Rip Van Winkle

Straight out of college, at twenty-two, I was very fortunate and at the same time a little unfortunate to dive head first into full time teaching. There is no easing into the responsibilities and I found little grace was afforded me as I struggled through the process of learning how to be a teacher. For three years, it really took all of my time and energy. Even in the summer I always was consumed by thinking about teaching and what I could do better and what I needed to improve.

Suddenly, this summer, for the first time, I feel like I found my way to the shore. My job has hardly entered my mind at all. Teaching hasn't once invaded my dreams.

For three years, I couldn't seem to find a way to be more than a teacher--even though I tried. After a whole year of successful teaching, some kind of switch has flipped. I feel a lot like the person I was before I started teaching.

It is strange, though, because three years have passed, and it feels like minutes. It's like I went to work and came home three years later. Am I saying that I wasted three years? Not at all. These three years of hard work were so meaningful in how they developed better character in me, and the work that I've been doing is meaningful as well. It's just strange. It's like a Rip-Van-Winkle teaching experience.

I say all this because I think my blog is going to look a little different this summer. I am FINALLY ready to take a mental vacation from teaching, and I think my blog will look decidedly more personal this summer. So, thank you to everyone who has been reading about my educational adventures. I am sure I will have many more of those to share come fall. This summer, though, I think I will write more about the adventures of being a single twenty-five year old.

I am excited to focus on my life for a change, and I am a little scared. It really has been a while and it feels strange the way things are changing for me even in the past week. I just have to decide what direction I want my personal life to take, and right now, I am not sure at all. I'll share more about all this as summer progresses.