I love back to school shopping – I can’t help it! (Well, really, I just love shopping…but that’s a discussion for another time lol)

There’s nothing quite like the joy I feel when I wander through the aisles of Target picking out matching folders and notebooks, comparing pastel and neon highlighters, and checking to make sure I have all the new colors of flair pens.  

While I love the feeling of back to school shopping, I can’t say I’ve always loved the feeling of actually going back to school.  

The first day of school comes with a ton of new emotions. I remember as a student feeling nervous before the first day. Did I pick out a cute enough outfit? Would I like my teacher(s) or have any friends in my classes? Would I do or say something embarrassing that would haunt me all school year? Gives me goosebumps just thinking of all the terrible things that could have been!  

The first day of school was also exciting. I got to see my old friends for the first time in a few months. I got to get back into my routine and schedule (and open all those cool new school supplies I’d just gotten). I was excited for my clubs and activities to start back up, for swim meets and speech meets and choir festivals. I was also excited to be another year older and closer to finally growing up.  

A lot of these same emotions still exist as a teacher. Still nervous to meet new groups of students and start the process of pronouncing new names and memorizing new faces. Still nervous about the outfit I picked out and the accessories I’d chosen. Still excited for the new possibilities and opportunities to connect with new students, to decorate a new classroom, and to create new lessons.  

This year, all those nerves and that excitement for the new was heightened as I started at a new school!

Last year, I chose a theme song for my year that I could listen to when I needed a little pick-me-up or support. Every morning (or at least every “B” day morning – if you know you know), I blasted Francesca Battistelli’s song God Is Good. “Joy comes, tears fall / I’m learning there is beauty in it all” became my new tag line to myself as I hit some of my lowest moments in the school year.

This year, I went a different route for my theme song. On the first day of school, a new coworker texted me the link to this song, and after one chorus I knew it was a sign. Vacation by Dirty Heads starts with the lines “I’m on vacation / Every singly day ‘cause I love my occupation.” I mean really, could there be a better song to start off the year?!

Being a teacher is hard – I’m not even one week into the new year and I’m debating if 7:00 pm is too early to crawl into bed! But wow, what a different a new school, new coworkers, new students, new theme song, and new start can make.

Happy back to school everybody, I hope we all have the best year yet.