Open Mic - No Where but Up

I feel like I've been needing to apologize to everyone associated with our program because of my lack of enthusiasm and participation this semester. I don't want to lay out a number of excuses but these past few months for me have been plagued with sickness and emotional stress. I know that I am a better student than what I have been displaying and know that I can't go anywhere but up from here. Things are starting to get a little better but I know that the improvement needs to start with me. There has been a greater demand put on our teachers this year with the demand being attributed to the state of the county. We started preplanning being bombarded with forms and reports that were being instituted this year and they keep coming. But I don't want to complain because I enjoy what I do and the kids make it worth it.

I do want to thank Ms. Hayden, Dr. Burns and Dr. Montrois for their continuous support and motivation of everyone in the NTI program. I believe if I had any other professors I would have withdrawn from my classes this semester. I look forward to finishing out the semester very strong and beginning the next one on a good note. I also want to thank my classmaates for their advice, encouragement and positive examples. When you all share what you go through as educators it always seems to lessen or put my individual struggles in perspective. I am a better person and educator because of my affiliation with the program and its participants and look forward to going up from here.