Well Happy New Year to me!!! Since I've been back to New York City things have finally fallen in place for me! Hallelujah praise the Lord! Being home was exactly what I needed. 2 and 1/2 weeks of family and friend time was refreshing and revived me. I was literally at my breaking point before I left for the Christmas Break. I had moved 4 times in the last 6 months and I had applied for at least 4 part time music jobs and was denied every single time. The last one was heart breaking b/c I thought for sure I would have it! Alas, I did not, so, I just cried my eyes out and called home. Papa broke my heart when he said "Crystal come home" and then proceeded to pray the most beautiful prayer over my life. (Gosh, I love my family.) I had no idea how hard it was gonna be but I was not willing to give up. So, I continued my pursuit and found a temp agency that puts substitutes in private and charter schools. That was perfect for me and I landed that job the day I got on the plane for Texas. Aah sweet relief knowing that I would have the opportunity to make at least 100.00 a day and wouldn't have to work every day if I didn't want to. That made the 2 weeks at home a bit more relaxing...except for the fact that I had to get about 8 shifts covered at Anthropologie. Thankfully I did get most of them covered and was able to keep the job when I got back. It goes without saying that being home was amazing and time spent with friends and new babies was absolutely priceless but I have to say, after two weeks I was actually ready to come back to NY. I think that says a lot.
When I got back to the City I was on the hunt for a permanent place to live, but the guy I'm subletting from, Tally, said I could have his room until May and possibly longer. So, I live with 2 boys, sometimes 3 sometimes 4 depending on who is sleeping on the couch. It's a rotating door in here but they are all so sweet and I love them to death. So, I have somewhat of a stable living situation and that makes me so happy.
Last semester I taught classes in NJ and had no idea whether I was going to be teaching with CYT anymore. So I asked and was told I wouldn't be working as a teacher for CYT this semester but a week later was asked to teach "Our Gang." That class is 4-5 year olds and combines music and drama....again PERFECT!!! I've been there three weeks and the kids are soooo cute but wild and crazy.
I am learning the importance of being persistent. I applied for one more part-time music job at Third Street Music Settlement. I had applied for this job back in September and they told me they were looking for someone with more "New York" experience. When I saw it posted again, I sent in all of my stuff one more time and asked them to reconsider me for the position. Well, I got an interview and let me just tell you that was one of the craziest interviews I've ever had in my whole life! The head of the music and movement department, Monika, sat in on the interview with me and Nancy, the director or Third Street. Monika was extremely hard on me and and was not happy with my answers at all. She asked me what would my lessons look like for a kindergarten class and how would I get them into my classroom. So the interaction went something like this....
Me: "Well I would greet them at the door and then they would go to their assigned...
Monika: "Oh no we DO NOT have assigned seats in the classroom. How will you get them in your classroom?"
Nancy: Did you have assigned seats where you taught last?
Me: (a little stunned) Yes, that's what worked for my students.
Monika: Okay so continue, how will you get them in your classroom.
Me: Well, like I said before I will greet them at the door
Monika: No! What are you going to do to make sure that they don't run all over the place?
Me: Okay fine. (still having no idea what she is asking me) I'll sing "Snail Snail" with them until we are seated around the circle and then we will listen to a piece of music, do some movement, sing some songs and add instruments if there is time.
Nancy: You listen to classical music with your students?
Me: Yes, I think it's a great way to introduce them to other types of music.
Nancy: Well, we don't really do that. It's about experiencing and creating. How much of a song do you listen to?
Me: (at this point I'm extremely annoyed b/c clearly everything I have said has been wrong!) It's only a snippet, maybe like 45 seconds to a minute.
Nancy: Oh okay that's great. Well do you have any questions for us?
Me: No not really...(I didn't care anymore)
Nancy: Monika, do you have anymore questions?
Monika: Yes! I want to go back to the beginning of class. I know snail, snail. I know that you have to hold hands, I know that you have to be very explicit when giving directions so how will you make that happen?
Me: Oh! Are you asking me to give you the set of instructions I would give to the kids?
Monika: Yes that's what I want.
Me: Okay? I can do that....Good afternoon boys and girls my name is Miss Gulley and this I what I would like you to do please.......
I proceeded to talk to Monica and Nancy like they were my kindergartners and gave them very explicit instructions. And then giggled afterwards. That's my way of shaking off being offended. I found that out in my Meisner class of all places. I really felt ridiculous and I was so frustrated b/c why didn't they just say in the first place role play. We are your students guide us through the beginning of your class. At one point Nancy looked at Monika and said, "Monika, you do know that she has taught elementary for 9 years. She clearly has classroom experience." Then Monika said after my giggles "You can giggle all you want but this is a serious matter." At that point I was done. I didn't want the job anymore. I walked away thinking Lord have mercy on my soul, there is no way I want to do this. I don't even need the job anymore so why did I even apply!
Well, much to my surprise, the next day I received an email that said my interview had been well received and they both wanted me to go through the second round of interviews. That meant I would teach a sample lesson to a group of second graders. I laughed out loud when I got the email. Really?!!! Anyway, I was happy for the second interview. It was my chance to show them that I clearly knew what I was doing. I had to call Monika the night before the second interview so she could give me a run-down of the class I would be teaching and she actually apologized for being so hard on me in the interview. Her explanation was, "It's very clear to me that you have experience but I'm tired of Third Street thinking they can just hire a warm body to take over. I'm ready to retire and I want someone in there who knows what they are doing." So, I was thankful for the apology and got some tips on how to teach the class. To make a long story of the ridiculousness short I got the job!!!! I will be teaching two classes of kindergartens two days a week
in Brooklyn at the Tweed Courthouse. The school is called Peck Slip Elementary School and is brand new. That means I get to start the music program with them from the ground up, I get to decide on what instruments to order etc. It's kind of exciting. I met the principal and she reminds me a lot of Colleen Bohrmann....very supportive of the arts and believes it absolutely has a place in the school. I think the job is perfect after all the craziness I went through. Persistence pays off!
Whew, that was a long story. But I have to say things are going well and 2013 is off to a great start so far. 2012 was hard...really hard and my first 6 months in New York City were not anything that I expected! Lots of tears, lots of sleepless nights wondering what I'm doing, lots of moving from couch to sublet but I learned life lessons that I will never forget. Also known as the refiners fire. I needed some refining.
So, here are the things in store for 2013. More auditioning. I have got to conquer my fear of auditioning. I have to, and the only way to do so is to go through them. I went to an audition for Our Town when I got back and it was awful. I completely forgot my monologue..like 100% blanked!!! I have never done that before so I left the audition in tears. I was hysterical and questioned why I put myself through them and then I had a moment of clarity. I have to prepare!!! I can't just say the monologue in my head b/c I don't want my roommates to hear me. I have to say it out loud and really practice. That means I've got to get over myself and just do it. Lesson learned, Just Do IT!! I also, joined a choir, the Cecilia Chorus of New York. We are singing two of the most amazing pieces of music in Carnegie Hall on April 14th! So excited about this. I needed this choir because I needed something to feed my soul. And last but not least, I applied to Grad School! That is huge for me. It was one of the reasons I came here but once I got here I just tried to survive so I put that idea on the back burner until now. I got back and knew I had to do it. My application was sent in on February 1st and I have no idea when I'll hear the results but I applied and I'm so excited to possibly be starting Grad School in the summer. Here's to a great start to 2013! I'm loving NYC finally :)
Love,
Miss Gulley in Manhattan
No comments:
Post a Comment