Here’s a glimpse at what my first day of
school looked like this year.
I overslept because I had just gotten home from a vacation the night before. So I had a mere 10 minutes to go before my dad needed to take me to school. I ate a measly breakfast consisting of toast and a glass of juice. I hurried to gather everything together in my backpack and ran out the door with my socks and shoes in hand.
At school, I was bombarded first by my math teacher. While I knew my schedule was incorrect, she insisted I was still in the right math class. I’d actually hoped to take Civics and Economics first period, but that was another scheduling dilemma in itself.
I hadn’t signed up for Civics online – I’d wanted to take it in the classroom with my friends - but that’s what I’d been placed into. I couldn’t fit the class anywhere else in my schedule so I ended my first day with a new online class, a mammoth amount of information from my teachers, and math homework. Lots of math homework.
By the end of the first week of school, my online class was switched to honors and I was swamped with homework – partially because I was also in my first AP class. Already struggling with the online aspect of my schedule, I felt I was getting behind before I’d even started. Overwhelmed didn’t begin to describe the level of my frame of mind. My problem wasn’t the course work though, I understood just fine.
Time management was what I needed. So I sat down with a few sheets of paper and drew up a draft of the next week. I made a list of all my goals and everything I’d have going on. Making a plan had me half-way towards success because I didn’t feel nearly as lost as before. For the rest of that week I followed the schedule and found I’d budgeted my time very well. I even managed to give myself an evening off.
None of this made me a bad person, nor was I dumb not to have had a handle on things immediately. Being thrust into a new setting and being dumped with unexpected work will stress anybody out. Sitting down and taking a deep breath will fix everything. Don’t be nervous about the amount of work you have; that will only slow you down. Relax, and power your way through it. Reaching the end is possible, and when you get there, it’s the best feeling you could ever ask for.
I overslept because I had just gotten home from a vacation the night before. So I had a mere 10 minutes to go before my dad needed to take me to school. I ate a measly breakfast consisting of toast and a glass of juice. I hurried to gather everything together in my backpack and ran out the door with my socks and shoes in hand.
At school, I was bombarded first by my math teacher. While I knew my schedule was incorrect, she insisted I was still in the right math class. I’d actually hoped to take Civics and Economics first period, but that was another scheduling dilemma in itself.
I hadn’t signed up for Civics online – I’d wanted to take it in the classroom with my friends - but that’s what I’d been placed into. I couldn’t fit the class anywhere else in my schedule so I ended my first day with a new online class, a mammoth amount of information from my teachers, and math homework. Lots of math homework.
By the end of the first week of school, my online class was switched to honors and I was swamped with homework – partially because I was also in my first AP class. Already struggling with the online aspect of my schedule, I felt I was getting behind before I’d even started. Overwhelmed didn’t begin to describe the level of my frame of mind. My problem wasn’t the course work though, I understood just fine.
Time management was what I needed. So I sat down with a few sheets of paper and drew up a draft of the next week. I made a list of all my goals and everything I’d have going on. Making a plan had me half-way towards success because I didn’t feel nearly as lost as before. For the rest of that week I followed the schedule and found I’d budgeted my time very well. I even managed to give myself an evening off.
None of this made me a bad person, nor was I dumb not to have had a handle on things immediately. Being thrust into a new setting and being dumped with unexpected work will stress anybody out. Sitting down and taking a deep breath will fix everything. Don’t be nervous about the amount of work you have; that will only slow you down. Relax, and power your way through it. Reaching the end is possible, and when you get there, it’s the best feeling you could ever ask for.
Isn't it amazing how a sheet of paper and a bit of planning can transform time! I can't imagine how you must have felt on that first day of school. Sometimes we teachers lose perspective of all you have to go through just to get to school each morning! Thank you for helping me remember!
ReplyDeletewow .. sounds like you had a horrid first week. Good job on getting organized!
ReplyDeleteI find that if I write things down, I can get things done much more efficiently. I check them off after I have completed them. As a NCVPS teacher, I have basically the same routine every week & this has been extremely helpful...I no longer forget if I have done something for one class & not for another:-)
ReplyDeleteA friend once told me that if you fail to plan you are planning to fail. Sometimes the plan eliminates the stress that comes with the unexpected. Sometimes I make a plan on paper but most of the time I have a mental list that I check off in my head.
ReplyDeleteYour post reminded me of this quote about peace...enjoy!
ReplyDeletePeace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart - Unknown.
You were so honest with your feelings. I am so glad that you mention the need to stop, relax, and then plan a way to manage your time wisely. So many of my Spanish students need to hear this message. Ana K.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! It is definitely a skill to be able to stop, breathe, gain perspective, and act accordingly. Time management has such a huge impact on everyone. Learning to do it wisely and effectively will only benefit you as you have so obviously learned.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for setting your mind to straightening things out! Teachers may try (even by force!) to get students to create a plan of attack for their goals and tasks, but it means nothing if the student is not invested in it himself. Thanks for sharing your story with others who inevitably experience the same frustrations!
ReplyDeleteThanks for admitting to being overwhelmed. I think this is something felt by lots of students and they don't know what to do about it. I liked that you made a list of what you needed to do - that really helps you focus in on what needs to be done. I would also encourage students who are overwhelmed to talk to a parent,teacher, or other adult that they trust. That adult has been where they are and can help them focus in on what is really stressing them out and give them tips on how to deal with it.
ReplyDeleteManagement is key to anything in life. I think of Financial Management as my son is working on Personal Management Merit Badge for Boy Scouts of America. Money, like time (as you discuss) are items that must be budgeted and accounted for.
ReplyDeleteWhat a hard first day! You handled it so well. I think a lot of the time, it seems really uncool to have to write anything down or plan, but it's so important. Once you map it out, you find that there's actually enough time to do it all. Nice work!
ReplyDeleteAmanda G,
ReplyDeleteI understand the feeling. I remember my first day of school as a teacher 2 1/2 years ago, when my 2 month old decided to wake up at 3am and not fall back asleep until we got her to daycare. Since then I have learned to expect the unexpected because you never know whats going to happen. I have a calendar that goes everywhere with me to remind of what the kids are doing, what I have planned and what my husband has going on. We are humans and we all become overwhelmed at times. Time management is a very difficult task to perfect and no one ever can perfect because you have to expect the unexpected. Kudoes to you for tackling the school work and realizing that you have the power to make the best of a sticky situation. B Hammers