TGIF, 11/14/11 Edition

(photo by me)

I've been quite the negligent little blogger this week, haven't I?
Let me explain: Monday (yes, Halloween, the horror!) was my last day on the job and I've been struggling to get my bearings being at home ever since.  I've been taking time for home projects, and have certainly been busy reflecting.

***

When I was in the fifth grade, my teachers Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Mangini were required to complete our report cards, those white-yellow-pink carbon versions, on a quarterly basis. I always liked school, considered myself to be an excellent student, and anxiously awaited the moment I could lay eyes on my grades every few months.

Teachers weren't required to use traditional A, B, C marks in the fifth grade; instead, they used other letters like O (for 'outstanding'), S (for 'satisfactory'), and NI ('needs improvement'). Teachers also had the option to further qualify each grade with a plus or minus after the letter (for example, O+ was a concise way of saying, 'wow, this kid is really awesome and super-smart').

All four quarters of the year had passed, and just before my class was ready to formally move on to the sixth grade, the time came for grades to be handed out. Mrs. Mangini, the fifth grade teacher who covered social studies and language arts, was the bearer of the report cards that would represent our progress in fifth grade. I don't remember my individual marks today, but I do remember the message she wrote on that collection of carbon sheets. 

It read:

"The world needs more competent women like you, Ashley. Good luck in 6th grade."
***

I'm not in the 6th grade anymore. I'm in my late twenties, married, and still learning as I go.
I want to live up to those great expectations. I want to believe that I'm competent and that the world still needs me.

I know my next career adventure is just around the corner.

Happy weekend, all.
 The regularly-scheduled posting will resume on Monday, I promise.