2010 was a year of change. It started with Rachel student teaching in an 8th grade science class and applying for graduate school. Endrit's PhD research chugged along and he was able to make some real progress, enough to become first author of a scientific paper to be published early 2011.
Rachel finished her student teaching and got a job as a permanent substitute for the rest of the year 2 days later! She had a fun time being in charge of her own classroom, even if it was a business class she was teaching. During her teaching she found out that she was accepted into the Instructional Design and Educational Technology graduate program. She registered for 2 summers worth of classes to take her first semester of graduate school.
Rachel spent the summer making her own flash animations, learning Photoshop, Illustrator, 3-D animations, and building her own website. It was a fun summer for her!
Rachel interviewed for teaching jobs around the Salt Lake valley. It came down to the wire but she ended up with a job at the school she student taught at. With the obligations of being a first year teacher she decided to forgo going to graduate classes. She plans to go back to school eventually but with everything that will be changing in 2011 it is best she doesn't continue for now.
Endrit is doing amazing. He loves his research but doesn't like writing. He would rather be playing with chemicals making new things every day. He is still working with molecular magnets.
Endrit was told by his professor that he should prepare to graduate in May and be completely done with his thesis before August. Although this is amazing news, it has put added stress on Endrit. Obviously his professor thinks it is possible.
Another thing that we changed this year is where we live. We bought our little house in Salt Lake during the summer. It is a duplex so while we moved into the front of the house Endrit's parents moved into the back. It has been mostly good to have them so close and when we move later next year it will be good to have them here to take care of the house.
2011 seems to be a year that will change almost every aspect of our life! Endrit should graduate and get a job somewhere in the continental US. Rachel will finish up her first year of full time teaching. We don't know if she will be working next year on the account of moving.
It has been a good year for us. We have enjoyed our time together and the learning we have been able to do this year. Now on to next year. Here is a wonderful New Year's message from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
2 comments:
Sounds great :) I actually got Christmas letters out this year. Last year they were Valentine's letters.
No Christmas, or New Year's letter. Things have been crazy, and this year is starting out REALLY crazy. Life is good. It will be interesting to watch your story continue to unfold.
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