It is hard to believe that I am beginning week 4 of my teaching career tomorrow. It seems like just yesterday that I was walking into the halls of EV for the first time and now I've (almost) got down the names of all 120 kids in my classes. It has been quite the first three weeks with many late nights at the school and early morning back at the school. I have been joking with my principal that we are going to have a contest to see who is at the school for the longest amount of hours total this year. Needless to say it has been quite the start.
As I look back on these first three weeks of teaching one key thing really sticks out. How in the world can someone juggle so many things in their life and still have time to fit everything they want to do? I am an assistant football coach for the district as well as the head boys basketball coach so I know that I'm already juggling a lot of roles here at EV. Add on top of that being the adviser for Model UN and attempting to start up a Running Club again here at the school and it equals very very little time to just relax and contemplate. I absolutely love what I am doing and wouldn't trade it for anything but I sometimes wonder what life would be like if we had more hours in the day. It would be so nice to have about 12 extra hours in a day just so that I can get all of the grading, lesson planning, scouting, game planning, and so on done. I find my mind thinking about school 24/7. Many people have told me to "make sure to find some time for yourself" but honestly what do I need time to myself for? I've got everything I could need right now in front of me. I've got my dream job at 23 . I've got a great staff and administration to work with that allows me to be a risk taker in the classroom. I've got great students that are willing to be pushed to new levels that they have not been before in the classroom. I've got a great supporting cast in Kristie and my family.
I guess to close my question to anyone is: Is there ever a point when you say "this is too much?" Are there moments where you wish you could turn around and go back down another path? Have I had struggles these past few weeks...absolutely. Have I grown as an educator...absolutely. It's been a great three weeks and I can't wait to begin week 4 in a few short hours.
GO BEARS!
