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In my house, the first week of summer consisted of three skinned knees, two scraped elbows, one bonked head, countless hours on bikes and scooters, and new friends. All while I read five books and tried to manage the snack consumption with little success. And this was before summer activities even started.
Now that I look at our summer calendar, there is no stopping it: family trips, camps, AP classes, concerts. All of our favorite things. Did I schedule too much? Maybe. Ask me in August. But I know we will end summer not only refreshed, but more importantly fulfilled. And I will be ready. I will be ready to take on the school new year, new challenges, and new expectations. I currently cannot even fathom what it will be like — I never can even when I try, but that’s not my concern right now.
Right now, I get to summer. With more books, more bandaids, and more bonding. Time I will use to replenish my energy, my mind, and my body, so in August, I will be my best self. We teachers recognize this is not a perfect cycle we survive by, but it is the one we are dealt by a society that overworks and over demands from us. And each year, we work to find a balance to make it somewhat sustainable.
Until we get that balance, compensation, and recognition to make this profession a little more manageable, I hope you summer hard.
NIkki Smith,
ICTE President |
