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Turning Uncertainty Into Strength
Nothing beats the first moment of walking into your new classroom. The room has a history, yet is full of potential and promise. I remember being a student teacher, daydreaming of what my first classroom would look like.
My first time stepping foot into my new classroom, and the cinder block walls that seemed to stretch for miles!
The Start of Something New
The Start of Something New
Soon enough I was in that moment, opening the creaky door, its knob worn from years of use. Sunlight filtered through the windows, spotlighting the matted velcro dots on the floor. The white cinder block walls stared back at me, silent and empty. I stared at them—for hours on end. Let’s not forget the charming fluorescent lighting, completing the scene.
At the time, I was a first-year elementary school music teacher, moving states and starting to teach in a school knowing no one. In hindsight, stepping into that classroom was a pivotal moment; while I had so much uncertainty, I also had so much freedom.
Coming from a family full of teachers is rewarding to say the least. Growing up was mainly tearing down and building up classrooms over the summers (also running in the hallways without getting caught). It was comforting to see every item placed with such intention and care. They knew that despite the uncertainty of whatever the year ahead would bring, it was important to make the classroom into a safe space to learn and grow.
My family full of teachers came with me to set up my classroom my first year. This was deeply comforting to me in a time of an uncertain future full of possibilities. For hours we were hanging up posters, building shelves for books, playing music, and laughing with one another. Piece by piece, It was the beginning of making my classroom into a place I felt safe - setting a foundation to create the same feeling in my students.
A family full of teachers.
A family full of teachers.
From the left: My sister Sarah, my mom, my sister Olivia, and myself.
From the left: My sister Sarah, my mom, my sister Olivia, and myself.
Sometimes, when faced with uncertainty and challenges, like staring at blank cinder block walls, we find ourselves stepping outside our comfort zones in ways we never imagined. Being a first-year teacher is hard. But it’s those first steps into the unknown that help us grow, persevere, and uncover strengths we didn’t know we had.
A picture of my classroom taken this morning, four years later.
“Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” - Brené Brown
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