This fall I am in a first grade classroom for my internship in elementary education. My classroom consists of 20 very diverse students with different learning abilities, ethnicity's, and home lives. The students in my class may be very diverse. but they all have two things in common: they are filled with energy and love. I have the most wonderful certified teacher who provides constructive criticism, encouragement, and the tools I need for success. She allows me to try new strategies and classroom management ideas even if it is something she probably would not try herself. She truly lets me take on the classroom each day as if it is my own. The list could go on about how much I love the school I am at, my teacher, and my students because I am so blessed to be where I am. That being said, I want to share how God was thinking of what is best for me rather than what I thought I wanted when He placed me at MVES.
Spring semester of 2017 my class filled out internship request forms and were were able to request a school we would like to be placed at for internship. After falling in love with the school I was placed at during pre-professional block, I immediately requested that school. The school is close to home and is filled with encouraging, loving faculty and staff. I told God I needed to be placed there because he knows how much I love the school and the people there and he knows how I would feel so at home and comfortable there during my internship. (Haha that I though God would place me somewhere I thought I would be comfortable). I convinced myself God knew the desire of my heart and I would for sure be placed at the school I requested.
Fast forward to May 2017... At the end our internship kick off all interns were given an envelope with our placement for the fall semester. My heart was beating hard and I could not wait to open it and see the school I requested. When I walked out of the room, I opened my envelope, and read my placement letter only to find I was not placed at the school I requested. I was placed at a school I had never been to, Meadow View Elementary school, and with a teacher I did not know, Mrs. Glass. I immediately left the building and got in my car and cried. Why was I placed here? Why God? Why would you put me at a school I knew nothing about? Why would you not be faithful and put me at the school I prayed to be at? How could you do this to me? After throwing myself a pity party, I called my mom and told her what happened. She told me there had to be a reason I was not placed at the school I requested and to go ask the person who was in charge of placements. I dried my eyes and walked back into the education building into Dr. Brewers office.
I sat down and began talking with Dr. Brewer about my situation. After explaining what happened she responded, " You're Hollie Brown, aren't you?" I nodded my head. She then went on to say, "Your professors speak very highly of you and know you are a great teacher. With that said, you were placed at the school you requested until there was a commuting issue with another student who needed to be placed at that school. I talked with one of the professors in the education department and she told me you would do well at MVES. She knew you had already been placed at the school you requested and loved it there and wanted you to experienced a different environment. She believes you will love it there and will be successful there." I then began thinking maybe she is right and maybe I do need to experience a different school. I explained to Dr. Brewer I always pray God will place me where I need to be and each semester he has. This must not be any different. She asked me what school I was placed at, so I told her MVES. A big smile appeared on her face and she began talking about how great of a school I was placed at. She then asked who my teacher was and I told her Lynda Glass. "She is wonderful! You are going to love her and be so blessed in her classroom. She has been teaching for a long time and everyone calls her momma because she is like a mom to everyone" Dr. Brewer explained. I then began to see how, maybe, God had placed me where I needed to be and just maybe He did have my best interest in mind even though it wasn't what I thought I wanted.
After the first week of internship I left school one day and remember saying "You were right God. My bad. Lol." How silly of me to doubt God. How silly of me to think He was throwing me to the wolves. How silly of me to think He did not care where I was going to be placed for my internship. I thought He was being unfaithful, but I was mistaken. He was faithful by placing me at a school I would grow to love. He was faithful placing me at a school with faculty and staff who continuously encourage me and aid in my success. He was faithful to place me with a teacher who I make a great team with and share a brain with. He was faithful to place in a classroom with students that need the love of Jesus and need the light of Jesus shown to them. Being where I am today and looking back at everything that has happened so far this semester, I cannot believe I ever doubted God's plan for me. Yes this plan is completely opposite of what I thought I wanted and needed, but this plan is exactly what I wanted and needed. I am blessed and thankful God did not give me what I thought I wanted and needed because He gave me so much more. This has been such a special time in my life and it has taught me to always trust the Lord because He is faithful.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3: 5-6
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