Ready to Jump

A few months ago I felt like I was standing at the top of a high dive not ready to jump, with shaky knees, but knowing I had to go forward. Turning back was not an option. I was scared about what lied ahead...the unknown.


Do you remember when you reach the level of bravery you need to just jump? You decide, "Okay, I'm going to do it." And, even though it is still scary, you march to the top, slowly (and shakily) walk to the end of the board and jump before you can even think about turning back.

I've reached that point. I'm ready. Bring it on. All of it...the struggles that come with the first year of teaching, the crazy middle school students, living at home, leaving Boone (okay, I'm not really ready for that one), a long distance relationship (again). I'm confident and ready. I've taken all the classes I can take, read all the textbooks, researched all the tidbits of advice for first year teachers.  What's left to learn will come from experience. I'm still scared, but excited at the same time.  I have a peace about how things have worked out.

I still have a lot to learn, but am excited about what lies ahead. These next few weeks are my "waiting in line" time. My turn at the top will be here soon enough. There have been moments, and I'm sure there will be more moments where I want to turn and run. You know...those freak out moments of doubt and fear about the real world and being responsible for my own classroom. But, I'm determined and confident and will continue forward. I have laid my anxieties at the feet of the Lord and asked Him to take them all and replace them with His peace. And, He has and my mind has been so much clearer and at peace than it was before. Don't get me wrong, those freak out moments, moments when the anxiety is working its way back in, they still happen. I have just learned the blessings of turning them over to the Lord.

So, as I stand in line and wait for my turn to start my first year of teaching, I've been planning and reflecting on all I've learned and how I want to make this year my own. I've never really been a person who sets goals, but lately I've realized that it's a good idea to have goals. So, I am going to start setting them for myself. For my set of goals, here are my goals for this school year...In no particular order. 

My goals for this year:
Maintain a regular work out schedule
Get plenty of sleep
Make sure my students know I care about them
Support my students in all they do...both inside and outside the classroom
Leave school at school when I leave in the afternoons
Stay organized
Journal/blog at least once a week
Choose to have a positive attitude everyday