The day began just as any other … rushed, unprepared, and panic-stricken for the events that were sure to unravel as soon as I stepped foot in the building. I expected chaos, especially after the antics of the day prior. However, today was a bit more serene. Well, only after I rushed to gather reading materials for the first few weeks of school.

At 7 a.m. this morning, I could be found rushing back and forth from the book room across the hall to my classroom, lugging an excessive amount of textbooks and smaller anthologies. To say I broke out in a sweat before the kids braced the threshold is the understatement of the year. Once again, I didn’t get the chance to sip on my coffee until my prep period 2, but at least I didn’t spill it all over myself like yesterday.

What I did not expect was a sense of relief. I honestly left the building yesterday ready to throw in the towel, and today I left ready for the next day’s adventure. I think what helped me to relax was sharing a bit of myself with my students. Let me explain …

Yesterday was the first day of school, and I ended up being the teacher I despised in high school – the one that made us write on day one. While my students were a little reluctant at first, they quickly dove into the writing activity. The assignment was to write a one-page autobiography. The goal: a chance for me to get to know my students a little better, as well as an opportunity to gather a baseline writing sample from each of my students.

One of my class periods kept telling me that their lives were too boring to write about. I then decided to throw myself to the wolves and participate in the activity. My students gave me homework; they tasked me with writing my own autobiography, and as you all know, I never back down from a challenge. So, this is what I wrote …

Everything You Need to Know About Miss Disabella

I am weird. It’s better that all you lovely students discover this tidbit before we dive headfirst into exciting texts this year. I think English class is fun, which I guess is weird enough. I like to read, but I especially like to write. I write for fun … every single day.

I love coffee; I’m sure you noticed the bright red Keurig behind my desk, which I will use every single day. I have three cats, and two are named after Shakespeare characters. I also have a Yorkshire Terrier named Bella, and she is basically a stuffed animal. She is the sweetest dog and loves going out on the town to see all the lovely people out there in the world.

In my spare time, I like to go hiking. Sometimes, I like to gather my backpack and a Polaroid and just take in the amazing scenery that surrounds us. If I’m not hiking, I’m cooking, baking, traveling, seeing plays, or knitting. Knitting? Of course! It’s a relaxing activity that clears your mind and keeps you occupied. Plus, you get an extra accessory out of it.

I love to cook and bake; so, if I’m not reading, writing, or hiking, I’m in the kitchen. I also love to travel, and while I travel, I tend to gravitate toward the dramatic arts. I’ve attended many musicals and plays, and my favorites are Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, Phantom of the Opera, and Les Miserable.

I have been to 11 countries, and my favorite was Italy. I have two brothers and one sister. My older brother is in the Air Force, stationed in South Korea. My sister is in the Navy, stationed in Pensacola, FL. My younger brother is a senior in high school, and he is interested in cyber security.

That’s all you need to know about me!

When I asked if they’d like to hear this short excerpt from my life, I received a resounding yes. And that, dear readers, turned my rocky start to the week into a great second day of school. I felt accepted as the new teacher on the block, and I had some amazing and insightful conversations with my students.

I am beyond excited to see what this year has in store. I learned so much about my students today, and I know that I have been blessed with the opportunity to hopefully shape and guide some pretty great kids. My classroom was filled with many a laugh and of course only smiles – well, maybe not my sophomores. They got a sneak peek at their reading schedule for the semester, and let me just tell you that October is going to be a rough month.

Overall, today was a win. It was enlightening to see how students interact with each other, with me, and in their writing. I cannot wait to see what happens next – one day and multiple cups of coffee at a time. Until tomorrow …