I love beginnings! A fresh start, a clean slate, a blank page. The floors are waxed, the carpet is clean and the air is full of anticipation. So much promise, so much hope! Hope?!! In many things, I am sure. But talking with parents this past Thursday, the realization came...there is a lot of hope in ME, in what I can do for the students committed to my care (or carelessness) this year. A flattering, inspiring, horrifying epiphany.
The impact of teachers on my own life, the idea that education can make individuals and our society better, and my own love of knowledge has convinced me for some time that teaching is a noble profession. The education of impressionable young minds has always seemed like a huge honor and an awesome responsibility, but as I begin this year, the reality of what I will give or withhold to 60+ students has me a bit flabbergasted.
As a former Grey's fan (I had to cut myself off) I remember one episode in which the tragic heroine, Meredith, describes herself as feeling shiny. Things in life were taking a turn for the better, she was getting to start over and there was a faint glimmer of hope. Of course, as the 30 minute mark drew near, all hope was smashed to bits and SOME people MAY have wanted to rip their hearts out (not me of course). We can all relate, can't we? That feeling of anticipation, of being clean, new and shiny. And then, the inevitable disappointment. Because whatever it was, that thing we put our hope in, it let us down.
I'm not perfect, and I am not about to pretend that I will never fail to live up to the hopes that may or may not be pinned on my abilities as an educator. As a cheerful pessimist, I know that I will fail at some point about something and someone is bound to be unhappy, probably with me! But I do hope that as the school year wears on, the 60+ shinies in my trust will stay just that way. Their little shiny selves. I intend to be there each day, with t-shirt and skirt attire, to polish them with knowledge, with confidence, with courage. I want them to leave the 2012-2013 feeling school year shinier than when they began it.
I hope that you, too, will stay shiny this year! Good luck!
