Ducks @ Oregon - University of Oregon

The Waiting Game

Peter E.

November 8, 2009 - 9:25 PM

I'm doing my best to not think about it, so what a better way to keep my mind off of it than writing about it. This big "it" is finding out whether or not I am accepted into Teach For America. As you may recall, I discussed the application process in a previous post, and I now present the second installment in what will likely be a TFA trilogy.

To catch everyone up to speed, my interview went well. I felt confident with the entire process, and I had a great overall understanding of Teach For America (I should, I already work for them on campus) and what it takes to be a good teacher. However, my interview was about 20 days ago, and I will find out in (hopefully) less than 48 hours if I am accepted. I have done a terrific job of putting my pending acceptance out of mind for the last two and half weeks, but it is becoming more and more difficult not to think about it as the November 10th Judgment Day gets nearer and nearer.

It's extremely difficult to play this waiting game because there are so many what ifs and anticipation racking my mind at the moment. Obviously the big question at hand is: am I in or am I out? On the one hand, I feel incredibly confident that I did well and I'm a terrific candidate. I gave the interview my all, and in that respect it's liberating because the power is out of my hands now-I did all that I could do. In addition, I have many close friends, family, and professors that are rooting for me, so that helps my confidence as well. Nonetheless, there's always the possibility that I don't get in.

I try not to think about getting in (or not getting in), but it's really hard not to. If I do get in, there are questions of: Where will I be placed? What grade and subject will I teach? What graduate school will I attend while teaching? Where will I go this summer for training? The possibilities are exhilarating and nerve racking at the same time because there are so many question marks. Most of all, I don't want to get ahead of myself because the biggest question still looms large over me: do I get accepted?

As I explained, there's nothing more I can do at this point; I gave it my all, and I'll do my best to keep myself occupied and my mind elsewhere for the next 48 hours. Until then, the anticipation continues to build until my fate for the next two years will be decided around 5pm on Tuesday. With any luck, the final installment of this trilogy will have a happy ending.

To read Peter's previous Teach for America blog click here»