I love my job. I do. I love science, and I love teaching, and I love working with students. I get to talk about my favorite subjects with some of the most wonderful kids you’ll ever meet every day.
Lately though, I’ve been in survival mode. I spend about 12-14 hours on school work each day. And I don’t say that to complain…just to explain. You see, I’m losing my mind. If I was scatterbrained before this year, it’s nothing compared to the mess that’s jumbling around in my brain these days. My current self-preservation plan focuses on sleeping 7 hours a night, running, and spending a handful of hours each weekend being social (in an attempt to salvage my mental, physical, and emotional well being). But, I’m losing it. I am not the fully prepared, creative, ready to attack the day, kind of teacher I want to be. I'm doing okay...but, that's hardly what a student deserves.
Fortunately for me, I work in a department full of people who are willing to step in to make me a secondary preservation plan of their own accord. Sciency fairy godpeople, if you will. Today, I was informed that I don't have to teach on Thursday. I can grade, plan, and observe classes while the highly qualified staff divvies up my courses and teaches for me. Oh, and they’re buying me lunch. Well…excuse me while I try not to burst into tears. Happy happy tears.
There are a lot of great gifts out there, but, as far as I’m concerned, the greatest gifts we each can give are time and talents. It takes a certain brand of generosity to volunteer a prep period to give someone else a day full of them. I am totally beside myself with gratitude. Thank God for teachers.
