Happiness is a key to my... Office!

I know this will seem like a rather silly reason to be so happy to some of you, but after four and a half years working for the school district, I have finally pestered my way into an office. No longer will I have to impose on other teachers for computer time or wait in the teachers lounge till classes start. Now I have a place to hang my coat instead of carrying it around with me all day, and a place where I can store my reference books so I can do my prep work during my down time on the job, instead of doing it all at home. 

The High School, as nice a place as it can be to work in, is not always very good at providing for non-traditional employees, they just seem to assume we can take care of ourselves or something. (I guess that is partly my fault, I try to be as self sufficient as possible and I hate to complain...) But honestly, even the students get lockers! This is my third year here, and it is the first year I have even had a mail box, (that took a lot of 'pestering' too). 

It is nice to finally feel like I kind of belong at work, that I have a place in the whole scheme of things instead of hanging on the outskirts or skimming the surface. Even though I will only be here for another year and a half, it is nice not to feel quite so transient. It is amazing how much more professional I feel now that I am being treated somewhat like a professional instead of like a temporary intrusion. Incredible what a little self-advocacy can do! 

It seems that happiness really is in the simple things. That little key in my hand has put a smile on my face ever since I got it a few days ago, and it will probably stay for quite a while!