Figuring it out

I'd like to tell you that my first year teaching in Colorado has been great. I'd also like to tell you that I've enjoyed it immensely, but I'd be wrong with both statements.

Now before you get the wrong idea, I need to put out a few truths: I love Colorado, and I love North Park. There are some wonderful people here, and who could ever argue about the sights? I enjoy teaching social studies here. I'm thankful for the freedom the district has given me to teach some controversial topics. I adore my students. Let me say this one more time for emphasis: I adore my students. I will do anything I can to help them succeed.

The problem I have is my struggles to acclimate to a new culture, which I've never had a problem doing before. I adjusted just fine when I live in Italy. I fit in well when serving in Washington, D.C., and I lived the good life while stationed in New Jersey. However, the culture here is different. I don't know how to explain it. I can only say that it is. For whatever reason, I constantly feel like an outsider here. Maybe my personality doesn't mix well with some folks, or perhaps I'm a bit shortsighted in my thinking. I don't know.

What I do know is that these feelings are often common in first-year teachers. It's not some warning sign of impending doom. I just hope and pray that I can learn from a tough first year and become a better teacher and coach. I hope that my students understand how much I care about them, even as I challenge them with difficult material. The one thing I do know is that God brought me here for a reason. I have to trust that, even though I don't understand much of anything.

Thanksgiving 2014 - Why I'm Thankful

The past couple of years have been pretty rough. Whether it be the job hunt or the highly stressful year working in a tough position in Cincinnati, it's been difficult. I spent plenty of time questioning God's direction for me. Honestly, I didn't know what was going to happen.

In truth, I've kept a secret from most people about the job hunt. I applied to my alma mater Boardman High School two years in a row. I was homesick and wanted to go home. I wanted to make a difference in my community. I hoped to be another light in a region that has long suffered economically. I wanted to be a part of something special at home. To say that I had zeroed in on Boardman High School would be an understatement. That's where I wanted to be. It was my dream job.

In 2013, I aggressively pursued an interview at Boardman, and I eventually got one. It went well, at least I thought it did. I drove back to Cincinnati that day believing that it was my destiny to return home. At the very least, I expected to get a second interview. However, that's not what happened. The principal called and basically told me that I wasn't a good fit, but he believed that I would be an excellent teacher one day. I was heartbroken, but I didn't give up hope that I could one day go home.

During the 2013-2014 school year, I did what I could to fill my resume. I coached both football and basketball and taught at a charter school in downtown Cincinnati. I worked hard and poured myself into everything I did. Furthermore, I periodically emailed Boardman to let them know that I was still around and hoped for another opportunity. Later, when I began applying for jobs again, one of the first things I did was update my application with Boardman. I called and emailed again, but this time there was no interview.

I'm not going to lie; this perceived rejection hurt. Was there something wrong with me? What did Boardman see that they didn't like? What was my flaw? To this day, I don't know. All I know is that I spent the next few months feeling bitter about it, even when I got hired at North Park.

My perspective has changed now that I've been here for almost three months. I'm thankful for the wonderful kids I've been blessed to teach. I appreciate an administration that has faith in me to take different approaches with my Social Studies kids. I'm thrilled that, for the most part, the students and their parents have accepted me as one of their own. The move here has been a more difficult adjustment than I anticipated, but I love it in North Park. My wife loves it here. We can see the purpose for which we were brought here, and for all of that, I'm thankful.

I no longer feel bitter that Boardman didn't hire me. They had their reasons, and maybe I wouldn't have done as well there. I think that God had a different, better plan for us. For that, I'm thankful more than words can express. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Life Changes ... Moving to Colorado

Something interesting happened when Jenn and I got married. One day we had a conversation about where we would like to live. We both said, without hesitation, Colorado. That’s been on our hearts for years, although we eventually started thinking that God meant for us to retire there or something like that instead of moving there now. Well, I guess we were wrong.

God’s hand has definitely been on us with this move. I had no idea that we would be heading to Colorado when I reopened the job search in February. In fact, we made the decision to apply everywhere at first. I applied to jobs in Alaska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, North Carolina and other places. I even filled out paperwork for positions in the Virgin Islands and China!

In the end, we narrowed down our search to a couple states: Tennessee, Colorado and Ohio. I think I submitted applications for every open social studies position in Ohio between March and early May. However, only one school in Ohio called me in for an interview, and although I did well, I wasn’t chosen for the next round.

Last year, I interviewed with 13 districts in Ohio. This year, it was a different story. With that in mind, I braced for another long summer, and quite frankly, I wasn’t looking forward to it. The job search humbled me in many ways in 2013. I didn’t want to go through it all again this year, but that’s what I was starting to think would happen one day when I came home to several rejection emails from a single district in Colorado.

However, something was different this time. A thought came to mind about a tiny district in Walden Colorado that I had applied to two weeks before. I looked up the district’s phone number and decided to give them a call. I’m not sure what pushed me to take action that day, although I can make a pretty good guess. The phone rang and a recording noted that the school was closed on Fridays. I shrugged and figured I’d leave a message for the principal. Instead, I was surprised when she answered the phone. Somehow, someway, I scored a 20-minute phone interview with her right there on the spot.

The principal told me that she was glad I called, because she had put my resume aside, hoping to learn more about me. She remembered me as the Navy guy who sent her an introductory email a couple weeks back. The principal then explained that the school planned on narrowing down a list of interviewees on the next day. She asked me to sell myself on why I should get an interview. I did the best I could to explain my background and passion for teaching, and as we were getting ready to hang up, she asked me if I could make it out there for an interview if I was chosen. Trusting God, I said that I would.

I got off the phone knowing that I’d made a good impression, but I wasn’t sure I would get an in-person interview. Knowing the expenses involved, Jenn started asking God to close the door if I wasn’t meant to teach in North Park. Well, I guess God had other things in mind, because the principal called me the following afternoon and offered me an interview.

I flew out to Denver a few days later and drove through the mountains to Walden. I prayed here and there along the way, and I eventually arrived a few minutes before my scheduled interview. The principal’s husband was there to greet me. He took me on a tour of the school and the town as the interview board finished up with another prospective teacher. Soon I was sitting in the hot seat in front of five different interviewers.

I’d like to tell you that I gave a perfect interview, but I didn’t. I made some mistakes along the way. I’d like to tell you that I felt confident as I drove back to Denver that night. I’d like to tell you that the job was mine as I landed in Cincinnati the following Saturday afternoon. The truth is that I went home thinking that I did alright, but I had been down that road before.

The principal called me on Monday morning and offered me the job. I wanted to say yes immediately, but we felt that we needed to take it before our church family before we gave a final answer. We also considered everything, including money. It was clear that making the move would fulfill a dream of both of ours, but it would also put us in debt. In the end, it was the lack of a reaction from our church family that helped us make a decision. I figured they would question everything if they felt in their spirit that we shouldn’t go. Instead, they blessed us and gave their support for the move. I accepted the job the next morning.

Here’s the deal: we’re trusting God here. There are plenty of questions in our lives right now. Jenn and I have no idea why God chose Walden for us. All I know is that we’re both excited and scared. We’re excited about whatever the Lord has for us, but we’re concerned about the amount of debt that we’ll have to take on for this move. We know that God made this happen, and since it’s the work of His hands, we can rest assured that we’ll be just fine.

There is one request that we would have from everyone: prayer. We need a lot of prayer. There is plenty of stress over the finances of this move, and we would really appreciate our friends and family stepping up and praying for us. Teaching is my mission field. I’m there to make a difference in my students’ lives and in the community. Please pray that we continue to rely on God to meet our needs and believe in His purpose for our lives. Thank you all for your love and support! We’re going to need it on this awesome adventure.

Day 1: A New Beginning

I left my house this morning both depressed and unsure of my future. I've been spending a lot of time wondering about God's plan for my life, and part of me felt hopeless. I'm a 35-year-old first year teacher who is working with the toughest kids you could imagine. They try me at every corner, and this morning, I wasn't sure if I could handle it.

I got in my car and just started praying. That's all I could really do. I confessed my need for him as I realized how independent I've been of late. I understand that although I may be able to function, I'm not able to give these students everything they need without the Lord's help. That's when I decided to make some changes in my morning routine. I will get my devotions in, and I will spend time blogging about what I learned. Today, I came to understand how much I really need the Lord. I'm lost without Jesus.

The 2013 Harrison Wildcats: Football and Family

There is a reason why I love the game of football more than any other sport on the planet. Is there any other sport where rosters of 50 to 100 people can come together for one goal? Is there any other game where 11 people must play together as one cohesive unit like football? Is there any other sport that brings people together as a family like the game of football?

That’s what I saw this year with the Harrison High School team. No one really knew what would happen with this squad in 2013. The Wildcats finished 4-6 last season, and they entered this year with some of the same flaws that plagued the 2012 team. When one of the kids told me that the Wildcats would finish around 7-3 during training camp, I didn’t buy it. The Wildcats had talent, but there were issues that I didn’t think they could solve. I was wrong.

Head coach Kent McCullough and his staff did an outstanding job coaching these kids up and fixing the team’s weaknesses. However, if there is one intangible about this team that made the difference, it’s how the Wildcats came together as a family. This group of young men came to love each other like brothers. There is almost nothing that they wouldn’t do for one another. The 2013 Wildcats were more than just a football team. They were a family that formed a bond that nothing could break.

That isn’t to say that the 2012 team wasn’t a family because they were. There was just something different about this team. The 2013 Wildcats were there for each other in a way that reminded me of everything I love about this game. When the Wildcats lost their first-round playoff game to Northwest, the kids weren’t upset about not playing another Friday. They accepted their loss with class and dignity. Instead, they were upset because they would never take the field with their senior brothers again. Their time together on the field is over, and that knowledge wounded them more than words can express.

The sport of football is often criticized for its violence, and now we’re reading stories about bullying and other issues. However, it was a privilege to witness football at its greatest this season at Harrison. The Wildcats played to win with passion and a love for the game that is rare. They laid it all on the line for each other, and in doing so, they can hold their heads high and be proud of what they accomplished together this season. They became a family, and in the end, that’s what football is about.

Birthday Introspection - Have I Done Enough?

There are some days when I question if anything that I’ve done has mattered. It usually happens right around my birthday, which I guess makes sense. I turn 35 years old tomorrow, and I’m feeling every bit of that age. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not feeling old. It’s not like that at all. Instead, I’m looking back over my life and wondering if I’ve accomplished anything. Have I changed people’s lives? Have I made the world a better place? Have I really allowed God to use me during my short time on this earth?

I’d like to say that I have made a difference. I’d like to believe that I’ve done everything I could to serve my God, family, church and students, but I don’t think I have. I cringe when I look at all the imperfections in my own life. My flaws run deep. How can I make a difference?

However, I’m sure about one thing: God’s grace. I know that He had His reasons for setting me on this path. I understand that His grace covers me. That’s why I move forward; that’s why I keep plugging away. I believe that God continues to use me to bless others, even when I don’t see it.

It’s important to have faith here. The race is long, and there is always much to be done. I don’t know what God has in store for my life. I just have to believe that He will continue to do a good work in me. I pray that God uses me throughout the rest of my life to change the lives of everyone around me for the better. That includes my students, both past and present. Here's to a future of making a difference with them and everyone else I meet. 

Testimony – Hitting Rock Bottom

I was touched this morning to find someone on Facebook confessing that he’s struggling with his faith after losing two of his siblings. He couldn’t help but wonder about God’s plan when he’s been dealing with such pain.

His comments brought me back to a day more than five years ago when I hit rock bottom. It was the day that I decided to take my own life. I was going through a painful divorce at the time, and nothing seemed to be going my way. Earlier in the day, my now ex-wife had brought her family over to our apartment to help move her out. I sat there while the entire group laughed and generally had a good old time as they tore the place apart. Finally, she went with me over to the lease office, dropped off her keys, and told me to “have a good life.”

I was crushed. This was the woman that I believed I was supposed to live the rest of my life with. Yet every effort I made to talk with her failed. She wouldn’t give us a chance, even though she knew that it could be fixed.

I went back to work after she left, which turned out to be a huge mistake. I failed to sell anything that night, and as I returned to the office, memories of all the good and bad times with my ex-wife swam through my head. I looked upon every memory and cried out in pain. Tears flooded my eyes and raced down my cheeks as I drove back to work to drop my materials off for the night. At that point, I decided that I’d had enough; I no longer wanted to live.

I called two of my friends and thanked them for being there over the past couple of months. Then I called my mother and told her that I loved her. I hoped that I had made her proud over the years. She tried to talk with me, but I hung up the phone and turned it off.

There was now no one on earth available to talk me out of what I planned to do. And trust me, I had a plan. I decided to ram my car head-on into the wall at the I-270/I-70 interchange driving as fast as I could. If I was going to go, I was going to go hard and fast. Yet something stopped me as I drove closer to the exit. Some people might say that I probably didn’t really want to die, but it’s deeper than that. Someone was in the car with me that night. Someone who loved me - someone who whispered that everything would be okay. I listened to the words that emanated in my heart and mind, and I kept driving past the intersection.

Eventually, I called my loved ones and let them know I was okay. I then drove about an hour south and stayed in some seedy motel overnight. The next morning, I got in my car and went home. As I drove, I thanked the Lord for saving me, and I asked him to help me find a way through the trial I was dealing with.

God worked in my life over the next several months through my church, friends and family. 

I made mistakes, but I eventually emerged as much more than a survivor. I became an overcomer thanks to the love and faithfulness of Jesus Christ. I admit that I’m still healing from many of the wounds that were inflicted, but I’m also starting to feel joy and happiness again. I’m finally able to give more and more of myself to my wife, Jenn, who I’m so blessed to have in my life. I met her a little over a year later, and she has walked with me through many of the days when I’ve struggled with my failures.

Finally, when it comes to God’s plan, it’s important to know that He never gives up. I dreamt of being a teacher and a sportswriter as a teenager, and that’s exactly what I do today. I may have given up on those dreams at times, but the Lord never did. He stuck with me; he opened doors. God has continually given me favor, whether it be in the classroom or with my writing. I’ve even been blessed with the right students, many of whom I keep in touch with now. I love them like they are my very own kids, and I will always be proud of them. They are representative of how blessed I am in this life, and to think, I nearly threw it away.

1 Samuel 2:8 says this: "He raises up the poor from the dust, he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world."

When you’re struggling, and your heart is breaking, remember that the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s. He is in control. You might not understand why He is allowing you to go through something, but just understand that He loves you. He has your best interests at heart. In the end, you’ll be just fine.

Romans 8:28 notes this: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

In the end, God will always make it right; He will always work your situation for good.