Last week, I wrapped up my first week as a 5th grade Math & Science teacher in the School District of Philadelphia. I spent the majority of the week lesson planning, working with content specialists, and prepping my classroom for students to return to in-person learning.
I briefly met my students virtually and was (anxiously) looking forward to teaching them in-person this week.
Well , last night I received word from my principal that we’d be spending another week virtual due to rising Covid cases and staff shortages.
To be completely honest, I was bummed to hear this news. After sitting with my feelings for a bit, I remembered two very important things to help change my perspective:
- This schedule shift is NOT about me.
- As with most things, the only thing I can control is my mindset and response.
Have you ever made plans for something to go a certain way - a work promotion, a relationship, a race, etc. - and literally nothing went according to plan?
There’s nothing like training for 12 weeks with perfect weather conditions for a half-marathon and then showing up on race day to single digit temperatures and freezing rain.
Yet, we still train. We focus on the things we CAN control. We can’t change the weather (well some people can) but we can adjust our outfits, our race day strategy and who knows - we may end up running our dream race!
Instead of feeling bummed, I’m choosing to focus on what I can control - my response to the shift to virtual.
For example, an extra week of virtual instruction actually gives me more time to plan and prepare my classroom for when students show up next week. Teaching virtually is also significantly less stressful than in-person instruction for me - no one can throw tomatoes at me when I tell bad jokes.
If there’s something in your life that isn’t going the way you want, that’s okay! Accept what you can and find freedom in dismissing anything outside of your control.
