I am so super excited to announce that this post will be my first guest post and that it is written by one of my best friends!! (For security purposes, she will be referred to as BLS) She is probably one of the sweetest, bubbliest and most fun person I know so I would like for you all to really take a look at how God is working in her life right now and see how the challenges she's facing are helping her grow in the Lord! Through the ups and many many downs of her daily job, Brittany has come to learn the true meaning of "being a Light for Christ" and how to fully allow the Lord to use her for His glory.
I have one more thing to say and then I promise you can read what she has to say! I sat in on a Q and A session yesterday and one of the speakers, Jason Benham, said something that really struck my heart and it is something that I think Brittany is learning to do right now. He said:
"God won't give you what's in His hand, until you let go of what's in your hand."
It is my deepest hope that you find what you're about to read challenging as I do and that you are able to apply it to your life as well.
So ladies and gentleman, readers of my blog, mom and dad... without further ado, I give you, BLS!
Being the Light in a Dark world
I used to think that teachers had it easy! Playing with kids all day during school, having off the entire summers plus breaks throughout the year. Entertain the kids and everyone stays happy, right? Well, that was until 3 months ago...
This past May, I graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science (which anyone who knows me would agree, that is my favorite thing ever). Throughout college, I've been focused on one thing- a straight path to becoming a physical therapist. However, God had a different plan in mind.
Being from a small town, there were not too many paid positions that would hire me in the medical field so I was forced to look elsewhere. I eventually applied as a PE teacher in August but instead of staying within my field of choice, I ended up as an Algebra Readiness Teacher's assistant at my local high school. ((Let me just pause for a moment and say that I have never, ever in a million years dreamed of being a teacher))
I accepted the position because it was a job, and i figured "Hey, how hard could it be?" Little did I know, this unexpected position would show and teach me countless things about life that I have been oblivious to the past several years.
As an Algebra Readiness Aid, I work with students who are having a difficult time understanding their work and problem solving. Although I am included in the classroom most of the time, I occasionally take some of the students out to work with them on a one-on-one basis.
After a few weeks of school, I started to realize a common ground for most of the kids that I worked with.
Darkness.
Their stories match up with their home life. Their home life matches with their behavior at school, and their behavior matches with their grades.
It occurred to me that so many of these kids are living in a life surrounded by darkness. They are pregnant at only 16 years old. They are living with their older sister because their parents are in jail. Even worse, they don't have parents. They have no motivation, and are literally waiting until the day they turn 18 and are allowed to drop out of school.
The thought of this much negativity in any given household makes me want to weep. When I look at my life, I realize how unbelievably blessed I am to have a strong family without major sickness or despair. At the school, however, I hear of horrible home life situations that are essentially out of the child's control. When these children come in class, there is no wonder they are falling asleep and don't care about taking notes. They are simply FOLLOWING the EXAMPLE placed before them..and unfortunately it's not the best. While their earthly father may be out drinking at nights or doing who knows what- their heavenly father is patiently loving and caring for them from above. So often, I desperately want to share this truth with my students.
The bad part about this is.... I'm not allowed to directly bring up religion in the school system setting. The good part is... sometimes, ACTIONS are LOUDER than WORDS! This is incredible because I get to DEMONSTRATE the love of Christ to these kids every single day! I want to encourage them and be the teacher that says "Yes, you CAN do this!" I hope that I can be a light and leading example throughout this school year, and I am praying that my attitude will make a difference some how, some way while I have this position of leadership at school.
As a Christian, I've always tried to stay positive despite any situation that comes my way. (Of course, I definitely struggle with this at times, just as everyone would living in this sinful world) I must admit that this job has really tested my positive attitude. No matter how hard I try to explain algebra to these students, there will always be someone that is confused and lost.
What I have learned
After graduating from Liberty, I can see that I am equipped for this position. God has placed me here for a purpose and I never even slightly expected it. I'm so blessed that He has given me this opportunity to see the need for His Son even among young people in MY community. Our world so desperately needs hope, and it is my sincere desire to offer it to these children especially.
All of this to say, I am called as a Christian to BE THAT EXAMPLE and to bring LIGHT into this very dark and depressing world. This job is teaching me patience and definitely how to love unconditionally. I also realize that I am literally being watched everywhere I go by these wandering kids as they are developing their own beliefs and morals. Everyday I feel challenged to be a positive figure in each of the lives of my students at school.
-Written by: BLS
