Day 3,045 —Deep Reflections and Future Tasks— with a PICTURE of a GEESE GREETING

First day of school! Of course, that means something entirely different to me now. Now, I am vicariously experiencing the first day of school through stories by my teachers and third hand accounts by my colleagues. 

 

         I remember my first day of teaching. I was extremely worried all weekend. It was just after Michael Brown had been shot in the back multiple times by police officer, Darren Wilson. 

         There was so much going on in the world and in my own life. I remember my colleagues were nice, but they looked right through me in every interaction. It was like they were all thinking the same thing, “this guy won’t last.” 

         A lot expected and unexpected things happened that day. I remember telling the students the wrong bell schedule (nobody had explained it to me). And, I remember hearing people say, “Hey, Mr. Virtue.” It felt like something I had never experience before. 

I made so many mistakes, but I always tried, and I got to know a lot of great young people that helped me figure it out. If I learned anything that year, it was that no matter where I go, I will find people there who will love me.