another year, another group of students

I honestly can't believe that summer is over! People say that all the time, but I feel it resonating through my bones. A longing to be out on a fishing boat with a cold drink and a sun hat. A desire to float - eyes closed - with the sun warming my face and the sound of children muffled through the water in my ears. I adore summer. I live for summer. When the days start getting shorter I can feel the darkness creeping in and by February I am absolutely unbearable and going crazy. So, where, my lovely summer, did you go?

The last thing I remember is leaving school to have a baby on a bright Tuesday morning early in May. The rest has been a blur, and now I'm back in a classroom. New faces. New expectations. I gotta admit - I have high hopes for this group. I showed up today for the second half day of the new year and they came in, sat down and opened their notebooks, and had their pens out ready to work. Half of them already had their calculators out! Please God let it last. I pray that I am able to keep them focused, keep them interested, and get them excited about learning science. I don't want them to have fun in the first few weeks, just to figure out that I don't bite and that I'll help them through it. I think that starting off the year with a "fun" activity sets the teacher up for the rest of the year. If we don't do anything fun at all until October, I suspect they'll appreciate it more. We'll see.

I'm teaching part time at this small private school, Bayou Academy. I actually graduated from this school although I never really felt like I belonged there. It was one of 3 high schools that I attended, and the only one that I attended against my will. That, and the cliquish nature of small groups of people who have known each other forever made me fairly miserable. It's different for me now. It's a great place that is allowing me to teach physics and chemistry, two hours of teaching a day, which is a perfect part time job for me with a new baby. I'm not quite sure what my daily routine will be, but I'm glad that I won't have to be away from Cami all day. I'm also extraordinarily thankful to be able to get out of the house and use my brain.

We have an awesome group of people at this school. Every one is nice and helpful and people keep telling me that they've heard good things about me. I can't imagine from whom, but I am pleasantly surprised, considering the last time I graced (or disgraced) these halls I was an angry and rebellious 16 year old slacker. Apparently I've been forgiven. Or time heals past indiscretions. Or maybe they remember my ACT score more than my failure to do homework. Or maybe all of my internal teen angst was just that, internal, and nobody was wrestling with it but me. Not sure. . . but I am thankful. One of the teachers says "peace be with you and with your spirit" whenever she leaves. I love that. I swear it calms me down to hear her say it.

So, another year started, another group of students, new issues, new faces, and 10 months until summer break. Take a deep breath.

Peace be with you.