Stress

I totally forgot to write yesterday...oops. Yesterday, I attended two professional development sessions run by the school district and went to a PEDC monthly meeting. The first two were very helpful--they were about using Google tools for lessons. The PEDC meeting was inspiring--the people in attendance were very accomplished and impressive. I was inspired.

Today I took two of the chihuahuas to the vet--one was a good boy and one was not. He wouldn't let the vet touch him.

I just feel stressed overall. The vet gets more and more expensive. Plus, the system to get my ESOL certification is a pain. You can't get it until you already have a Level I certification. That's fine. However, most of the schools for some inconvenient reason don't even let you take the required courses for that until you have the Level I certification. That is extraordinarily unhelpful. The Department of Education says on their website that the ESOL specialist certification classes can be taken any time. I told that to the school I'm applying to, and they were very stubborn. They said they needed proof, so I took a screenshot of where it says that on their website. However, that wasn't good enough--they said they needed an email to me from the department saying I had permission.

I called the department, and they were difficult. I waited on hold to speak to someone, and she first told me just to send an email. She got very frustrated when I wanted to speak to her about my issue. Then she didn't understand what I needed. She was even rude and told me at one point that if the school didn't want to accept me, that was their choice.

I ended up sending an email because she was rude and frustrated--I was frustrated too. Fingers crossed. I don't even need these classes (five of them) because my MA covered the content in them and more. I spent a lot of time finding syllabi and sending them as proof. I have three more to find, but I'm taking a break from looking because I'm stressed.

Ridiculous bureaucracy.

I had to get a $100 money order to send the paperwork to renew my emergency ESL certification. One thing down.

If I can't take these ESL classes next year, I will have to take them the following year. I hope I don't have to do that because I will have to take three classes no matter what. It's so expensive! Or maybe I can get the Level I ESL right when I finish the classes, even if they're not three? I should ask.

I finally talked to my dissertation advisor, so I feel a little better. I think she is just busy and overwhelmed--plus she said she just lost her dad. Then I went to the second-to-last TPS Leadership Institute through the Library of Congress meeting. It's helpful, but I'm looking forward to it ending.

I need to relax.