August- Back to School!

All I can remember about the month of August growing up was that it marked back to school elements, back to school shopping, getting school supplies, marking off the days of the calendar, looking for the perfect school bag. This August is VERY different. It still encompasses a lot of those elements but now it also evokes a sense of fear in me. As most of us will become teachers in a week, I am anxious about all that we have learned thus far. This will be my second full year of teaching and I am much more intimidated than when I first started. From day one I was thrown to the lions and had to learn to fend for myself. Luckily, I was surrounded by many supportive colleagues that guided me thru. Now, I have a personal standard that I want to fulfill and am anxious about how well I can apply the skills I have gained. In the beginning I had no pressure to excel because I had nothing to work from and I wasn't too sure what I was working toward. So my personal best was my only concern. Now, that I have completed 16 rigorous hours of educational and professional development courses, I feel I must meet the expectations of others. Others being administrators, students, parents, colleagues, and who knows who else. I know I will do well, I just need to get these jitters out of my system.