Running head: JOURNAL ENTRY 1 1
Journal Entry 1
ENGL 654
Bridget Pruitt
Liberty University
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As I walked into Holt High School for the first day, I was puzzled by all the commotion that was
going on. Kids were running around all over the place and I thought to myself is this really
where I want to be. As the day went on it looked like there was no organization inside this
school. I have had positions at several different other schools and it had never looked like a mad
house as this one did. I sat at my desk and I thought “oh Lord” please let me get through this day
and then I will re-evaluate if this is really for me or not. It was super hard for me to get organized
because of the school being so unorganized, however I thought to myself I have to do this. I am
not a quitter and if I want to help these students I have to help myself.
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Dear, Dr. Ayres,
Walking into the school for the first day and I realized it was going to be a busy day
today! I sat at the desk in my English classroom and thought I would never have a moment’s rest.
The day started at 7:45am and kids were running all over the place. I had never been inside a
public school that was not ready for their students on the first day.
After sitting at my desk during the day I questioned myself is this really for me?
Although, during my prep period I began reading my Bible and asked God what to do. As I
continued reading it, it hit me, Bridget you do what your heart wants you to do. So with that
being said, the day continued and I observed students as well as the faculty and thought to myself
I am not giving up on these students they need organization, as well as structure.
After all, days, weeks, and months went on and I felt as if these kids needed me. I had the
best bunch of students that I have had in all my teaching days. The students were great even
though the school was unorganized. I had to keep my room organized so that I could organize my
students, so that they would feel more comfortable in what they were doing.
While we were sitting in class, I concentrated on making my students top priority and I
quit worrying about the unorganized school. Needless to say, the year was going better than I
expected, in my classroom at least. The principal seemed to still have a few issues that she could
not handle.
Like everyone else, I had some minor issues controlling some of my students in the class,
and I think it had a lot to do with the way the principal “sets the tone” for student behavior. Some
of the things that I did learn while observing this meeting are that administrators need to listen to
their faculties. They need to consider all of the issues involved in a problem.
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Like I had said earlier, all of my other schools that I worked at have not been this way. It
seems to me that the principal wants it her way and does not care about what others think. It was
very frustrating. I really do not have a clue about what her problem is. The meeting ended and
she got up and said she had other issues to handle.
After the meeting all the faculty kind of looked at one another with amuse in our faces.
There is nothing any of us can do at this point except teach our students. It was not like this in
any of the other schools. The principals always had time for faculty, as well as the students. It
looks like the principal does not place any emphasis on the student’s needs.
I walked back to my English class and just breathed hard. I was in disbelief of how an
administrator could be. I picked up my lesson plan material and just began to work. Sometimes,
working takes my mind off of things and allows me to begin to feel better about things. I really
felt sorry for the students that attend this school because the faculty can go other places if they
wanted to.
The day finally ended and believe me I was definitely ready to go. I walked to my car and
just shook my head with disbelief of how the day went. I kept on thinking it will get better, it will
get better.
It is the next day, and I walked in and went straight to my room. I welcomed all of my
students into the classroom as if I was happy to be here, even though I had my doubts. I allowed
the students to help me in organizing our room and organizing their binders. I feel that if I
organize the students then hopefully they will resume organization in their lives.
