The First Draft

It may only be February, but 2021 seems like a lifetime ago. To be honest, I’m exhausted.

I started my Master’s Program, I am in the second semester of my first year of teaching, I am trying to teach myself enough about UIL Journalism to be able to coach it.

I’ve been sick twice- and we’ve had two sets of snow days. It’s not a coincidence that both of my bouts of sickness corresponded with the weather. At least I’ve gotten my yearly sinus infection out of the way early this time?

Right now, I can’t breathe, and therefore can’t sleep, and it is the single most infuriating thing I’ve dealt with this year. There’s nothing quite like laying in bed trying to sleep and not being able to because your body can’t perform a necessary and completely normal function without straining. You’d think breathing through my mouth would work since my nose doesn’t, but the cool air makes me cough, which also keeps me up.

Suffice to say- it’s been a year. Already.

But I got to see the other journalism teachers in the area at our first UIL meet. They were amazing and welcoming and friendly, just like they were in October. And I’ve been doing well in my classes so far, even thought the imposter syndrome was real when I turned in my first paper.

I have also officially been observed by the school for the first time- and it wasn’t bad. It happened to be the Monday after Super Bowl Sunday, so I decided we would be talking about the ads. There was nothing that could kill my excitement that day. I live for talking about ads. My ratings weren’t outstanding, but they were average for a first-year teacher, and that’s really all I can ask for.

I have one more observation with my certification program, and one more reflection, and then I’m done with that, too!

Suffice to say, I wouldn’t say I’m thriving at the moment. There are days when I feel like I’m drowning, but at least it’s just days and not weeks or months. I like teaching better than my previous job, if only for the kids and the fact that I get to work with them on projects and talk to them about Super Bowl Ads.

It’s not perfect, but a lot of that is due to the stress of being a first-year teacher. The good news about that? There’s only ever one “first year”! I honestly can’t wait to start planning for next year.