"You don't realize the impact you make"

"I will miss you so much Miss K. If it wasn't for you, I don't know if I would be breathing right now, so thank you for every single day. Each day, ELL class was my reason to keep achieving my goals..."

I just read this in a student's final essay for me as her teacher. She has gone back to her home country now and I miss her dearly. I knew I made a difference in her life and that God had put me in her life for a reason, but I didn't realize just how much so.

Having been the witness to a suicide and seeing the aftermath that that causes, knowing that God was able to use me in this student's life as a preventative measure against suicide brings me to tears. It all comes full circle, because the reason I became passionate about international students was from my own experience. To know that I really have made a difference in at least one student's life fills me with joy and reminds me that God's will, way and sovereignty are so beyond my understanding.

I know God has a plan and a purpose for this student's life. She also told me that I changed her view towards Christianity and Christians. I know that this is just the first step for her in perhaps one day becoming a follower of Christ. God has plans for her, otherwise she wouldn't still be here on this earth.

God keeps us here on earth as long as we still have work to do. I have been reading about the two witnesses in Revelation 11 (Go and read it if you aren't familiar with the passage). God protected these two witnesses for three years while they proclaimed the Gospel and when their work was finished they were martyred and even then God raises them again and uses their death for his glory. This is how I know God still has a plan and a purpose for me and how I know that he has a plan and purpose for my student. We are both still here and God put us in each other's lives for a reason.

There are no coincidences.

So for those of you reading this, please remember that you never really know what kind of impact you are having on the people around you. I was lucky enough for this student to tell me. But remember that you are still here on this earth for a reason. Ask that God would reveal that reason to you and give you purpose in your life, because he can use you wherever you are.

Let's Start at the Very Beginning

Welcome to my new blog!

In this blog I hope to share with you the things I am learning through my time working as a Spanish and ELL teacher.

I work at a private Christian school in Massachusetts. This year, that school had to hire about 20 new faculty and staff members and one of those people included me!

Here's me with most of the other new teachers! 

The story of how I ended up at this school is pretty cool (at least to me it is...) and it showed God's work and guiding.

It was about the end of march and like every other soon-to-be college graduate I was on the job hunt. I had applied to a few different jobs and had looked at what felt like hundreds and was even considering full-time missions work. Needless to say I was doing a lot of praying about my future. Then I got a phone call from my mom. She says "Kailyn you have to check out this school. Mrs. C called and said they have a position that is perfect for you!" As it turns out it was my roommate's high school so I was already familiar with it!

In the end I interviewed for two positions but I knew I wanted to work at this school. It's funny, because I heard back from both jobs on the same day. The first job gave me a no which made me terrified when my school called. It was the Friday before graduation and I got the call as I was standing in line in Lane to get one of my last Gordon meals. I heard the words "We would like to offer you the position here" and I emphatically said yes, hung up and started crying. I had a job after graduation!!! Granted it's only part-time but I think that's going to work out well since I am applying to grad school.

So that's how it happened and here I am a teacher. (Though never an education major...) I thought I would be traveling the world at this point in my life, but I know God has me right where he wants me. I am starting to see my purpose here and I can't wait to see more!

So here's to the next chapter in my adventures, I hope you enjoy ride as much as I do!