Hello, world.

I decided to start this blog after a close friend of mine, who had been through a similar process to this before, recommended it to me. I had initially formed plans to keep up on this blog every day, starting the day I got out here to Baltimore, but this is the very first time I have had the chance to actually follow through on it. In truth, I really shouldn't be writing now, as I just got back to my room for the first time since 7 AM this morning (it's now 8:40) and I still have about 4-5 hours of homework left. Either way, here it goes.

I'm working as a teacher in inner-city Baltimore and/or Washington DC (depending on my placement) through a company called Urban Teacher Center. I have been in Baltimore for the past two weeks as part of a six week summer program, working on earning a master's of education in secondary math and special education while also working about thirty hours a week at a local summer school program. Our days our hectic, to say the least. We are required to be out at our school sites starting at 7 AM and usually don't get back from our master's classes until 7 PM -- and then are expected to do readings and homework until we can't function any more. I've only been here for two weeks, and I can already say that I know this is the hardest and will be the hardest I will ever work in my life.

So far, we have heard from principals from around the area, past residents of the program, and fellow teachers who have all told us the same thing -- this is going to be incredibly difficult. There are already moments where I am legitimately terrified that I did not make the right choice. However, what always sucks me back in are the moments when teachers and principals talk about individual moments where kids express how much of an influence a teacher has had on them. This is an unparalleled joy I have only felt a couple times in my life, but I can undoubtedly say that this is the purest form of true elation that I have ever felt.

I know that this task will be difficult. I know that there are days I will want to pack it up, head back to Ohio and sit on my couch, surfing Reddit and watching Netflix all day. However, in times of struggle (and I have been assured, there will be many), I plan on reverting back to an old quote from Thomas Paine, in a speech proclaimed to the American people right before the Revolutionary War: "The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." These will be the times that try my soul. I know that after my four year commitment with UTC is over, I will be changed forever.

I will try to keep up with this as much as possible, but in all honesty, I have no idea how often that will be. Plan: go with the flow.

BD