TGIF… again.
October 3, 2008 by mr. g
One major gripe I have with teaching is that it simply takes over. Of course, this is also a good thing. Our work brings purpose far greater than anything we’ve seen, requiring that we extend ourselves to heights we once never conceived. But at this moment, I’m bitter. From Monday to Friday, I’m none other than Mr. G, working hard for his students regardless of mood or circumstance. I see these same students, these teenagers, interact and allude to social lives far more interesting than my own. Because weekends are my only chance to be me, young-20’s me, the one who seeks to enjoy his youth and to get caught up in bad decisions. Teaching has forced me to become a responsible adult. Teaching has forced me to become just another one of those older folk who are lights out by 9:30p.
Maybe I’m a bit burnt out. Maybe I’m still coming to terms with the fact that summer is beyond over. Maybe I need to work more efficiently. But, TGIF. I don’t know what I’d do w/out you, weekend.
…
Tell me why I’m already tired though. Dammit.
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You’re not alone Mr. G. Ms. A and I went out last night, and we found ourselves feeling unfairly exhausted by 10PM.
Now, I consider myself pretty efficient when it comes to planning and teaching. Yet, I’m still tired out of my mind. That signals to me that something, SOMETHING may quite possibly be wrong with this profession.
It burns the best of us out.
HA!…oh how i remember the first few years of teaching as a 23 yr old…now im the 7th year veteran at 29..although i still look 19…as a male, thats a great thing
My first few years teaching, I felt like the weekends were brief and welcome respites from the week of teaching…i dreaded Sunday nights of grading papers and thinking about the following week, and wondering what I did, or didnt do, over the weekend…
but its been a subtle move over time to the weeks being a separation of the weekends…the young nearly(!!) 30 something me hits up Dallas, Austin, or just the local “spot” to catch up with everyone on the weekend…and there is now the occasional midweek concert…(NAS, NERD/Common, Girl Talk) that never would have taken place in my early years of teaching…
and yes i make sure that the kids don’t suffer the day after…although sometimes my words are mumbled and my throat is sore due to the previous nights screaming of lyrics…
here’s hoping that you reach that point in the near future…where you can balance out the serious(and very rewarding) career with the fun self
good luck….and thanks for helping me remember my “Wonder Years”