reflections from a second year teacher May 29, 2009

There’s this funny idea out there, brought to us no doubt by idiotic advertising campaigns like Mountain Dew, that will delude us all at least once and perhaps many times if we refuse to take responsibility and learn from the happy delusion caused by this seemingly sensical idea. This of course is the notion that “been there” actually means “done that”, and that whatever IT is has been done not only well but pretty much with totally awesome second time around expertise. Perhaps this appropriate advice for someone who is sculpting a creamy peanut butter sandwich for the second time but in terms of sculpting young adolescent rebellious minds: this couldn’t be further from the truth–at least in my humble experience. Truth: I was more like M.C. Hammer’s second album (honestly: too legit, should’ve quit)–admittedly, I sucked more the second time around than the first. Second truth: I still love teaching. I think partly the uncomfortable second year experience has only brought me closer to appreciating the first… As I’ve focused entirely too much on negative aspects this past year (which has done me no good and brought only a split second of self-gratification), I’ve decided  that crap-talk about school has started to bore me and I’m pretty much over it. Also, it’s been recently brought to my attention that I have no control over the past! Imagine that. So I beat on, a small raft against the current, ceaselessly into the past. Or no–I didn’t say that–and I’m pretty sure I like the present a whole lot more. So here’s to new beginnings…and to summer 2009. Amen, sisters.