I guess today’s daily prompt is the nudge I need to come out about my professional life. I’m a teacher. There, I said it.  So when asked if I’m looking forward to going back to school, I can honestly say I have mixed feelings.

On the one hand, I love my summer vacation. I use that time to read and study and reflect and plan new ideas for the upcoming year. I also use that time to play and visit my family and old friends, and sleep and swim and quilt and generally have a good time on my own schedule. I often stay up late, usually sleep past 5:25 (imagine that), and recharge my inner battery.

The summer of 2013 was particularly productive. I moved schools, switched grade levels, participated in a national project for teachers, and began this blog. I focused on my health and well being, got engaged, and took a few trips. I started to exercise, lost a few pounds, and created my 47 for 47 challenge. Wow. No wonder I love summer.

On the flip side, though, the new school year makes me giddy with anticipation each and every year. I itch to see my class list, when the students are still just names on a page. I chomp at the bit to get into my classroom and start moving around furniture and putting up bulletin boards. My heart starts to race at the sight of all the brand new school supplies lining the store shelves. All of those Pinterest ideas compete for space in my plans. I begin to fill in my spreadsheets with test scores and start thinking about my new schedule. I especially get excited to meet the students. I will spend a lot of time with them over the next several months, and I can’t wait to set the tone for that interaction.

Overall, I still find that I experience years primarily by the school calendar, rather than the traditional January to December plan. I’m still getting used to the idea of school starting before the blazing days of triple digit heat have subsided, but other than that, I’m ready for a happy new year.