Introduction

Today, in my instructional technology class, I decided I have a story to tell. Maybe it won't be a very interesting one, but it will still be my story. In less than four short weeks, I will officially begin my teaching journey beginning my teaching assignment with three sections of English 12 and one section of English 10.

I will prepare four units. For British literature, one will be on satire from the Restoration, and one will be on poetry from the Romantic and Victorian periods. For world literature, one will be on Africa (and I will be teaching Achebe's Things Fall Apart), and one will be on Persia.

Last week, I felt that my life could be a section of Things Fall Apart. I was completely overwhelmed with unit planning, classwork, going to my school, working at my other job - Intramural Supervisor for Rec Sports, going to my sorority recruitment (Phi Mu), and trying to handle the fact that my boyfriend and I are going through different times in our lives and both facing difficult roads ahead. To be trite, I was overwork, underpaid, not appreciated -- and I couldn't handle it anymore. Any normal person would quit some of these activities, but it's important to note at this point that I am not normal -- but I do have a story.

I will tell you my story as accurately as I can - in the hopes that my experiences will help you along your journey. I'll leave you with my metaphor for teaching and life from my favorite poet, Robert Frost.

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;	5
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,	10
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.	15
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.