I Believe it’s Time…
When I graduated in August of 2024 with my Master’s degree, I was 100% confident that I did not want to cross over from teacher to school counselor. I had completed my summer hours with the most beautiful soul of a supervisor, Briana. She did a wonderful job of preparing me for what life would look like as a high school counselor. Naturally, I was afraid that I would get lost in the administration of it all because individual counseling is my passion. So, I fought the curious itch for a year until I realized that if I was going to cross over to the other side, I wanted to go from being a school counselor in a high school to an elementary school. I have always been great with kids, and I believe this will be a great experience, and who knows… it may uncover a new side of me that has yet to be discovered.
I started the process of making this dream come true in early May. I first had to complete an application through UTRGV to get approved to take the TExES 252 Examination. Once I was approved, I registered for the exam. It was a grueling exam! I walked out of there confident that I did not pass. I had to wait twenty-eight days to get my results. Then I had to complete another application through UTRGV, so they could then send the approval to TEA. To say it’s a long process is an understatement, but here I am, a certified school counselor looking for work.
Is this a new chapter in my life? Am I ready? Do I have what it takes? These are the questions that run through my head when I think of my next chapter in life. I wish I could tell you these questions go away as you get older, but they don’t. And that’s okay! How will we ever progress in life if we don’t ask these questions? If we don’t ask ourselves, who will care enough to? This is a healthy inner dialogue and should be welcomed. I believe life is like a book. We are meant to have different chapters. Some may be hard and sad, and others may bring joy, but there is no escaping this beautiful metamorphosis.
As I conclude this daily blog, I want to share that through my wisdom, I have learned that we all experience life very differently, but hope is all the same when we strive to come out of those hardships. We do not have to be stuck in that phase of grief forever. We honor it, process it, and slowly work towards healing. Please, please, please, don’t skip the processing part of it. Sit with it, shed it, and be gentle with yourself. We are human; we are not meant to be perfect. We are flawed, but that is what makes us beautiful!
I have created a workbook for those who are interested in rediscovering themselves again. Whether that be due to a recent divorce, loss, or just being ready for a positive change in life. If this sounds like something you are interested in, click here. I truly hope this resource helps in one way or another.
Love Jacquelyn