Week one is complete!
Now onto a long weekend to relax and soak in the remaining days of summer, right? Wrong. How quickly I allowed myself to forget all of the wonderful perks of grading for a high school English class. It is clearly my own fault, seeing as though I am the one who assigns the work. While it would be convenient, coordinating assignments with my social calendar is not going to get me the new teacher-of-the-year award nor is it going to advance my students test scores (all of which are contingent on keeping this lovely job I have acquired).
I spent my first evening of the long holiday weekend consuming massive amounts of sweets at our local fair, followed by my alma mater’s rivalry football game, and the next day celebrating my beautiful cousin’s wedding (I forgot the camera at home and have not come to terms with it yet). In attempts to keep a positive balance between work and play, the final two days of the holiday weekend have been spent buried amongst my student’s essays, collages, and exams. I have to admit, I am extremely close to the edge at this point snapping at anyone who interferes with my task. And with this drop in temperature we are experiencing, I am too clearly reminded of the many cold, dreary, winter days ahead that I despise so much. My optimism began to suffer today. I heard the cynicism in my voice and felt the expression of misery as I looked out the window. So I got away from it. Gave myself time to refresh and began to realize how lucky I am.
I have the job of my choice at a great school, within such a rewarding profession. I have a roof over my head, plenty of food to eat, and loving family & friends, which sadly, is more than I can say for many of my students. I’m going to have bad days, we all do. It’s how we handle those bad days/times that defines us as a person. 
Excellent conclusion, I really should try to remind myself this more often ;)
ReplyDeleteI have to do this as well. I have to constantly remind myself that I am very, very lucky. I'm missing my long summer days and my free time, but I love where I am student teaching, I love the students, I love that I read & discuss books for a living. The early mornings, the grading, that's all a part of it. And I suppose it makes the nice parts that much nicer.
ReplyDeletevery well put! :)
ReplyDeleteAh, yes... The beginning of the academic year... The time of year when all of the friends you'd hang out with, play ball with, swim with and party with all summer wonder if you fell off the face of the earth.
ReplyDeleteIt is a lot of work, especially getting into your first year of teaching (mine was pure chaos) but it is such a rewarding profession. All of the planning, grading, lecturing, and not sleeping(LOL) is worth it in the end. And, as you said, there are so many others without such blessings.