New Beginnings

The alarm woke me up from what was more like a nap than an actual night's sleep.  I considered it a blessing to get even the smallest bit of sleep considering the day that awaited me.  Having lost power last night I was convinced my alarm would lead me stranded this morning...causing me to go down in history as the first teacher to ever sleep through the first day of school!

  Thankfully, I woke up with the sun (a term I hope to grow an appreciation for sooner rather than later) and I got ready and got dressed like any other day.  But unlike every other day, I couldn't help but wonder what my students would think as they entered into my room. Rather than finding their teacher from last year, 40+ years my senior, they found me, a young teacher that would probably be confused for a student if not for the lanyard hanging from my neck and the letters "Ms" in front of my name.  I prayed they couldn't see through the facade that I had so carefully remembered to put on this morning, otherwise they might discover that I am quite possibly, more anxious, self-conscious, and scared then each of them.  As it turns out, I was fooling no one...talk about solidarity from day 1!

As the first students rolled into the room, I could feel the excitement and energy building.  As soon as I smiled, and they smiled back, I knew that it was going to be OK.  Those smiles, the look of relief, that the worst is over and they, like me, were now convinced that this is the start of something great...that makes it all worth while.  The endless mound of paperwork I read, stacks of books and cassette tapes I have sifted through (yes cassettes, not CDs or MP3s...those imply production within the last 2 decades), the sleepless nights and busy days all came together and seemed rather minuscule in comparison. 

The bells rang and students went and came...15 unique, eccentrict, confused, scared, fun, crazy, students.  Though I couldn't help but remember all of the things I had read and heard about each of these students and their various and multiple disabilities, weaknesses, IQ or lack thereof...though that is a huge part of my job...I'm also a social worker, an advocate, a cheerleader, a parent in many cases, and I am the one who gets to help prove they they can achieve, despite the legal document (IEP- Individualized Education Plan....legal term for: follows students through their education and tells what their weaknesses and needs are) that tends to tell the world otherwise.  I was excited by the challenge I saw when I looked at each of them.  I am fully aware that this will take every bit of energy in my body, thankfully I knew better than to think it was going to require anything less.

Kids say the darnedest things:  A student came into class late (promising, on the first day!) as I went over the syllabus; however, another student quickly informed her that it was OK, we were just going over "another one of those syllables".  And that ladies and gentleman is why I have a job, and yet also why I plan to keep coming back!  Today marks the beginning of a journey in which I will walk hand in hand with 15 wonderful children of God.  Though I know I will not see them as such every minute of every day, and my patience may lead me to believe otherwise, I am trusting that God has placed them in my life, and me in theirs for a reason greater than our own and I am excited to learn lessons of my own along the way!

Until later,
Shannon