Would you look at that! Another day, another blog post starting with an apology for my seven-month-long blog hiatus!

If I were following my usual blog post template, this paragraph would start with my generic explanation of how crazy life has been, how busy I’ve been, and why I’ve been neglecting to post for a while.

And while that is true, life has been crazy and I have been busy, I’m feeling a little wild today, so let’s skip that part 😉

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Instead, we’ll jump right to the 7-month recap. From November to May, here’s all you need to know: I DID IT.

I finished my second year of teaching.

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It actually feels surreal to say that – I can’t believe it!

These last two years have been the hardest years of my life. I realize that sounds dramatic, and in some ways it maybe is, but truly. I have never cried, stressed, doubted myself, or panicked more than I did this last two years.

In two years, I:

• taught all online classes for a semester
• taught hybrid classes for a semester
• taught wearing a mask for 1.5 years
• taught a class of 30 students who didn’t speak the same language as I do
• taught classes outside my content area
• taught classes of upwards of 40 students at a time
• broke up countless fights
• busted countless drug deals and smoking sessions in class and in the bathrooms
• confiscated countless lighters (especially after they were used to light another student’s pants on fire)
• had students pierce each other’s ears during class
• cleaned up boxes worth of condoms that were thrown like confetti around the room
• repeatedly reshelved books after they had been thrown at me and other students
• purchased new AirPods after some students stole mine
• discovered that THC now comes in chip form

And more! A dear friend of mine suggested I write a memoir with all my bizarre stories – stayed tuned for that to hit shelves soon 😉

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I couldn’t have done it without my amazing support system.

I am so thankful:

• for my team and the other teachers on my hallway for letting me cry, for letting me bombard them with questions, and for being there for me to rant and laugh and eat way too much candy with!
• for my family and amazing friends who picked me up, brushed me off, and told me I could do it. You were right. Sorry I didn’t believe you. Thanks for believing enough for both of us.
• for my students. They taught me so much. I can only hope I passed some of that knowledge on to them.

And if, by chance, this blog post reaches another young teacher who is feeling overwhelmed and defeated, please reach out. You are amazing and you are not alone. Teaching can and should be an amazing and rewarding experience. Let’s work together to achieve that experience together.

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Enough looking back! Now, I look forward to what comes next. I’m moving a little farther south and starting my next adventure at a new school this fall. I know teaching isn’t easy (I never expected it to be) but I’m really looking forward to new and different challenges that maybe don’t push me so close to my breaking point 😉

As I prepare for next school year, I’m celebrating my success (and survival!) with the “Summer of Suz” – I have decided that I will absolutely be living my best life this summer! I started with a week-long trip to visit my sister on the island of St. Maarten. I hope these pictures bring you almost as much joy as this trip brought me.

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I can’t wait to have you join me on my summer adventures! I plan to read a lot, travel a lot, and relax a lot.

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Cheers to you for reading, cheers to me for making it through, and cheers to us that this blog post brought us together! Thankful for you all.