Y’all, it’s been a rough week, and it’s only Wednesday. Ever have weeks like this? If not, tell me your secret!
These past two days have been full of meetings, Professional Development, and not getting much of what I needed to have done done. Going into today, I was exhausted mentally and physically, feeling overwhelmed, and even felt a bit discouraged. My mindset was “I need a weekend before coming back with kids tomorrow.” This mindset had NOTHING to do with not wanting to see my students; I genuinely look forward to them everyday. My exhaustion and discouragement was taking over my mind and emotions; they were getting the best of me.
As the students came down the hall this morning, I put on my best smile, went to the front of the school, and greeted each of them as I do everyday. It wasn’t hard to put on a genuine smile as I saw them coming down the hall with their excitement to be back at school. Yes, middle schoolers love school too. They may not admit it, but they were happy to be back.
Seeing my students smile back at me with a “Good morning!” was literally the cure to my emotions and horrible attitude. That is not what I was expecting! As my day went on, it only got better. My negative and discouraged mindset and my “need” for a day off before my students returned diminished. If I had gotten the day off, as I thought I needed, all I would have done was sit around and stir in what was making me feel down and out anyway. I literally would have had more time to sulk. I needed today to be just what it was… a reminder.
It was a reminder about why I chose education. I chose education so I could work in a field where I make a difference every day. I want to be the person who makes my students smile every chance I get. I want to be the person who the students look forward to coming back to school to see. I want to be the person who reaches EVERY student both academically and not.
If I had let my mindset this morning dictate my day, my students would not have gotten the best of me, which is what they should get EVERY DAY!
Today was a laid back day in room 214 as I let students tell me about their first time ever seeing snow, about what their favorite part of the break was, and as we set goals together. I was very honest with them about how I was feeling coming into today, and thanked them for being my unexpected cure. I made sure every student knew they were the reason I was smiling today. We were all honest as we reflected on habits we want to change, goals we want to achieve (not necessarily school related), and set plans to achieve these goals. It was not an “ELA” productive day, but I think it was perfect and just what was needed.
I love my job, I love my students, and I love my school. When I am feeling down, I need to make the students the center of my focus because no matter what I have going on in my life or with the other aspects of my job, they deserve the best of me every day.
My day needs to be one that I reflect back on when I start to feel as I did today. Next time I start to tell myself that I need a day off before seeing my students, I hope the reality of today’s experience sets in. Lesson learned.
HAPPY GIVING YOUR STUDENTS THE BEST OF YOU!!!