This is a quote from Pretty Woman, my most favorite movie ever: “Welcome to Hollywood! What’s your dream? Everybody comes here; this is Hollywood, land of dreams. Some dreams come true, some don’t; but keep on dreamin’ – this is Hollywood. Always time to dream, so keep on dreamin’.”

That part of that quote “Always time to dream, so keep on dreamin'” is one quote that has always stuck in my head. We all have a dream of what we want to do in life, right? I see post and tweets over and over about passions, following passions, dreams, etc. What is your dream?

I have a dream of what I want to be when I grow up. Kinda. Same thing since I was a student teacher.  It is not to be a classroom teacher though.  The school I was in for my 2nd placement had this guy that was doing all this tech stuff with different classrooms.  I would watch him and ask my supervising teacher about his job.  One day I even got to spend the afternoon watching him work with a class and their teacher. I remember watching and asking the kids to explain to me what they were doing and how (they were making a video about the state of Alabama, from the state parks to the state tree).  From that day on I knew that is what I always wanted to do. I have loved tech since my parents bought me a Commodore 64 when I was 2! My love (and nerdiness) has grown more and more with this advancing age of tech.

After 2 years of teaching I got a brochure in my work mailbox about getting a degree in “Technology in Education.” UM YES PLEASE! I was at the first informational meeting signing up. I completed my degree, wasn’t easy, I found out I was pregnant the week classes began. I knew this is what I wanted to do. After a year of applying for positions (in the rare case one opened) and not even getting interviews I went back to get my Ed.S. in that same field.  This has been an even longer journey to complete (found out I was pregnant the day after I registered), but I can say there are no more classes for me to take.

So this journey started when I began my graduate degree in May 2005. Today is March 22, 2011. Still nothing.  During this time I have watched my passion for helping and teaching teachers grow.  I love nothing more than staying after school and helping one with his/her lesson or taking my break to help someone figure out their ActivBoard. The weird thing is that I get more excited seeing others do new things with technology than even using tech in my own classroom. I love the opportunity to teach a PD session or chat with someone about how twitter and blogs have completely changed my teaching.   Yet those opportunities are far and few between. I have shed tears over fact teachers in my school could use training in the tech field yet I do not get to because it is not my place.

Now do not get me wrong, I really like my job, I have fun, and I am very thankful for it, but it is not my passion. We tell kids everyday they can be anything they want to be, or tell them to seek their passion. Yet is there a time where we should just give up on those dreams? Is there a time when we need to realize the dreams may not come true? Then what? Or do we keep hoping? Keep trying to make it happen? I think we do. I think we have to still push through fears, through the heart ache, through the struggles.  Through the jealousy of those who blog and tweet about fulfilling the passion you have had for 6 years.  You keep moving. You keep on dreamin’.

I am going to try to “keep on dreamin'” but with state budget cuts I know there will be no Tech Specialist jobs open again this year. If there is, I of course will apply.  Until then I have the same dream. I am going to hope that  this dream I am so qualified for will become a reality. Until then…

**BTW this is not a whine fest, I really just wanted to reflect and remind others not to give up. I am sure others have same issues and it is always good to know others can relate**

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