Working Wardrobe: August 27

We are going on our second full week of school and it finally feels like the school is settling into the routine. The students know what they are getting into when they walk into my classroom and it is really nice to start the sense of normalcy.

Although, there was a point this week where I was walking between my students' desks and had this fleeting deep sense of panic as I realized, "Crap, I'm actually supposed to educate all of these young women this year!" I distinctly remember asking myself, "What makes me qualified to teach these subjects? I'm practically their age!" It was easy to become overwhelmed with the trepidation of being a new teacher and the enormous responsibility that being an educator entails. I just took a deep breath because I couldn't stand there and have a freakout moment with 21 young eyes on me. Memories of graduate school and all those classes I took in preparation for this moment came back and I had to quickly remind myself, "Yes, I am qualified!"

The anxiety dissipated as I walked to the front of the class and checked my lesson plan notes. "I am prepared. I am qualified. I am confident," my internal voice chanted. That day's freak out moment came and went quickly, but I know it won't be my last. This year is going to be filled with minor panic attacks as I encounter the new unknown of actually being a teacher. So I know I have to try to keep a level head and repeat that mantra as ultimately I don't want to simply survive this year, I want to thrive.