Monday, August 29, 2011

Year 10

I can't believe I am about to start my tenth year of teaching. I started teaching when I was 22, barely 4 years older than the scattering of seniors in my sophomore classes. This feels like a big milestone, but on the other hand, I don't feel that my life has progressed any further along than it was 9 years ago.

It might be for this reason, or possibly the stress of last year, or possibly the stress of family stuff, but for the first time, I am really struggling to be ready to start school. School starts in 2 days and the words that come closest to describing the way I am feeling are "apathetic," "burned out" and "tired." But I don't know why.

I am discouraged by this feeling. I want to be excited. I am hoping that the kids will change my mind once they hit my classroom. But I am worried that if I am struggling this much in September, I am really going to crash in January. I am choosing to be positive because I know that will help, but while it is normally something that comes naturally to me, I have been having a hard time with it recently.

I hope something amazingly positive happens soon...

1 comment:

Shannon said...

If ever there was a teacher who kicks complete ass teaching, it is you. This year will be better. You're allowed to be a little tired after 10 years. Worst case scenario... sabbatical next year. Perhaps a trip to Europe? Or teaching abroad? Or a year bumming around Hawaii?