I'm ready to fly

I've been feeling very different lately, but a good kind of different. I've heard that every birthday you have, you don't feel all that different...except on your 18th birthday, and that's entirely true. I feel so accomplished so far. I feel like an actual adult now (even if I look like a 5th grader...lol). I have a career path chosen and I've known what that path is since 10th grade, and it's all thanks to God. I'm so glad He put me on my path. I intend to follow on this path and do everything possible to stay on it. God has truly opened my eyes this year, and I thank Him for that. I thank Him for the people He has brought in my life, and for the people who have truly impacted my life so much! I wouldn't be the same person without them.

I'll be heading off to Winthrop University before I know it, and I have so many mixed emotions about leaving Lexington. Lexington, the home I've known my whole life. I'm scared, nervous, excited, happy, worried, and unsure about so many things waiting ahead for me. I need to get away. I need to do this for myself. I want to be a high school math teacher, and everyone thinks I'm totally and completely NUTS for wanting to teach high school let alone math. Everyone's telling me I should go into art or photography or something because I'm so creative....but I believe in my heart that that's not what God wants me to do. A very special woman in my life told me once: "I've always wanted to follow in my daddy's footsteps and become an engineer...but then I was brought to teaching. I felt like God was putting me on this path for a reason. I've been through SO much in my life that I needed something to help me, and that's exactly what happened. Becoming a teacher isn't only about teaching a subject, it's being a role model and teaching life lessons as well. I felt like God was setting me to teach so I relate to at least one student and impact their lives and be there for them...while helping me, too."

I feel that that's exactly what God is doing for me. Yes, I might be crazy for wanting to be a HIGH SCHOOL teacher of all the things I could teach, but this is the path God is putting me on. I'm doing this for me and only me, not anyone else, and I cannot wait. A lot of people tell me that I won't be able to be a high school math teacher, but I know I will. I want to teach. I've always admired teachers and how they can get up in front of 20+ kids and teach those kids their knowledge, and even make a total goofball out of themselves. I think teachers are the bravest people.

Maybe I am crazy for wanting to jump right into the "big-league" of teaching high school instead of starting small, but God's telling me in my heart to do this, and I know with His help I can do it.

I pray that God will keep me on His path and not let me sway off of it. I pray that He will keep me stead-fast and ready for anything that gets thrown at me. I pray that He will lift me up in times of discouragement and hardship. I pray that He'll keep me strong. I pray that He'll get me through my senior year of high school with a positive attitude and a good mind-set on life. I pray that He'll get me through any obstacle I may face. I pray that He'll just be there for me and let me do everything for Him.

God bless, Mariah :)