As
part of the Week 2:“Dare to Dream” TpT Seller Challenge I’ve decided to put
those dreams of mine down on paper.
Well, down on a computer screen anyway.
Dream #1: TpT/Woodworking Full-Time
After
16 years in the classroom teaching middle school Social Studies, I could
totally see taking the experiences I’ve had and the lessons I’ve created to
turn that into a sustainable business via TpT.
My favorite part of teaching has always been creating lessons and
activities to help my students learn better and TpT has given me an outlet to
generate an income while doing so.
I
also run a woodworking store on Etsy called Along the Ridge where I specialize
in making picture and mirror frames out of slabs of wood that still have the
natural edge intact. This is also a
creative outlet that allows me to escape into my happy place of shavings and
sawdust. My store can be found at www.etsy.com/shop/AlongtheRidge or at www.alongtheridge.com
Dream #2: 48 States in 48
Days Trip
This
has been a trip I’ve wanted to do for about 20 years now. When I was younger I didn’t have the money to
do so, and now that I’m 20 years older I haven’t been able to convince my wife
and kids that being in the car for 48 days would be, well, fun.
The
idea behind the trip would be to pick a handful of interesting places,
historical landmarks, or geological features in each state that I’d like to
have seen in real life.
I’ve
never actually mapped out the entire route so now I’ve just added another thing
to my list.
Dream #3: Set up a Travel
Fund for My Daughters
I
didn’t come from the type of family that had a lot of extra money to do
things. Therefore, travelling around the
country never really happened. We went
to Phoenix when my sister was considering going to grad school at ASU, but
other than that, the vacations involved in state trips riding in the back of a
station wagon that involved visiting relatives.
I
had a student tell me a few years back that nobody needs to travel anymore
because they can just look at everything on the Internet. We had a talk about seeing a place versus experiencing
a place.
I
want my daughters to be able to experience the world for themselves or with
their families someday and not have to worry about whether or not they can
afford it. My wife and I would love to
be able to have $50k for both of them that they get when they turn 30. By then they’ll most likely have settled into
being a “grown up,” which I laugh at because I’m turning 40 in August and I
don’t feel like a grown up yet!
Dream #4: Research My Family
History and Travel to the Beginning
As
a history teacher I’m a huge fan of the past and the stories that the past
provides us. Seeing the Constitution,
the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights in the National
Archives is always really cool for me because it’s the real deal.
I
haven’t researched my family history yet, but have always meant to start. I’d like to travel to the places my ancestors
have lived and find out about their lives and make a book for my daughters
about how they got here.
My
parents aren’t getting any younger and I think my Dad would love to find out
our family’s story.
Now
that I look back at my list it seems as though I’m seeking experiences and that my
dream is to make these things happen.
The working on it part, well, I’m working on it.
Hopefully you're working on yours as well!
Matt @ Surviving Social Studies
