Best Intentions

The alarm is set, your clothes are laid out and there you are - lying in bed wishing for some solid sleep.  You peek out the corner of your eye to check on the time and there it is....one minute since you checked last.  Why can't you get to sleep when you know that tomorrow is a BIG day?  Excitement, anticipation, fear.  These are common feelings the night before the first day of school, and I am talking about the teachers!  As a highly reflective teacher, one of the things I love about teaching is the opportunity to start fresh every day.  Make an embarrassing mistake in front of 24 thirteen year olds? Tomorrow is a new day.  A certain student drive you crazy during eighth period? Tomorrow is a new day.  But the greatest opportunity of all (and yes I am well aware that one should not begin sentences with a conjunction except for affect like in this instance,) is the golden road of possibilities that lie ahead before each new year of school.

So.....if you are one of those victims of nervous energy and excitement I have a solution.  First, as a writer, I always keep a pen and pad by my bed in case I have a brilliant idea in the middle of the night (it happens.) So grab a pen and paper and right there and then make a list of all the things you would like to accomplish this school year.  Maybe it is just keeping up with your homework or making new friends.  Putting your goals down on paper will allow you to expend that energy in a positive way and help you visually see all the positive things you are going to be doing for yourself.  Once your list is made, you can put it in a drawer and take it out from time to time to remind yourself of your goals.  If you are REALLY serious, tape your list to your mirror so you can remind yourself to pursue these goals every day.

Here is one more suggestion if you are not a list person:  Write yourself a letter!  No, this doesn't mean that you have a personality disorder, it is another way to set some goals.  You can even mail yourself the letter in a few months and see how you measured up.  Here is an example of a letter you could write to yourself:

Dear Nancy,

Tomorrow is the first day of school and I am so nervous.  Last year I really struggled with math and it made me so depressed.  I think that this year when I start to struggle I will get over myself and ask the teacher for some help instead of hiding from him - he is pretty scary looking.  I bet he is not that bad once you get to know him and geometry could be fun - I like shapes.  Anyway, I also want to run for office this year and expand my role as a leader in the school - not only will it look good for college, but it will teach me a lot and maybe I will get to know more people - sometimes I can get pretty shy.  Not this year!  OK - going back to sleep now.  Hope all this comes true by the time you read this letter.

Love,

Nancy