When I Grow Up, I Want to Be…
May 10, 2006
So today, I awoke early, grabbed a soda, got dressed (I showered last night), and headed back to school.
For me. Not my kids.
Today was the day of my Para-Pro Test. I’ve decided that based on my husband’s erratic work/travel schedule, and the fact I need to be available to my kids, and the fact I’d like to be earning some coin for my family finances, I was going to look into becoming a Teaching Assistant for our county’s public schools. I quickly learned that in order to do so I had to either be accredited, in school, have an AA degree, or have taken the Para-Pro test.
I chose the test to kind of speed things up, so to speak. Nice of me, no?
On that pathway of life when you can decide to continue your college education or have children, I chose to have children. Some, like myself, could argue that making that choice and living it is like a daily education that a degree in a college could never achieve. Unfortunately, companies like to see a piece of paper that isn’t your child’s birth certificate. So off I went in search of this test and the ability to pass it.
The test is 90 minutes long, 90 questions long. 30 in math knowledge/ability to instruct; 30 in reading knowledge/ability to instruct; and 30 in writing knowledge/ability to instruct.
I was dropped from the server no less than 5 times, and still finished in an hour. (That included double checking my work.) There were some questions I didn’t feel confident about, and others I knew like the back of my hand. Math is not my strong suit, so I knew going in I was going to have some problems there. I also knew that since I couldn’t procure a study guide prior to the testing (long story) that I was basically “flying blind”. So, I was understandably nervous after I had finished, checked and double checked it and was ready to push the button to see my score.
I Passed!!! With super flying colors and then some!!!!
Florida has one of the highest benchmarks you have to make in order to pass this test. I did it!!!!
I’m so psyched! Now I can officially become a Teaching Assistant, and later on go back to school and finish my teaching degree.
My mom up in heaven is so proud of me today, I just know it. So here’s to you, mom, a Mother’s Day present a little early, and an IOU on the rest, just like you wanted.
As I walked from the back of the room (some habits die hard, what can I say?) to the front to collect the printout of my score (it was taken on the computer), the proctor met me halfway across the front of the room and handed me my paper. No lie, it felt like a graduation ceremony. When she said great job and good luck, the illusion seemed real.
It was an amazing moment.
Ironically, according to my results, I can teach math better than I know it (huh???); I’m a freakin’ GENIUS at Reading and Writing, and I can totally do this.
Wow. I amaze myself every now and again.
Consider me over the moon. And proud of me.
May 10th, 2006 at 6:07 pm
Congratulations!!!! I (Laura Kay)knew you could do it! Hope you are feeling better physically as well as mentally! Love you, La
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May 10th, 2006 at 6:23 pm
Hiya. I managed to load your blog, after all, so forget my previous e-mail. Congrats on passing your test, and thanks for dropping by my place.
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May 10th, 2006 at 6:25 pm
Oh, and PS, you’re in Orlando? Cool, I’m about 90 minutes to your south.
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