to be newlywed.
About 2 weeks before I began my school year teaching as a Mrs., I remained a Miss. Sob story aside, I questioned if I should teach as my fears of inadequacy began creeping back. Whether it was because of my subconscious love for teaching or honoring the commitment I had already made, I did go through with setting up my classroom and becoming a teacher. 
My first year of teaching was filled with tender mercies from my Heavenly Father. 26 alphabetized names on a role became faces and stories forever imprinted in my heart.
At my end of year interview, I surprised myself with how much I opened up to my dear principal.

"When I first got my job, I saw it mainly as a means of supporting my future family, but now I see it in a totally different light. My students have served as a means of healing my broken heart."

In hind sight, I can see God's hand in leading me slowly, painfully, joyfully, and surly to becoming a teacher. 
  
Heavenly Father always has a greater and grander plan.
I continue to recognize that in my journey of becomING a teacher. 

"Your Future is as Bright as Your Faith"

I love those moments in life when your eyes are truly opened to the infinite number of tender mercies that surround you. Those moments where everything is clear and you feel perfect faith.

Looking back is meant to be used for moving forward.

I love looking back with a prayer in my heart, striving to see beyond my human perspective.

It is in these special moments I recognize God's hand that has guided the path I've traveled. coincidence,

              serendipity,

                                  fate,

                                         and chance 

                                                         are NONEXISTENT through this perspective.

Through this perspective I see how

every person, 

every event,

every trial,

every joy

has had a purpose in helping me move forward.

It is at this point I realize that while so much changes, 

God's guiding hand does not. 

If He guided me then- He guides me now... and because of this knowledge, 

I am excited for tomorrow. 

2 Nephi 22: 1-6

"...and thou comfortedest me...I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation...Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people... sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things... great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee."

A Constant Light

I cannot claim to be a writer, but writing in a journal has served as a tender mercy during many times in life. In a journal I am able to spill my thoughts out in ink. This is a journal entry from a time when I felt I was going through a storm. 

In retrospect, I can see how the Savior's hand was in my life then and because of that, my testimony grows that He is involved in my life now and forever.

The key to seeing His hand in my life is CHOOSING to see it.

The sun is always shining,

        though the night time may seem dark...

             we need not fear, 

the moon is the reminder of the sun's endless light. 

No  matter what, 

the sun will rise in the morning. 

Meanwhile, it will shine through the moon.

Storms come. 

It shines behind clouds in storms. 

Though you may not always be able to see it, 

you can know it is there because...

you      are     alive.

You smile and dance in the rain and it produces growth.

                       ....OR....

it is gloomy and frizzes the hair. 

No matter the chosen perspective,

we can rest assured that the sun still shines through the storm.

  


The Son is the constant light through all times in life. 
His light will shine through all-
we must but choose to see it.

Isaiah 60:19-

"The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory."

(emphasis added by Hailey:)

A Deeper Beauty

I recently had the opportunity to visit Seattle, Washington. One day of my vacation was spent at the famous Pike's Market. It was quite the experience! While walking down the crowded street, I kept spotting various people carrying beautiful bouquets. As I continued to walk through the busy market I found where these beautiful bouquets were being sold. I was mesmerized by each unique arrangement of flowers.

Beautiful flowers. Fresh. Colorful. Variety. Bloomed. I was overwhelmed with their beauty. But... for some reason I couldn't help but think about how they were at their peek and within a few days, the beauty I saw in front of me would become wilted and browned.

Isn't it good to know that our inside beauty... or our true selves, the spirit inside us that truly makes us each our own individual will never come to a peek? As we choose to put effort into productively progressing each day, we will be fresh, colorful, blooming, and beautiful forever, and increasingly so. Our spirits will not wilt, brown, or droop if we don't allow them to.
The temporary beauty I could see was nothing compared to the eternal beauty that can be found inside each of us!

Choosing a Joyful Perspective on Life

Let's take it to the basics.

CHOOSING- a personal choice. The suffix "-ing" implies it is a daily decision.

JOYFUL- 2 Nephi 2:25 "Adam fell that man might be; and men are that they might have JOY."

PERSPECTIVE- What I focus on. 2 Nephi 2:24 "But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of Him who knoweth all things."

LIFE- Our journey to discover who we are and who we can be. 

In life there are 2 perspectives, our human perspective and the eternal perspective. Often we  are faced with situations that we cannot make sense of through our natural human perspective. It is during these times we can choose to focus on the eternal perspective, knowing that, "all things have been done in the wisdom of Him who knoweth all things." 


No matter what happens in life, we can choose to focus on the eternal perspective.


The more I experience life, the more I realize that what I gain from my life and how I feel about life is all based upon what I choose to focus on. As I choose to focus on the eternal perspective, I am finding JOY in my journey through life.