Some Thoughts While I Procrastinate My Grad School Work…

At this point, I don’t think I can imagine doing any other job but teaching in a middle school.  As many times as it can be frustrating or physically and emotionally challenging, there are as many moments where a student will run down the hall or across a classroom to hug me.  I’ve never had a job where it mattered so much to someone when I was there or not.  I’ve been exhausted, stressed out, anxious, and frustrated over and over again this semester (though that has more to do with my coursework than teaching), but I still leave school most days with an overwhelming feeling of hope and exhilaration. I feel like the kids I teach and the teachers I collaborate with have become my family in a few short months.  I honestly don’t know how I’m going to handle leaving them in January.  I’m definitely looking forward to my next placement in special education, but I can’t tell you how much I’m going to miss the smiles, the jokes, the laughter, and the accomplishments of these first students of mine.

In other news, I am now halfway finished with my independent thesis project! So far I’ve written fifty pages – five short stories – and have been pleasantly surprised by how I’ve been able to stay on the schedule I set for myself this semester.  I think what I’ve written so far is pretty good, and feel like my writing is getting better and better as I continue.  My other coursework this semester has been very interesting and immediately useful in the classroom, however much more tedious for me (oddly enough) than my own project.  And while I could have picked an “easier” or shorter or less independent project, I think I made the right choice in pursuing my own idea, even if it takes more work.

Lastly, I cannot tell you how excited I am for this semester to be over. I only have a week off from teaching, but am so grateful to have a few weeks off from classes. I got burned out fast this semester with some seriously heavy course loads, and while I know at least one of my classes next semester is going to be pretty heavy, I’m happy to know that the known heaviest class will be over in a week. Hallelujah.

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