Week one of teaching at City Dance – Complete!! Wahoooo!
It has been such an eventful and fun week, let me tell ya! Where do I even begin?!
Well, all of last week, we were gearing up for a performance at the Morton Pumpkin Festival which took place on Thursday night. It was our first performance where we performed a group number. Before, we had been doing a set of solos, so this time, it was super fun to learn choreography and rehearse together. The dancers were Tyler, Josh, Anna, Liz, and me. We performed to an excerpt from Boyfriend by J-Biebs. Hopefully there will be a video up on youtube pretty soon!! Anyways, I cannot tell you how much fun it is to bond as a group by learning a dance together. We get silly, then focused, then a little crazy, then a little frustrated, then straight up slap happy! Hahah, it’s the best. At the actual performance, we were able to get pumped up behind the stage together and feed off of one another’s energy. For our very first performance together, I think we did pretty well. :]
This week was also the first week that we taught at an afterschool program called The Friendship House. For the first hour, Josh taught the boys Hip Hop and Liz and I assisted. For the second hour, I taught the girls Street Jazz and Josh and Liz assisted. There were about 10-15 boys and girls in each class, and between the two groups, the boys were definitely more difficult to teach. There were a couple boys who were really testing their limits. They lacked respect and discipline and that really slowed down the class. However, that’s exactly why we’re there. We hope that in the next couple weeks, we will gain their trust and respect as well as show them that it is really fun and rewarding when you work hard at something and succeed. Teaching the girls afterwards seemed like a walk in the park. They were smiley, cute, and full of energy!! Thankfully, they really lifted our spirits and we were able to leave feeling really great about the day.
City Dance is about more than just Dance, so during the last 15 minutes of class, we sit the kids down and talk about our mentorship theme of the month. This month, our theme is Family. It wasn’t very difficult to get most of these kids to open up. When asked to describe family in one word, kids would say things like crazy, annoying, caring, loving, patient, etc. We eventually talked about families outside of our relatives, and how it is possible to feel part of a family outside of home. The kids seemed to be tracking with us, and it was a perfect way for us to let them know that we care about them, we love them, and we can be silly, crazy, and goofy as well! That’s our specialty! ;) I have no doubt that the City Dance Family is going to grow big time this year.
Well, truth be told, I was kind of dreading Tuesday because I had to teach my first math lesson… But, it was actually PHENOMENAL! I found resource online that give full lessons plans with practice problems and objectives, so I used that this past week. The kids listened, they were respectful, they asked questions, and I think they actually learned something and had a little fun! We played a game at the end, and they just ate it up. I was so happy at the end of class! Praise the Lord! Keep praying that I will not be anxious about this every single week. It’s really easy for me to get nervous since I’m not a math expert!
On Wednesday, I had an interview at Barnes and Noble for a position in the café! There is a three step interview process, and so far I have made it through two of them. While I really hope I get this job, as it will really help me financially, I’m a little nervous about it conflicting with City Dance. From what it sounds like, if I get the job at B&N, I’ll be able to work 24 hours a week. So pray that God’s will is done in whether or not I get this job, and then if I do get the job, pray that it will be easy to work out the two very different work schedules.
Today (Saturday) we had our first studio classes at Body Fitness. In both of my classes, I had two students: one boy and one girl. For a couple of the classes that we were offering, no one showed up! So that was a little discouraging… but I’m sure everything will work out.
VERY exciting news...! On Tuesday night, the Mayor of Peoria made a proclamation saying that September 11th, from now until forever in the city of Peoria, will be officially known as City Dance Day!! How cool is that?? We’re hoping that this will broaden awareness of our organization and bring in more funding! But apart from that, it is just such an honor to have received that recognition. God is so good, right? :] He is also provided a City Dance car for us! It will serve the purpose as a traveling billboard and a means of transportation for kids! We won’t have that right away, but it’s in the works.
As far as my life outside of City Dance goes, I made a couple new friends (yes!), tried out a small group at Richwoods, got my first pay check (:D), created a monthly budget, and made tons of progress on wedding planning! God continues to bless me each week, and it seems like things just keep getting better and better.
On a side note, I still don’t really feel like I’ve connected to Richwoods much… and that is hard. I had to really force myself to go to the women’s small group because I knew I’d be the youngest there, and low and behold, I was. I know it just takes time, and I have been out of town these past couple weekends, so I haven’t even been able to attend the Sunday service, but I guess I’m just not used to not being super involved in Christian ministry like Lakeside or Cru. Thankfully, my close friends are able to keep me accountable and point me to Jesus. Oh what would I do without them? :] But I really am excited to go to Richwoods tomorrow morning again, and I’m especially excited to eat the delicious donuts that they serve!! Heheh. Please pray that I would really feel connected to this church soon, and grow a ton spiritually through it!
Oh! I should mention that last weekend, I got to visit ISU and it was sosososo good! :] I’m so thankful to have those people in my life. What a genuine and loving group of people. I’m truly blessed to call you friends, friends. :]
I still have a ton of free time on my hands… especially in the mornings. So I’d love and appreciate phone calls or texts! ;) Thanks for taking the time to read and pray for me. God bless!
It has been such an eventful and fun week, let me tell ya! Where do I even begin?!
Well, all of last week, we were gearing up for a performance at the Morton Pumpkin Festival which took place on Thursday night. It was our first performance where we performed a group number. Before, we had been doing a set of solos, so this time, it was super fun to learn choreography and rehearse together. The dancers were Tyler, Josh, Anna, Liz, and me. We performed to an excerpt from Boyfriend by J-Biebs. Hopefully there will be a video up on youtube pretty soon!! Anyways, I cannot tell you how much fun it is to bond as a group by learning a dance together. We get silly, then focused, then a little crazy, then a little frustrated, then straight up slap happy! Hahah, it’s the best. At the actual performance, we were able to get pumped up behind the stage together and feed off of one another’s energy. For our very first performance together, I think we did pretty well. :]
This week was also the first week that we taught at an afterschool program called The Friendship House. For the first hour, Josh taught the boys Hip Hop and Liz and I assisted. For the second hour, I taught the girls Street Jazz and Josh and Liz assisted. There were about 10-15 boys and girls in each class, and between the two groups, the boys were definitely more difficult to teach. There were a couple boys who were really testing their limits. They lacked respect and discipline and that really slowed down the class. However, that’s exactly why we’re there. We hope that in the next couple weeks, we will gain their trust and respect as well as show them that it is really fun and rewarding when you work hard at something and succeed. Teaching the girls afterwards seemed like a walk in the park. They were smiley, cute, and full of energy!! Thankfully, they really lifted our spirits and we were able to leave feeling really great about the day.
City Dance is about more than just Dance, so during the last 15 minutes of class, we sit the kids down and talk about our mentorship theme of the month. This month, our theme is Family. It wasn’t very difficult to get most of these kids to open up. When asked to describe family in one word, kids would say things like crazy, annoying, caring, loving, patient, etc. We eventually talked about families outside of our relatives, and how it is possible to feel part of a family outside of home. The kids seemed to be tracking with us, and it was a perfect way for us to let them know that we care about them, we love them, and we can be silly, crazy, and goofy as well! That’s our specialty! ;) I have no doubt that the City Dance Family is going to grow big time this year.
Well, truth be told, I was kind of dreading Tuesday because I had to teach my first math lesson… But, it was actually PHENOMENAL! I found resource online that give full lessons plans with practice problems and objectives, so I used that this past week. The kids listened, they were respectful, they asked questions, and I think they actually learned something and had a little fun! We played a game at the end, and they just ate it up. I was so happy at the end of class! Praise the Lord! Keep praying that I will not be anxious about this every single week. It’s really easy for me to get nervous since I’m not a math expert!
On Wednesday, I had an interview at Barnes and Noble for a position in the café! There is a three step interview process, and so far I have made it through two of them. While I really hope I get this job, as it will really help me financially, I’m a little nervous about it conflicting with City Dance. From what it sounds like, if I get the job at B&N, I’ll be able to work 24 hours a week. So pray that God’s will is done in whether or not I get this job, and then if I do get the job, pray that it will be easy to work out the two very different work schedules.
Today (Saturday) we had our first studio classes at Body Fitness. In both of my classes, I had two students: one boy and one girl. For a couple of the classes that we were offering, no one showed up! So that was a little discouraging… but I’m sure everything will work out.
VERY exciting news...! On Tuesday night, the Mayor of Peoria made a proclamation saying that September 11th, from now until forever in the city of Peoria, will be officially known as City Dance Day!! How cool is that?? We’re hoping that this will broaden awareness of our organization and bring in more funding! But apart from that, it is just such an honor to have received that recognition. God is so good, right? :] He is also provided a City Dance car for us! It will serve the purpose as a traveling billboard and a means of transportation for kids! We won’t have that right away, but it’s in the works.
As far as my life outside of City Dance goes, I made a couple new friends (yes!), tried out a small group at Richwoods, got my first pay check (:D), created a monthly budget, and made tons of progress on wedding planning! God continues to bless me each week, and it seems like things just keep getting better and better.
On a side note, I still don’t really feel like I’ve connected to Richwoods much… and that is hard. I had to really force myself to go to the women’s small group because I knew I’d be the youngest there, and low and behold, I was. I know it just takes time, and I have been out of town these past couple weekends, so I haven’t even been able to attend the Sunday service, but I guess I’m just not used to not being super involved in Christian ministry like Lakeside or Cru. Thankfully, my close friends are able to keep me accountable and point me to Jesus. Oh what would I do without them? :] But I really am excited to go to Richwoods tomorrow morning again, and I’m especially excited to eat the delicious donuts that they serve!! Heheh. Please pray that I would really feel connected to this church soon, and grow a ton spiritually through it!
Oh! I should mention that last weekend, I got to visit ISU and it was sosososo good! :] I’m so thankful to have those people in my life. What a genuine and loving group of people. I’m truly blessed to call you friends, friends. :]
I still have a ton of free time on my hands… especially in the mornings. So I’d love and appreciate phone calls or texts! ;) Thanks for taking the time to read and pray for me. God bless!
As promised, some pictures of the apartment...
Bulletin board is up!
Cute teal chairs! Still waiting for a table...
Futon, coffee, table, and TV
I had 3 wooden frames that were too big for a 4X6, so I added some scrap book paper and it looks sooo cute!!
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