School starts on Monday. I have to admit that I’m getting slightly nervous. I’ll be working at another department with students of a different level and age. Will I be able to do this? Will I be able to create a good relationship with them? Will I be able to, perhaps, make them excited for my subject – English language and literature? Will the students be happy with me as a teacher? Will my colleagues be happy with me? These questions and insecurities creep up on me when I’m in bed trying to go asleep. They leave me staring at the ceiling. I’ve always been nervous at the start of a new school year. I’m even nervous when we all return from our two-week Christmas break. But this is a whole other level of anxiousness.
Coming Tuesday is going to be the first time that I meet my new mentor group. A group of (now) 18 students. Only one of them has to turn 16, but will do so in September. The oldest are 18 already. In my time as a teacher, I have only worked with students ranging from 10 years old (elementary education) to 15 years old. In that stage of their lives, most of them are still really children. Except from at the end of the second year, when most of them are 14, they are losing some of that innocence and playfulness.
In two weeks time, my own education will begin again. Fortunately, last year I’ve managed to get all my credits so this year hopefully isn’t going to be tougher than last year. My husband is now applying for jobs as well. Once he gets a job, a lot is probably going to change in our daily routines as well. Although I’m looking forward to it, it is also something that I’m a bit scared of. It’s the unknown.
I know that I shouldn’t worry and that everything is going to be just fine, because I’m just going to be myself and try my very best to make everything work out. I just hope it’s not going to be too much of a struggle.
