Sunday, June 12, 2011

Heat, Cockroaches, and Blessings



Greetings from Memphis! 

If you are deciding to read this, you probably have at least a slight interest in my journey into Urban Education in Memphis, TN. I write this blog as a means to communicate what my life looks like in Memphis. During the first 23 years of my life, I have been very blessed with people that have invested in me and my passion, and I want to share with them how I am now choosing to live out my life. Please excuse major time lapses, as I can only imagine how busy I am going to get. I will try my best to update on a semi-regular basis. 

For this current blog post, I will introduce you to the Top 7 things you need to know about my experience in Memphis thus far. 
 
 7. Cockroaches 
Apparently Memphis (and our apartment) has a lot of these things. Gross.


6. It's hot here! 


Really hot. So thankful for air conditioning.

5. Hope vs. Calvin in Memphis? Isn't it ironic...

My roommate is a Hope College graduate and from my hometown. Our parent's houses are about five minutes from each other. It is nice to have someone who understands Dutch traits, owns wooden shoes, and is able to easily pronounce last names that begin with a V.


 4. The Digs

Couple pics from the new place that I call home... 





Come visit! 

3. Community 

Memphis Teacher Residency is composed of thirty-six incredibly intelligent, kind, passionate, servant-minded, and interesting individuals (not even to mention the incredible staff).  I am incredibly blessed to be part of such an amazing group. I am excited to be on this journey with them and look forward to what our futures hold.




2. My Placement: KIPP


During my first year in MTR, I will be teaching 5th grade Language Arts at KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program). More info will be sure to come and I find out more about the placement and my mentor teacher. For now, enjoy this lovely link!  
http://kippmemphis.org/

1. Anticipation

My current status: 
        Filled with anticipate and hope for the future of Urban Education in Memphis. 

As Martin Luther King Jr. stated in his Mountaintop Speech, 
  "Something is happening in Memphis; something is happening in our world." 

I am excited to be able to be one tiny brushstroke in the beautiful painting that is Christ's redemptive masterpiece. 


Be blessed, 

Julie


"The question is not, 'If I stop to help this man in need, what will happen to me?' The question is, 'If I do not stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to them?' That's the question."

-Martin Luther King Jr. Mountaintop Speech


For Further Reading: 
http://www.memphistr.org/
http://www.mtrlife.org/


Logo 





Side Note: You may notice another blog post. While I had first deleted this as it did not directly pertained to my Urban Education experience in Memphis, I have now decided to keep this as part of my blog. I am convicted that the fight for justice for individuals with disabilities is deeply in tune with the fight for justice in Urban Education.