Once More Unto the Breach, Dear Friends

I know that many of my friends and colleagues started last week, and still others will start later, but today is my first day back with students. I hold a mixed bag of reactions, like I always do.

I really don’t like the first day of school. Perhaps it is because I had so MANY of them, travelling hither and yon when I was young. Always the New Kid…the “why don’t you stand up and tell us a little something about yourself…” and other sadistic teacher tricks that I will never use. Perhaps that’s the way to think of that…I learned from some of my teachers what NOT to do in preparation for taking the Apple and Chalk myself one day. I usually don’t sleep the night before, I have such butterflies and small alligators in my stomach that I am always ready to dash out the door so I won’t embarrass myself from either end. No one believes it when I say it, but I am very shy…an introvert who lost sight of when Q4 of last school year turned in to Summer and then into the new year, because who doesn’t love being at home with your pup and a good book!?

But here I go. It will be virtual and quick, this first day. I am also meeting my students individually (I never thought I’d bless Zoom, but there you go), so that takes away some of my anxiety. Today I introduce Myself to these New Kids. We’ll see what happens.

“Follow your spirit, and upon this charge

Cry 'God for Kelly, New Kids, and North Hills!”