As many of you are aware, this past fall I started a new job. I spent the past 5 years working for the YMCA and accepted a job as a teacher. I didn’t really talk about it much then, mainly because everything happened so fast that it took me a while to settle down and get my bearings. The decision was not an easy one for me to make, and it was one I wrestled with for a while. I was a part of great things at the Y. Sure the job had ups and downs like every job, but the ups were really high. [Read more…] about The Tough Decisions
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My Next Adventure
I began working at the YMCA of the Triangle in 2009. Since then it has been a crazy journey that has landed me in the role of a Youth Director in Garner for the past 2 1/2 years. Over the years I’ve learned a lot, I’ve grown a lot and I’ve had the chance to do lots of awesome things (like be in a skit with Scotty McCreery). I’ve had the chance to work with some incredible people and be a part of some really fun programs. Lately however, it has been tough on my family. On a typical day, I do not get home until around 6:30. With Zeke going to bed between 7:00-7:30, that didn’t leave me much time to spend with him. There are also lots of nights that required working into the evening and when I got home he would already be asleep. As much as I enjoyed my job, I knew it was time to start looking for something else. [Read more…] about My Next Adventure
Swimming with the Guppies
With summer day camp being back, there is one thing I have been reminded of: how much I love rising kindergarten campers. With the rising kindergarten huddle you never know what is going to happen next. When we process games at camp, there is an opportunity for campers to praise other campers. After they say what another camper did well, they can give them a reward like claps, snaps, or pats on the back. Last week when the counselor asked one of the Guppies (our rising Kindergarten huddle name) what they wanted to give, their response was, “Two Hotdogs!” We didn’t have a praise reward called hot dogs at camp, but now we do thanks to that Guppy. [Read more…] about Swimming with the Guppies
A Locker Room Conversation
As I look back at the past month of my life, I’m not really sure where it went. It has been a crazy roller coaster of a ride. I’ve been very busy but last week something happened that made it all worth it.
I have a triathlon coming up in a couple of weeks, so in the midst of having a crazy schedule at work I have tried to make sure I get some workouts in. [Read more…] about A Locker Room Conversation
Stealing Smiles
A few days ago, I was hanging out at Track Out camp when I noticed a kid who wasn’t smiling. I went up to him and asked him if he could smile for me, and he wouldn’t. His huddle was having snack so I started asking the kids around him if any of them had taken his smile. A bunch of the people around him were smiling, so I tried to “steal” their smile from their face so I could give it to him. [Read more…] about Stealing Smiles
Moving On Up
Now that I have you all singing the theme song from The Jeffersons (and if you weren’t I hope you are now), I have some exciting news to share. A few weeks ago, I accepted a position as a youth director at the YMCA of Garner. I will be at a new branch, but still within the YMCA of the Triangle. It has been a long and crazy road getting to this point. It will be sad for me to leave Alexander since I’ve been there for three and a half years and met so many awesome families and kids. I also really enjoy the people that I work with at Alexander, and that will be tough to leave. With that being said, I am really excited about my new opportunity. The YMCA of Garner is heading in a great direction and it will be really fun to be on the front end of those opportunities. [Read more…] about Moving On Up