Don't let go of your dreams!

When you were a little girl or little boy, what were your dreams for your future?  Did you imagine you would be married with children? Did you want to become a marine biologist?  Maybe you wanted to be the first Black president of the United States.  As far as I can remember, I always wanted to be a teacher.  I lined up my stuffed animals (they were obedient little pupils, but it was tough to do any heavy discussions with them), and I taught them multiplication tables and read to them.  I suppose I had hopes and dreams to get married to a wonderful man, but no dream truly could have come close to the man I married.  Dave not only is the rock when I have needed that support, but he has also encouraged me to continue to reach all my educational dreams.  Learning has always been one of my favorite hobbies (next to reading for pleasure), and I couldn't believe it when I was accepted to Trinity University in San Antonio that blessedly came with a hefty scholarship in education.  Were it not for that scholarship, there is no question that I would have gone to college elsewhere. That would have been sad, as my two best friends in the entire world (along with so many other lifelong friends) were "found" at Trinity.  If you haven't ever been there, I must say it is likely one of the most beautiful campuses I've ever seen.  From our dorm to the library, it was a good little walk, but that kept the "freshman 15" down to more like "freshman 10".  I loved and adored everything about the school, including having the gift of working in the Education Department all four years of my time there.  It was somewhere during maybe the 2nd or 3rd year of my experience at Trinity (which, by the way, led me to change my major from simply "Education" to Special Education and the myriad of amazing experiences that came along with that) that I said aloud, "I would love to work here someday."  Now, that was a dream.  
In the next 30 years, I've been blessed to teach students with severe emotional/behavior disabilities as well as students with developmental difficulties.  I credit my education at Trinity for preparing me in so many ways for working with those students who touched my life forever. After teaching for several years, Dave and I moved to New Mexico where Dave's work afforded me the blessing and opportunity to earn my master's degree in Counseling and Educational Psychology.  I knew that I would never get out of the education realm, but I figured that degree might help me understand the students with whom I worked on a deeper, perhaps more emotional, level.  Dave always swears I wanted to get that counseling degree so that I could "psychoanalyze" him, but I promise that was not my primary motive. After getting a chance to be a school counselor for several years, I was once again "blessed" with the opportunity to apply for and get the job as principal at the best elementary school in the world (good thing it didn't make me biased, right?).  I learned so very much from my work with teachers, staff, parents, and students who truly grew to be family to me.  Along the way, I believe I may have mentioned to Dave that I would love to keep learning, so I went back to school again to get my doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction.  Since then, I have gotten the opportunity to become a professor at a couple of online universities and teach teachers and administrators about effective teaching around the world as a Danielson consultant.
As my dad still lives in San Antonio (not to mention my best friend from high school), I have traveled there so very many times over the years.  Most trips back necessitated a trip to Trinity just to walk or drive through the campus.  A girl could dream, and dream I did: of someday becoming a professor in the Education Department tucked among beautiful trees and architecture. 
I do believe that dreams come true---marrying Dave is living proof of that. And now, my pinnacle professional dream has just come true, as I have just been hired to become a professor of Special Education at....wait for it...Trinity University!! To say I am "over the moon" excited about the opportunity would be the understatement of the century.  Giving back to the university that began my post-high school education and is mired in so many beautiful memories is likely one of the best dreams come true!  But here's the thing that Dave always tells me, and someday maybe I will believe it for myself:  dreams don't just come true; we must keep those goals and dreams in front of us and consistently work towards them.  After listening to Michelle Obama's "Becoming", digitally, while I run, I also loved watched her 90 minute video of her book tour.  She has so many quotes about opportunities, lost opportunities, making your own way in the world, and believing that you can achieve your goals. I am living the dream, for sure, and I cannot express how much I look forward to working at a school that gave me a chance when monetary circumstances in our family would never have afforded me that opportunity. 
Trinity...here I come!!

Happy Communicating, and may all your dreams come true!

Shelly
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