Hi Readers! I have enjoyed sharing my life and interests with you over the last year. Ready for something new and different? Then you’ll like my new section: The High Way, by Cala High. It is my pleasure to introduce the launch of a new Blog! Meet: Cala High one of my very good friends.
Welcome to my first ever blog post. My name is Cala High, but I go by a lot of other names too:
First, “Mommy” – this one is usually yelled from the top of the stairs, or from the playroom into the kitchen, or really anywhere my three children are… and I am not.
Second, “Mrs. High” – elementary school counselor by day.
Third, “Momma” – my husband uses this term affectionately because we found out pretty soon into our parenting life, that calling me “Cala” would lead to my children also calling me Cala (which isn’t ideal). Cala is the name I go by in the rare times that I am not being called one of the above, which is close to never. Which, I guess is like every other 33 year old woman who is married, has kids and a job.
So, what can I tell you about me? Probably more than you care to know. That’s kinda my style. I am, after all A COUNSELOR. We like to talk…. about pretty much… everything. We can make even the slightest head nod into a novel that George R.R. Martin would be proud of. I am a talker. Anyone who has spent ANY time with me will tell you that. Recently though, due to our relocation from friends and family in rural Pennsylvania to the entirely foreign urban Texas, I have found that there isn’t as many people around who care to hear me talk. So, like anyone else would do, I started a blog. Anyway, enough about blogger, and let’s get back to me.
Up until just a year or so ago, I was a public school elementary teacher for 10 years. I liked it at first, and then, I kinda loved it. Well, what I mean is that I finally found the type of students who I loved to teach. Looking back, I can see that I have always loved the kind of student who is hard to love. You know the kind I am talking about (especially you teachers out there). THAT student you meet at “Back to School” night and your brain IMMEDIATELY starts to spin with thought of: “I am going to have to move their seat…” or “I’m going to have my hands full with that one this year”.
You know, THAT kid. Well, it turns out that I love “that” kid. I am great with “that” kid. I want to know everything about “that” kid. I want “that” kid to know that I love them. “That” kid is my inspiration, my passion, and my calling.
Once I finally had an entire classroom full of those beautiful (and usually ignored) kids, I discovered my true love for teaching. I loved specifically helping them with tools for modifying behavior problems, self control, social skills, problem solving, and real world application. However, I soon realized that I did NOT LIKE the enforced curriculum that I was supposed to teach them. My test scores were good, which meant that my students performed decently on exams and report cards. Pretty much every principal I worked with, gave me glowing reviews as a good teacher. But, I felt too square for the round peg that I was supposed to fit in. I felt too big for the role I had been placed in.
The day came where I realized that teaching those kiddos wasn’t enough. I didn’t have the time to “be” with those children. So, I decided that I wanted to counsel them and their families, and the communities that they live in.
Now, after 3 years of applying, interviewing, and praying for a counseling job, I was blessed with one! My family was in the midst of our massive relocation when I landed my first counseling job.
The school that I work in is awesome. The teachers here have a real HEART FOR TEACHING (as they should), and I have been gifted with a true heart for listening, helping, and encouraging. I couldn’t have asked for a better school. Really, I think my job is the best job in the world, and my heart continues to burn for change.
So, what will this blog be about? Anything that I am passionate about, really. My friends and family who know me well, know that I have A LOT to say about a lot. So, sometimes I might have the uncontrollable urge to talk about counseling techniques, behavioral modification techniques, children’s books that I love and use with my students – and. heaven help us all, but maybe an occasional bit about politics, my parenting failures and triumphs – life is about balance after all.
I most certainly will have a thing or two to say about the TV shows that I love, but mostly just about anything that I have on my mind. So, that’s why my blog is called “The High Way”… I will just follow my heart and my ADHD brain and we will get what we get.
I’d love for you to share something about yourself. I also welcome any kind of conversation you would like to have. However, I have to warn you, I don’t like when adults are mean. After all, we are adults. We are capable of more that just paying bills and being boring adults: we certainly can muster up some kindness for one another. Let me know who you are and what you’d like to hear me talk about.