Skip to main content

Sometimes You Get a Do-Over

Well, now. The school year has been back in full swing for two weeks now, and we've all survived to enjoy our first long weekend. Everyone keeps asking about how it feels to be back at work and wonders about the behavior of my students. I switched to a different department this year, and so far I am happy with it. I'll spare the details because they aren't interesting at all to anyone who doesn't teach (and only minutely interesting to my fellow educators).

If you know me, you know that teaching in the public school system was never in my plan for my life. However, there's no doubt in my mind that I was destined to do this for whatever limited time I give to it.

I taught seventh grade for four years, and I it was an extremely healing experience for me. Many things that happened and conversations that occurred helped me soothe the wounds that I incurred during my own seventh grade year. Wounds that followed me well into adult hood.

I've always said that I needed to teach eleventh grade for the same reason. That was the year that my life as I knew it completely fell apart. Even now, when I look back at that time, I see nothing but blackness. When I think of the decisions I made in that haze of darkness...

In the words of my favorite Spanish rock band (Pereza), "that's life."

The point of this is that I'm teaching eleventh grade this year. Not only am I teaching, but I am also the junior class sponsor. That means I get to be part of the homecoming and prom planning.

And I'm so flipping excited!

So many experiences for me lately have been do-overs. It's like God has given me the chance to live what was lost for me.

And I'm so flipping grateful!

Comments

Christy said…
Wow. That's beautiful. I can't wait to hear what this year holds for you.
3:04 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stalking a Pirate

Prepared we were not to cross Captain Jack's path late in the summer of ten, with the sun bearing down as we wandered the town where the Koreshans once lived. But he nodded. We smiled and went on our way, rolling it all in our heads. We giggled and talked and suddenly stopped to turn back and run after him. You see love for a pirate and sailing the seas rest deep in a gypsy girl's soul, where she dreams of the day he will take her away to find a new place in the world. So we followed his swagger as he wound through the woods and stopped to take in the sights. You know when chance comes to call you must answer with all because sometimes she doesn't seek twice. There we tracked Captain Jack on the seashell lined path and dreamed of the life that he lived With his swashbuckling ways that man made our day late in the summer of ten. You know love for a pirate and an adventurer's life lie deep in a gypsy girl's soul, where she dreams of the world she has yet to explore an...
2 comments
Read more

The Shock of the Century

 I woke up Tuesday morning with the worst sore throat I can remember having. It was annoying, but the pain started to subside as I was in the middle of my morning routine. I pushed it aside and left for work. On my drive to work, I usually listen to the morning news or talk to a friend on the phone. I was running late that morning, and my friend was already in her office where she has no cell service. The radio was irritating, so I entertained myself as I spent more time tapping the brakes than pressing the gas pedal. By the time I arrived at work, I had a nagging feeling. My cousin is getting married this weekend, and my sister and nephew and I had planned a road trip together. The plan was to leave Thursday morning, drive up to Georgia to see our grandmother and then head over to South Carolina on Friday for the wedding. That meant I would be seeing both of my 90+ year old grandmothers, plus family members with health concerns. A cold was frustrating, but the last thing I wanted ...
2 comments
Read more

A Restless Soul

Someone recently told me that I have an impulsive streak. ("Just an observation, not a criticism.") My initial reaction was to vehemently deny that statement despite the fact that I had just confessed to walking into Total Wine and buying $200 worth of wine just because it seemed like a good idea at 11:00 on a Thursday morning. Me? Impulsive? Don't answer that, especially if you know the truth. I shared this with my therapist yesterday and his eyes lit up when I said, "I think I have a restless soul." The fact that his eyes lit up is significant since we spend most of my sessions arguing with each other about ideas like whether or not a book he recommended is filled with psychobabble bullsh*t or why I should do a bit more thinking with my heart instead of my head. For once, he agreed with me and quickly pointed out that this is not necessarily a bad trait. In fact, it's what stirs my needs to explore and to write. It's also the reason why I don't, by...
5 comments
Read more