I often think that introductions are the worst part of being in community. I’d rather not be perceived at all. Can we just pretend to know each other and jump right in? No. Okay, let’s start over.
Greetings! I’m Jenn White and I live in Palm Coast, FL. I share a house with my dog, Sky, my bestie, her daughter, our cats, and Rosie the Tarantula. We have a peaceful home full of things that bring us joy and the more than occasional sassy attitude. At night we like to have a drink on our porch and watch the sky for possible UFOs (those can’t all be planes and planets and stars, right?). During the day I’m a middle school science teacher. I started as an Early Elementary Montessori Teacher 12 years ago. About 6 years ago I was offered a position teaching science in middle school. I earned my professional teaching certification through the Florida Department of Education and now I teach at a public school. 7th grade curriculum is my favorite because natural history and ecology are my favorite. There are a few hobbies that I wish would take up more of my time. I like to read about herbalism, the evolution of life on Earth, and whatever sci/fi or fantasy book I can find. I enjoy being on the water and meet up with friends to paddleboard in the summer. I am fascinated by Thanatology and learning about the different ways cultures view death and dying. I’ve been learning how to nålbind socks, which is a cozy winter hobby. When stressed, I like to be in my kitchen–baking is usually my go to. Sometimes I make beautiful and delicious loaves of bread but other times they’re just delicious. Music is life and lately I’ve been listening to Colour Me Wednesday, Camp Cope, and Amyl and The Sniffers.
I’ve always been a wanderer–moving from one opportunity to the next. A collector of experiences, never living in one place longer than 3-5 years. I graduated with my BFA in Fine Art in 2007. I thought about joining Peace Corps but became an AmeriCorps VISTA member instead. Which was fun. I’ve been an environmental educator, a youth case manager, a vegan baker, a milker and herder of goats, a bartender, and a teacher. Despite the fun, I can’t say that I’ve ever felt a sense of purpose. How do people know what they want and then also make it happen? I don’t know. Somewhere along the way, I got really lost. I stopped collecting experiences and just coasted; kind of frozen. I became a sort of hermit but I wasn’t always a snail hiding in her shell. Life can lead us in some interesting directions I suppose. Anyway, it finally happened for me, like a spark lit in my spirit. I want to be a librarian. Who doesn’t love the smell of an old book? The thrill of having access to artifacts, specimens, and special collections? Over the years, even my classroom and house have morphed into a library and natural history museum. A path and purpose became clear for me and I decided to set two goals for myself. One is more short term and it’s to work in service to my community as school librarian. The second is my dream job and that would be to become a librarian at the The National Museum of Natural History.
And now I’m here, with you. I’m excited to be here, nervous about socializing, but happy to have found a new community. I’m taking a page from younger me, putting fear and overwhelm aside to live in the moment. I look forward to being in community and leaning into creativity. Thanks for reading. This wasn’t so bad.
I loved this! Thank you for taking us on your journey and I hope you achieve your greatest dreams :D!
Hi Jenn! My name is Lora! I love that you have a tarantula! My mom (whose name is also Jenn) was given a pink-toed tarantula for Mother’s Day! What kind of tarantula do you have? I also like seventh graders and want to teach eventually. Right now, I am currently working with seventh graders in a language arts setting. My bachelor’s degree is in math education! My mom also works as a librarian, and I have grown up in her library! I cannot wait to learn more about you throughout this semester!
Hey Lora,
Rosie is a rose haired tarantula; that’s how she got her very unoriginal name. Ha! Middle school is a very special place to be and these kids need teachers with fresh excitement. Education can be very rewarding–the students make the hard days easier. Just yesterday I was visiting the fort in St. Augustine and I heard a kid say, “I’m walking on history!” So cute. 🙂
Hi Jenn!
Your post made me wish I went a little deeper with my own! It was an enjoyable read. Also, given all the things you listed that you like to do and have done, librarianship seems like a perfect career. I also ended up here because I liked “too many” things, and I wanted a career where I could always keep learning.
It’s also so cool to hear that you got a BFA in fine art! I studied art formally for about a year in my undergrad, with my favorite medium being printmaking. Do you still make art? If so, what do you make it out of?
Hey Theo! I agree. We can’t ever really like “too many” things, right? I also want a career where I keep learning but also keep discovering. It seems like a fun way to grow old. In undergrad, I focused on photography, ceramics, and watercolor. I did love my printmaking classes though! Now, I don’t know if I make art. I don’t consider myself an artist. I like crafts (which is art, too). I like to play around with cyanotypes on sunny days. Sometimes I still watercolor. I’ve been learning how to make pine needle baskets recently and that’s been fun. Do you still make prints? Do you have a favorite medium of printmaking?
Thank you for your comment about my post. It was very validating.
Hi Jenn,
I am all for your suggestion of skipping the introductions and acting like we are long term friends and acquaintances.
I love that you have a tarantula. That is such a cool pet. My dad had one as a kid and I always found the stories about it fascinating. Sky is such a cute name of a dog! What kind of dog is Sky?
I have just gotten into more sci-fi and fantasy books. Do you have a favorite book and/or series you would recommend?
Thanatology is not something I am familiar with, but it sounds fascinating and now I want to go and learn more.
Your hobbies and experiences are incredibly fascinating, and I honestly would love to hear more about them all.
I am excited to hear how life has brought you here. Good luck this semester and on reaching your goals!
Hi Caitlin! Thank you. I’d love to hear these stories about your dad’s tarantula! Also, how long did she live for? I’ve had Rosie since 2013 and she’s only molted 3 times. I think she’s super old. There aren’t many stories to tell about her. She just hangs out. One time, I forgot to put the lid back on her tank and didn’t notice for two days!! She didn’t go anywhere; didn’t even try to run away. Ha! Sky is a Texas Heeler; a mix between an Australian Shepherd and a Blue Heeler. He’s the best boy.
I’m reading two books right now and recommend them both! 1) “Sabriel” by Garth Nix. It’s about a young girl who goes to the underworld to rescue her father who is a necromancer. 2) “Contact” by Carl Sagan which is of course what the 1997 movie classic was based on. It’s a slower read but I am nerding out over all the physics in this book.