Yearbook Yourself

As the year winds down, I am slowly sharing more information about myself with my students. Being a first year teacher, I've been guarded about what I let them know. One of the top questions for the year has been, "How old are you?" To which I would responded with various witty responses: "Old enough."; "You don't ask a lady that question."; "I forgot."; "14".


So on Friday, I let my kids sign my yearbook from this year. With it, I brought my eighth grade yearbook. I thought it would be fun for them to see what I looked like when I was their age, what I was involved in, and what my friends wrote to me. I was right. They had plenty of fun- at my expense! Now, I am grateful that I no longer look just like I did when I was an eighth grader. However, I hardly think that my picture was as unfortunate as they made it out to be. It's a good thing I don't have a problem with low self-esteem.

My students were most taken with the cover which proudly proclaimed the year: 2001. They were astounded that I was in their shoes a mere 9 years ago. I've got to agree with them. I can hardly believe that I am just four days shy of finishing my first year. Looking back on it, my eighth grade year was one of my favorite years of school. I liked being a big fish in a small pond and social circles were less defined. It has been a great experience to go back to the eighth grade in a different capacity. I'm always amazed at how much I learn about myself through teaching others. I hope that my students will think back on this year with a smile, if not because of fond memories then because of their ridiculous bangs in their yearbook picture.