One Heck of a Great Surprise
About six weeks ago, on Feb. 4, I went to Ft Collins. (Haha. THAT shows how behind I am.)
It was a Tuesday, and it was snowing.
If you know me, you know I don't relish driving in winter weather. I'm becoming calmer about it--meaning that I've learned the difference between a little snow that will probably die down and a blizzard--but I don't mess with Mother Nature when she's mad. (Growing up, our roads were always snow-packed. And sanded. They had to be, because they were narrow and very curvy. So winter driving was actually very different in NY than it is in, say, a ground blizzard.) Since Haxtun is two hours from Ft. Collins, I wasn't sure what I'd run into. But, I felt fairly calm about going, which was great, because I didn't have a choice. I had to go, and I had to pass.
I was scheduled to take the Praxis II: General Science Test. My entire future seemed to hinge on passing this test; passing would enable me to obtain my teaching license. I was intimidated, and I had waited a little too long. Not only that, but my principal knew I was taking the test, (not what I had planned, but I ended up telling her) which increased the pressure. I was also extremely busy, since we had just moved to our new house six days earlier. Basically, early February was a crazy time to take the thing.
I left Haxtun around 8:30, made a stop in Sterling, and got to my destination (CSU) on time. However, I couldn't find the building I needed. I drove around for a few minutes, my less-than-lovely tires sliding a little in the falling white slushy stuff. Several times i asked directions; several times I was disappointed. Then I asked a man, who seemed like maybe he was a professor, but also seemed a little strange. He told me he couldn't explain very well, but that he could show me if I wouldn't mind driving him toward what he thought was the right building. I didn't mind at all. I was now about ten minutes late and I was becoming very nervous. What if I was too late and I couldn't take the test?
He got me close to my destination, but not close enough. I still couldn't see any names on buildings. He was gone, and I was twenty minutes late. I kept thinking that BYU is so much better: I always knew where I was, you can tell where the center of campus is, it's prettier and better maintained. Finally, in desperation, I asked directions again. This time, I was able to find the building. I quickly parked--illegally--in a snowy faculty lot, the idea of getting a ticket secondary to this test that I somehow had to pass. I almost ran to the testing building.
Inside, I wandered down a few hallways, asked directions again, and found the computer lab that would determine my fate. And then my nervousness left me.
As soon as I found the lab I knew that the chances of being able to take my test were pretty good. I was thirty minutes late, but there were no lines. No official-looking test officials, only a student monitoring the entrance. When I asked if I could still test, she looked at her watch, shrugged, and said, "I think so. Sure. We have computers." I signed in. I was given a computer and led to a cubicle. I started my test.
I was sure I was failing. The test was about 210 questions, with scientific method stuff first (that was fine), then physics (unless I guessed right, I missed all of the physics questions). Next came chemistry, which I like, but about which I actually know very little. I got some of the chemistry correct. Lots of the questions felt familiar, but I knew I didn't have a complete understanding of the concepts asked. I was pretty worried.
The second half of the test was much better. It was biology, some earth/space science, and--surprisingly--even some anatomy and botany, which I knew fairly well. I was encouraged, but still terrified to see my score.
I finished the test and checked my answers. I checked very few physics and chem questions....I felt that I didn't know the answers and that I'd be more likely to change a correct guess to a wrong answer.
I pressed submit. A few seconds passed, and I saw this: 160
In Colorado, a passing score on the Praxis II is 150 points.
I looked at the screen, dumfounded. I was totally amazed. I had been trying to figure out how to tell my principal that I would need to re-take it.
I looked at the screen again. I wrote the score down, because it didn't show me the passing score, and I wanted to double check the CDE website before I assumed something that wasn't right. But I was pretty sure I was remembering the requirements correctly.
I said a prayer of gratitude, almost floated out of the building, found my car, saw that there was no parking ticket, and drove to a Chik Fil A, where I ordered food and asked for the wi-fi password. I logged onto the CDE website and confirmed what I thought: I had passed. Wow!
I floated through the rest of my day. I bought a few things at Bed, Bath, & Beyond, and I shopped Safeway's sales.
My enthusiasm was only slightly dimmed by the weather: at 4:30 pm, when I came out of Safeway, the wind was blowing and fine snow was falling. I knew that I was leaving too late. I also knew that that couldn't be helped. I prayed and I left town. By the time I was to Ault it was fully dark and I knew I had a long ride ahead of me. Driving such an isolated road in the snow in the dark wasn't something I would normally do, but I needed to get home, and besides, it wasn't bad enough to get a hotel.
The next two hours to Sterling were slow and long. I was worried, but I could feel the Spirit. I kept reflecting on the events of the day --even of the past year--and I knew I'd be ok. I listened to a comforting CD and just prayed for safety. Continuously. There were a few times when I really couldn't see. I probably drove 40-50 mph all the way to Sterling.(Some spots were snow-free.) I have never been so relieved to see Wal-Mart!
When I finally got back to Haxtun around 8 pm, my new house was waiting for me, warm and cozy with my family inside. My kids had made posters congratulating me. Being safely home made me feel really ecstatic.
Did the Praxis make me a better teacher? Not at all. Like parenting, I think only experience will do that But at least I could say I was qualified to teach. And it was one more evidence that I am in the right place, doing the right thing.
It was a Tuesday, and it was snowing.
If you know me, you know I don't relish driving in winter weather. I'm becoming calmer about it--meaning that I've learned the difference between a little snow that will probably die down and a blizzard--but I don't mess with Mother Nature when she's mad. (Growing up, our roads were always snow-packed. And sanded. They had to be, because they were narrow and very curvy. So winter driving was actually very different in NY than it is in, say, a ground blizzard.) Since Haxtun is two hours from Ft. Collins, I wasn't sure what I'd run into. But, I felt fairly calm about going, which was great, because I didn't have a choice. I had to go, and I had to pass.
I was scheduled to take the Praxis II: General Science Test. My entire future seemed to hinge on passing this test; passing would enable me to obtain my teaching license. I was intimidated, and I had waited a little too long. Not only that, but my principal knew I was taking the test, (not what I had planned, but I ended up telling her) which increased the pressure. I was also extremely busy, since we had just moved to our new house six days earlier. Basically, early February was a crazy time to take the thing.
I left Haxtun around 8:30, made a stop in Sterling, and got to my destination (CSU) on time. However, I couldn't find the building I needed. I drove around for a few minutes, my less-than-lovely tires sliding a little in the falling white slushy stuff. Several times i asked directions; several times I was disappointed. Then I asked a man, who seemed like maybe he was a professor, but also seemed a little strange. He told me he couldn't explain very well, but that he could show me if I wouldn't mind driving him toward what he thought was the right building. I didn't mind at all. I was now about ten minutes late and I was becoming very nervous. What if I was too late and I couldn't take the test?
He got me close to my destination, but not close enough. I still couldn't see any names on buildings. He was gone, and I was twenty minutes late. I kept thinking that BYU is so much better: I always knew where I was, you can tell where the center of campus is, it's prettier and better maintained. Finally, in desperation, I asked directions again. This time, I was able to find the building. I quickly parked--illegally--in a snowy faculty lot, the idea of getting a ticket secondary to this test that I somehow had to pass. I almost ran to the testing building.
Inside, I wandered down a few hallways, asked directions again, and found the computer lab that would determine my fate. And then my nervousness left me.
As soon as I found the lab I knew that the chances of being able to take my test were pretty good. I was thirty minutes late, but there were no lines. No official-looking test officials, only a student monitoring the entrance. When I asked if I could still test, she looked at her watch, shrugged, and said, "I think so. Sure. We have computers." I signed in. I was given a computer and led to a cubicle. I started my test.
I was sure I was failing. The test was about 210 questions, with scientific method stuff first (that was fine), then physics (unless I guessed right, I missed all of the physics questions). Next came chemistry, which I like, but about which I actually know very little. I got some of the chemistry correct. Lots of the questions felt familiar, but I knew I didn't have a complete understanding of the concepts asked. I was pretty worried.
The second half of the test was much better. It was biology, some earth/space science, and--surprisingly--even some anatomy and botany, which I knew fairly well. I was encouraged, but still terrified to see my score.
I finished the test and checked my answers. I checked very few physics and chem questions....I felt that I didn't know the answers and that I'd be more likely to change a correct guess to a wrong answer.
I pressed submit. A few seconds passed, and I saw this: 160
In Colorado, a passing score on the Praxis II is 150 points.
I looked at the screen, dumfounded. I was totally amazed. I had been trying to figure out how to tell my principal that I would need to re-take it.
I looked at the screen again. I wrote the score down, because it didn't show me the passing score, and I wanted to double check the CDE website before I assumed something that wasn't right. But I was pretty sure I was remembering the requirements correctly.
I said a prayer of gratitude, almost floated out of the building, found my car, saw that there was no parking ticket, and drove to a Chik Fil A, where I ordered food and asked for the wi-fi password. I logged onto the CDE website and confirmed what I thought: I had passed. Wow!
I floated through the rest of my day. I bought a few things at Bed, Bath, & Beyond, and I shopped Safeway's sales.
My enthusiasm was only slightly dimmed by the weather: at 4:30 pm, when I came out of Safeway, the wind was blowing and fine snow was falling. I knew that I was leaving too late. I also knew that that couldn't be helped. I prayed and I left town. By the time I was to Ault it was fully dark and I knew I had a long ride ahead of me. Driving such an isolated road in the snow in the dark wasn't something I would normally do, but I needed to get home, and besides, it wasn't bad enough to get a hotel.
The next two hours to Sterling were slow and long. I was worried, but I could feel the Spirit. I kept reflecting on the events of the day --even of the past year--and I knew I'd be ok. I listened to a comforting CD and just prayed for safety. Continuously. There were a few times when I really couldn't see. I probably drove 40-50 mph all the way to Sterling.(Some spots were snow-free.) I have never been so relieved to see Wal-Mart!
When I finally got back to Haxtun around 8 pm, my new house was waiting for me, warm and cozy with my family inside. My kids had made posters congratulating me. Being safely home made me feel really ecstatic.
Did the Praxis make me a better teacher? Not at all. Like parenting, I think only experience will do that But at least I could say I was qualified to teach. And it was one more evidence that I am in the right place, doing the right thing.
It really was one heck of a great surprise.
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