“Nothing shapes your life more than the commitments you choose to make. Your commitments can develop you or they can destroy you,
but either way, they will define you.”
– Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

This is another post on my gap year chronicles. I did mention it was full of adventures right? Check out my post on “Teaching My First College Seminar” and “My Interview with Accepted.com” for more details. This brings me to my latest adventure.

I was recently offered a position as a high school cross country coach!

I’m still kinda like whoa on this because it’s just wow, unexpected. I mean when I sent in my resume, it still didn’t seem like a possibility. I mean I’m just a year and a half out of college, why would they hire lil ole me? And even if I got hired, I figured ehh, probably an assistant coach. False. Not only was I offered the position after my interview, but I’m not an assistant coach, but the head boys and girls coach. Um whattt?? Yea all I can say is God is good!!

I’m super excited for this because:

One: I get to work with kids again – Yay! I worked with middle and high school students during undergrad, so I’m excited to be in that environment again.

Two: Fitness! I’m pretty sure it’s clear I’m passionate about this so I’m definitely excited to get my students active.

Three: Nurturing resilience. I always compare long distance running to life. There are many obstacles (i.e. beastly hills!), high moments, low moments, times when you just want to stop and give up, but still, you just have to keep plugging ahead. Just keep moving. I’m looking forward to nurturing this attitude of grit and resilience in my students.

This was my first week, and alas, it looks like I have my work cut out for me! Still, I’m excited – the kids are great and are willing to work, which is AWESOME. Plus, I now have something to look forward to after work (not that the research life isn’t interesting, but this is a nice change of pace).

That’s all for now. Ciao!