So I have completed 2 out of the 180 days of school. I am going to take a big sigh of relief. The first week of school is always a crazy one. In fact, these first two days of school were the craziest first days of school I have ever had thus far. Picture this:
First day of school... parents of the 1300 students we have (yeah... this isn't a high school) flooding the hallways... mass confusions about classrooms (indoors and outdoor trailers)... 40 new students registering on the previous day (not to include the other large amount who registered over the summer).... teachers running around trying to get their last minute preparations completed. I am standing amid this confusion shuffling students with an I'm Lost-look on their face to their classrooms. Oh did I mention we have about 15 new staff members (mostly teachers) at our school? Anyhow... I get back to my room as my kids are walking in. I have a huge class. I wasn't sure if I had 26, 27, 28, or 29 students because no one really knows who is registered and who isn't. We sort through what we are to do... and a parent walks in. She said her son needed to move to the afternoon class and therefore was transferred into my class. I am ok with that. No problem, right? I don't really have any extra desks because I gave them away to new teachers. He gets to sit at the teachers desk... in the swivel chair... bad idea. New 2nd graders can't handle a swivel chair.
Then, right before my "later gators" come in, I get another parent who says they need to move their child from Track A to Track B... the office had sent them down to me. Yikes!! My class is overcrowded... and panic starts to set in... this is only the first day. WOW! Obviously this was only the beginning to quite a chaotic day (it always is)... but this one was slightly more chaotic than usual. I'm not as prepared as I'd like to be because my masters program takes over my life, but for some reason, I am calm... worlds beyond what I normally am. Everything always seems to work out.
What made the day all worth it was this. As I went to pick up my students from lunch recess, I see a group of about 15 kids in the doorway looking through the window. They start screaming... "She's coming... she's coming." It's a posse of my kids from last year waiting to attack me with their sweet hugs and smiling faces. They were all squeezing me so tightly I could hardly breathe. Some of these kids didn't seem to adore me this much last year, but hey... look what a summer does. I love these kids with all my heart. This job is so rewarding in everyway. To watch these little minds grow and develop into smart, quirky, funny, intelligent personalities is AMAZING. Miracles are ever-present on this earth, right in front of our eyes. I am so thankful that God has placed me into this position, to help mold the minds of America. He knows exactly what I need and that is to feel like I make a difference. After today, part of me realized that I really do make a difference.... dreams can come true.
