Lessons from my first year

On the eve of my second first day of school I pulled out my journal from last year. It has only one entry, which I wanted to share. It is me in an extremelt vulnerable, anxious, and distraught place (I know...on the first day of school?!). I wanted to share it because I remember thinking "how will things get better?" They weren't always better, but they weren't always bad. I wanted the first years out there to know they are not alone and remind the seasoned professionals the same. I enter my second year tomorrow and I am having PTSD-lile flashbacks. I am optimistic for the best and prepared for the not so great.

August 29, 2013

First day of school. Excited. Confident. Long to do list to get prepared.

8:00 Starbucks--There's always time
8:30 Greet as many teachers as I can and wish them a great first day. Positive climate and relationships.
9:00 up to your eyeballs in kindergartners.

By 10 you're working 1:1 to alleviate behavioral aggression. PE teacher was hit. Principal too.

Mimicker arises. Almost worse by the end of the day. Running after a bolter. Trying to grasp what comes next.

Meet parents who were "waiting for the call." Feels like meeting is happening around me. To do list grows. Social stories. Token boards. PPT in two days. SPED laws you don't know yet. You barely know your caseload.

Stressed. Overwhelmed. Defeated. 

What do I so? Do I really know anything? In over my head. How do I ask for help without seeming incompetent? 

Schedule 15+ meetings. 2 initial evals. All by the end of September. 

In over my head. 
Sob at home. Sob in shower.
Anxiety attack.
Negative self talk.
Easily irritated.
Need space.

Stressed about tomorrow. What do I do first?

Exhausted and only mildly hopeful...

This journal entry sums up what it felt like to be me on that first day. I didn't want to go back but I did. The tears didn't end there. The anxiety didn't subside until summer. Kids came and went. Others flared up. Its all part of our job. Tomorrow new kids will arrive and I may not be any more ready for it than last year. That's okay. I will do my best. 

I never wrote any more in my journal. I decided to challenge myself this year and write one positive each (school) day to try and help me reframe the bad days and celebrate the good. My first entry is tonight. It involves a tough kiddo who I spoke to today. I called dad to share a major curveball for tomorrow. Dad put the student on to say hi, which shocked me. He said he had lots of his original comic book stories to tell me (94 to be exact) and said he had just done the ice bucket challenge! I was shocked that he even got on the phone period, but to share two things (and subconsciously indicate he was excited to see me) is major step! I hope it lasts, but recognize his current affections are fleeting. But for today it is my positive and I'm excited to see what other moments I appreciate along the way. 

Until next thyme, 
Erika

Welcome to 2011!

Let's give a warm welcome to 2011! Today marks the beginning of a new year. Unfortunately, a headache from saying adios to 2010 has left me lazy for the day. I will say that it feels good to have a clean slate to work with. A new year means you can make changes in your life, which are hopefully positive. Resolutions are always funny because people want to get healthy, lose weight, etc. However, I always find myself wanting to make a resolutions to better my life and others, but never following through. So, I resolute to make this year's resolutions different!

Here are some of my aspirations for the new year.

• Be more positive--I tend to complain a lot behind closed doors
• Get my license--Knowing I turn 23 this year, I NEED to finally get a drivers license (ha!)
• Cook more frequently--Its easy to cook when I have free time, but once classes get going I fall short. I'm setting a goal of one meal per week during the semester in hopes that by setting a small goal I will always succeed (that's the key to resolutions!)
• Blog more often--Again, I'm setting a small goal of blogging once per week when class is in session. With papers, exams, and readings its hard to find time. However, cooking/blogging is "me time" so I must make room for that.

So I ask, what are resolutions?

I am excited to see what 2011 will bring. It will be a year for big things, I just know it.

To all of you in the blog-o-sphere, a happy, healthy, and safe 2011.

Until next thyme,
Erika