This picture was taken at preschool screening. I remember the day well because I was so excited! Finally, the key I needed to unlock the possibilities of real school! I still have that kernel excitement at the start of each new school year or semester.
Another semester begins on Monday. This got me thinking about how often I’ve approached the start of a new school year or new semester.
For the past 33 1/2 years, I have been out of school for precisely nine months (not including summer breaks). I took a few months off between finishing my bachelor’s degree and starting my master’s degree program. For all of those years, I was either a student or teaching.
Some people will say that you should look at what you loved to do when you were really little to guide you in the present. No surprise, my favorite thing to do when I was little was to play school. I never thought that was odd, but now when I think about it, maybe it was a little strange for a kid to love playing school when not in school! My parents even bought me a used school desk when I was in preschool. I loved those workbooks you could get that helped you work through the alphabet and numbers. My mom would also buy old textbooks for me (not sure where, maybe library book sales? Or garage sales? It seems I always had a lot of old textbooks). I could hardly wait for kindergarten to start! I truly loved going to school all my years, and I enjoy having the opportunity to now teach.
I would say I’m in my natural environment.
Are you doing what you most loved when you were little? If not, can you make a change? Even to add just a little bit of that into your life?
If You Have Five Seconds to Spare 
Reblogged this on We'll Be the Last Ones to Let You Down and commented:
I’m thinking about this again, as MSU-Mankato began another semester today. Plus, I like my preschool picture, ha ha!
This is a funny question. I’ve never asked anyone, and no one has ever outright volunteered the opinion, but it’s probably no enormous surprise where I wound up. I was a very argumentative boy, so my winding up a lawyer makes a fair amount of sense. At least as far as that part of my personality is concerned.
You know I finally have a better balance now–half-time writing and half-time teaching. But I do want to make a change and get away from teaching. It’s been 20 years. Not sure what will happen next; I’ll see where I get a job when the kids graduate in 2 1/2 years!
Great work young lady!
Thanks!
What I loved to do most when I was little was climb–anything: trees, chairs, countertops, hills.
I don’t suppose I can make that into a profession, but, yes, I ought to look into how to make that part of my life. It’s a tad bit complicated. When people see a middle-aged woman climbing a tree they tend to want to call the authorities. But I’ll figure it out; I will!
Next time you’re in a tree, just tell people you are looking for your cat!
There’s probably a daredevil side of you that can be honored in some way, even if it’s not about physically taking risks.
I, on the other hand, was always such a cautious child and still am especially averse to physical risk. I admire your spirit!
I never saw myself as a daredevil, but my mom insists I was. I had 3 brothers who weren’t as rascally as I was.
But all that led to a lot of injuries, falling out of trees, breaking a tailbone, getting whiplash, pulling muscles that never really healed because I didn’t want anyone to know i had been injured so I just grit my teeth and soldiered on.
Speed was not my thing–but height was. And yes, there is a way to have fun with that side of me. A person can get “up there” without taking physical risks. Taking the elevator to the observation deck, for example…