You can call me Mrs. Brewer

I'm not sure how "official" it is, but yesterday, I was offered a full-time English Teaching position at Viewmont High in Bountiful along with the Head Volleyball Coach position! Wow. That is a lot for one breath. I might need to sit down.

It has all happened so fast and I'm not sure it has even sunk in yet, but it sure feels great and I am over-the-top excited for this new adventure that is in front of me. I know it is going to be a LOT of work and a lot of time, but I cannot wait. I won't lie, it is really weird for me to say that I am a teacher AND a head coach. Am I old enough to be a head coach? haha, well, whether or not my new team thinks I am old enough, I am absolutely anxious to meet them and to get our team on the track to winning a State Championship! (Is that too much for my first year?) haha! Can you tell I am a little bit excited?

I will tell you how this all came about, because before Monday, I had not even talked with the principal on the phone. An incredible woman, Lori Salvo, was the head coach at Viewmont before myself and she had a dream of coaching at her Alma Mater, Davis High, since forever. When the opportunity presented itself, she couldn't turn it down and she transferred schools. I happened to run into her at my women's volleyball league and we got to talking about what I was up to. She knew that Viewmont would be looking for a coach and so she started talking to her principal and found out that they also needed an English teacher. Wow. Can you see how all this is piecing together. Well it was a few weeks later when she called me up and asked me if I had applied for the position (which I had not because I couldn't find it on the internet!!!). So, I called the principal up on Monday and we talked for a little while, mostly about what kind of teacher I was, what I believed in, mainly interview-type questions. Well, later that night, no lie probably after 8, I got a phone call from Principal Tennis and he told me that he really felt like he needed to get me in for an interview and would I be able to come in tomorrow. Of course I said yes because how could I turn down such an incredible opportunity?!

On Tuesday afternoon, at 12:30 to be exact, I pulled into the Viewmont parking lot, walked into the school, then patiently waited in the front office for my interview to begin. I have been in this seat before... many times before. I have been through many many interviews and I have felt the pounding in my heart every time. It never gets better, but, in a way, I think it is a good thing to be nervous. Being nervous shows that you really want to succeed and you really want something. When Mr. Tennis came out to bring me into the conference room, my heart was even more so pounding through my chest. I am surprised he didn't notice! (or at least I don't think he noticed..) As I walked into the room, I had prepared myself to see maybe 2 or 3 other people sitting in the room waiting to greet me, like I have normally seen in previous interviews at other schools, and to my surprise... there were about 8 or 9 people sitting around the conference table. AH! That is the most intimidating sight to see.... you in front with all these eyes staring at you waiting for you to say something brilliant. Im sure most of what came out of my mouth was mush, but somehow I guess it worked. After a half-an-hour interview and 2 hours later, I got another phone call from Mr. Tennis. No introduction. Just the words "Hi Melissa, we want you to be our Head Coach and Teacher!"

oh.my.goodness! I couldn't tell you how my heart started pounding again. I accepted and after some words exchanged I got off the phone and tried to let it sink in. Is it possible for something you have been dreaming of and praying for so hard to sink in within the first 10 minutes? No. It's not! It still seems like a dream. This is such a huge blessing and I have so many people who have been there with me along the way, getting me through each interview. All the many interviews I have been in I know have prepared me for this one important interview. Thinking back to my first interview and the last interview, I know I have improved dramatically in those skills and in showing my interviewee's the kind of teacher, coach, and person I truly am. Thank you so much to everyone who has helped me, taught me, mentored me, and been there for me. I know that I could not be where I am today without the help of my family and friends.

"Love life. Engage in it. Give it all you've got. Love it with a passion, because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it." - Maya Angelou