Odd duck out

Today was my first day of school as an elementary school teacher. We have to work inservice for the next two weeks before the kiddos show up to school. I remember hearing that elementary teachers are really into their inservices. My observation was that this was indeed correct and I felt like a duck out of water. I walked in and they handed me stickers to place on "getting to know you" posters. There was a poster that asked, "Are you more intellectual or creative?" I along with three or four others placed a sticker on the intellectual side. The creative side had what seemed like the rest of the elementary district. Then, I was handed a plate and asked to decorate it to represent myself--mine was monochromatic red. The person next to me was cutting up her Starbucks cup to decorate hers along with some of the left over stickers from earlier. I witnessed copious note taking from my table mates. I also saw a politically incorrect themed lesson with song included that I will not be using any time soon but was the hit of the workshop! Next, I was dressed up and I got volunteered to report about forests for our afternoon project. I had volunteered to do the research for the project thinking that would keep me out of the spotlight...forget that...they had twigs coming out of my pants, hair, shirt--I was a leafed wonder. I can only imagine what the coaches would have said at Evans. I hate speaking in front of people if I don't know them. Everyone knows my voice goes up ten octaves and gets ten thousand times twangier when I'm nervous. I know it is going to get better. It has to...right? I am trying to be conscience of my attitude and the words I speak. No one wants to be around a Debby Downer. I'm working on softening my heart toward change.
I need this construction sign around me, and hopefully God does a work in my heart.

Much love,