Deep breath.
And then another.
Tomorrow morning, football practice starts, we have our district kickoff, and the school year officially begins.
This is one of those times of year that never gets old. I am legitimately excited, so much so that last week, despite once again needing to be up shortly after 5 am the next morning for summer strength and conditioning, I could not settle down enough to fall asleep. The clock crept toward midnight, and my mind raced, my train of thought stopping in seemingly random chambers of my mind, turning over ideas and worries, anticipation and excitement. I tend to have nights like those.
The school year will officially start for teachers Monday morning, but it began long ago. I spent every day this summer with kids and coaches, colleagues and friends, mentors and motivators. I was blessed to travel with a group of amazing people who, honestly, reignited something that makes me not just excited to be a teacher but extremely proud to part of this family. I spent mornings and afternoons throughout the summer in our hallway with members of the ELA team, a group of people who drive me, challenge me, and elevate me. They are family. I was fortunate to be included in gatherings of leaders in our district as we planned and polished professional learning. So often, content, calendars, and planning were interspersed with laughter. Not the uncomfortable laughter that says, "Yeah, let's just move on ok, and get this done" but instead, heartfelt and heartwarming catharsis that brightens a day long after the meeting has ended. Yes, I have had a little down time away from school, but my time with all of these people rejuvenates me.
The school year starts, officially, for our students later in the week. However, that is misleading too. They have been engaged for months. I have also spent countless hours with kids, and I am better for it. Hours at camps, in the weightroom, or in a van can reveal a great deal about people. I get to see kids all summer, not just BHS football kids, but cheerleaders, band members, debaters, dancers, MS athletes, youth football players, and so many more. Watching, kids sweat and push themselves, seeing young people protect one another and build each other up, getting to know what drives individuals to do what they do, and observing kids grow in their own ways give me a completely different feeling than some other people when I hear an adult say "Kids these days." Add to that that the resources at our fingertips today have allowed me to virtually interact with my kids despite the fact that they are not in school, giving me a chance to celebrate with them when they are at a peak they proudly post, check in with them when a vague Tweet triggers a concern, and watch them from a distance as they grow in so many ways. This all makes me even more excited to see them walk through our doors later in the week. Occasionally, former students have touched base with me this summer, asking for input or sharing where they are headed. Those moments mean a great deal to me as our relationships shift and grow as they boldly stride out of our door, but forever remain "our kids".
I will struggle to sleep tonight, and the next, and definitely the one after that. I will continue to take deep breaths. But I am ready. I am ready to see my kids and my Buhler family on a daily basis. I am ready to take on the challenges that lay ahead, even those that I am not fully aware of yet. Are there going to be dips and struggles. Oh boy, there will be those. But without darkness, we cannot know light. Without cold, we cannot know warmth. So, bring it on. We'll keep grinding and growing. Driving and developing. Laughing and lifting. And we'll do it together.
Have a great year.
