For the first time in 29 years I will not be going back to school this fall. (Shaggy is playing on the loudspeaker here at Duncan Donuts, in Trujillo, Peru. A nice shout out to my college school days and my Disney “school days.”) I have had many traditional school experiences, but I have learned so much during my summers. My summers have always been a different kind of learning; video editing to be a camp videographer, a Disney employee, a ropes course instructor, an Irish Way counselor, working at golf courses, a Young Life leader, and now the World Race.
I love being a student and know I will be a student the rest of my life. I love learning about people; why they do what they do, who they are, why they are the way they are, etc. As a teacher I love showing and giving experiences. I love getting to talk about people from different countries; what they eat, what music they listen to, what art they create, where their water comes from, and anything and everything that goes with learning about a new culture and language. I thought this year I would be so excited about “studying people” and the Bible that I would not miss school. I love my summer fun so much that I thought this year would be like a year of summer fun and that school would not even cross my mind. Some of you are not going to believe this, but I am sad to not go back to school this year, and I think of school stuff every day.
Confession: I have a love/hate relationship with the start of school. Hate is such a strong word I will change it to Dislike. I Love- buying back to school supplies! Dislike-that school seems to start earlier and earlier each year. Love- setting up my classroom! I blast the music, get nostalgic with every picture/poster I put up, get super excited when I find something that I misplaced the year before, look at my “tree”, fill my principal in on my summer dates and what the year is looking like relationship wise, and hang out in the office for a while talking to my favorite office ladies and staff. Dislike- that I have to start getting back on school schedule; getting up early, going to bed early, planning when I can go to the bathroom. Love- planning lessons and looking at the school calendar! Dislike- back to school dreams. I am having them this year and I am not going back to school! My body knows… time for the dreams. The usual dream is that I am not prepared for the first day of school. I get to school and my classes have been changed and I am teaching new subjects and my roster is full of the kids that cause trouble and yell and shout. Love- seeing all my teacher friends, some of my dearest friends are just a classroom door away. I have been so blessed at all three high schools with great colleagues. Shout out to EHS: Friday After School crew, running club and Jami and Kim! CHS: sister Amy, my wonderful department-Marilyn, Kathy and Jennifer, Old Chicago girls-Amanda and Britta, and Davis! GHS: supper club girls and all my lunch buddies! Dislike- there is not a lot of social time built into the back to school meetings… for some reason the state thinks we should be working on other things than socializing.Love- putting on my first day of school dress, writing on the board before the first bell rings, and meeting all my students on the first day. Dislike- that the end of the first day my legs ache and my throat hurts and I am so exhausted that I am in bed by 8pm.
Ok- this list could get really long and I have so many things to say on this topic, that I will just have to wait for another time. To my nephews, my students, and my colleagues enjoy your first week of school! It’s the start of a new year and each day is what you make of it. Learn lots for me! To my FCA Wednesday morning girls, keep learning about God’s love and sharing the Good News.
This year is just what I need to refresh: learn about people, learn about cultures, practice my Spanish, grow in my faith, help people, love people, appreciate everything that Christ has given me, and become a better person for Christ. Jesus came into this world to give us life and give it to the full. (If you want a verse to back this up: John 10:10) Without Christ in our lives, our lives are nothing.
And for everything I have missed this year, I have gained something else. (Thank you Emily for this bookmark and Ralph Waldo Emerson for that quote.)
Happy Back to School!!!!
