After just sort of existing for a couple years, I've finally landed a real grown-up job again. Starting in August, I'll be teaching Middle School Language Arts at an alternative school. The school is for kids who have done something bad enough to get them out of regular school for a while, but not bad enough to send them to Juvey. I'm looking forward to meeting my little delinquents. Apparently, they come and go with each grading period, so I may not teach the same kids for more than a few months. I was also told to expect the Middle School and High School kids at this facility to be reading at a 3rd grade level.

These kids mostly come from troubled homes, with little to no support from their families. I've said before, I'm an idealist, but I'm not naive. I'm hoping I can help some of these kids, but I know a majority of them will probably just continue the same cycle of abuse and neglect that led them to this facility in the first place.

It's not exactly where I want to be, but it's a huge step up from where I am now.