As I prepared my “Meet the Teacher” page for my students this week, I decided to throw back to my 3rd and 4th grade pictures so they could see what I looked like when I sat on their side of the desk. It made me giggle as I thought about all the feelings and concerns I had when I was on their side of the desk.
I remember worrying what people would think of my outfit and
taking the time to very carefully pick out what I would wear for that first day
of school. I remember wondering if kids
would still like me and want to be my friend after being apart all summer. I worried what the lunch situation would be
like and who would play with me at recess.
I remember feeling stress about wanting to get it all right and do my
very best with my work. That first morning
there were always butterflies in my tummy as I hoped that I hadn’t forgotten
something important or I wouldn’t do something that made me look stupid. But I also remember the excitement. I enjoyed school, I loved my teachers, I
loved using new school supplies, getting to learn new things, and having adventures in my new classroom. There
were so many emotions with that first day.
I am typing this tonight after finally leaving my classroom
after 9:00 the night before students arrive for the first time. I have spent HOURS
planning, prepping, decorating, communicating.
Papers are laid out, digital set-ups are ready, name tags are placed,
and desks have been individually prayed over. I now sit on the other side of the desk, the
bigger desk that will soon have stacks of papers on it and binders full of
lesson plans. As I giggled about my 3rd
and 4th grade pictures, I realized my emotions on the other side of
the desk are really not so different. I
spent some time this evening thinking about what outfit I will wear for that
first day. I worry a little thinking
about if my students and their parents will like me. I’m nervous about what the lunch situation
will be like, and how will I eat on the days that I also have duty. I am still feeling stress about wanting to
get it all right and do my very best with my work. There are butterflies in my tummy as I hope I
haven’t forgotten something important on my list, or do something that makes it
look like I’m unqualified. But I am also
incredibly full of excitement. I can’t
wait to see my students, I love the team of people I work with, I love
organizing those new school supplies, teaching new things each day, and having
amazing adventures in my classroom. I
still have so many emotions with that first day.
I pray that even though I am now on the other side of the
desk, I never forget just how much alike my students and I really are. May I will always remember what it felt like
to sit on the other side of the desk.
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart
of wisdom.” Psalms 90:12
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