Livin' the Dream

I'm still a little flabbergasted. I cannot tell you how many times I've thought to myself, "Boy, it would be great to get a physics and/or chemistry job right out of college. And how cool would it be if I could work in Holmen...And maybe I could coach forensics."

Being offered this job feels like, if one day during your freshman year of high school, the star quarterback caught your eye, handed you a rose and asked you to be his prom date...in song...while making you a hot fudge sundae. We've all have moments where we've thought, "Wouldn't it be nice if..." but I still can't really understand why my "what if" gets to come true, and it's a little scary because of all the "what if"s that follow.

What happens if the quarterback doesn't think you're a good dancer? Or, worse yet, what if he turns out to be less than you always hoped? What if I'm not perfect for this job? What if I'm not enough? As anyone would be, I'm nervous, and I think it's playing a role in my procrastination. I'm finding it hard to really dig in to planning, probably for fear of failure. Today, however, I found the following pinned to the cork board in my office.

"It is not the critic who counts"

 It feels like the kick in the tush I need. As someone who rages whenever someone else attributes their good fortune to only external factors, I am also required  to tell you that I earned this job. And that I have the mentors, support network, tools, and knowledge to be successful. 

Nine days until the seats fill up!

I will be stressed, and busy, and will probably feel like I'm not good enough for my students from time to time because they deserve the best. But, I will succeed. And I will use every misstep or flop of a lesson as a new foundation from which to grow. So, here goes nothing!