A few months ago, my husband and I had friends over for a Sunday afternoon gathering. Good food, swimming, and even better company were on the menu. As the day turned into evening and things wound down, one of my friends asked me, “Do you ever get the Sunday blues?” Without hesitation, I responded, “No, I love my job.”
Reflecting on this moment, I realize how lucky I am. So many people in my life don’t feel that love for sleepily hitting the alarm button and getting up on Monday mornings. Don’t get me wrong, I cherish my weekends and the days of summer, where I have no schedule and can move at a slower pace. However, come the end of July, I’ll be craving the structure and the chaos that comes with being a middle school administrator.
Further reflection brings me to a different conclusion. This past year has been the best year I have ever had in administration. Yes, we can examine the data: test scores are up, office referrals are down, but it’s so much more than that. I look forward to going to work every day because of the people I work with. I have never had a team like this. My principal, my AP partner, the office staff, and our counselors are not only amazing at what they do, but they are incredible people I get to laugh with every day. I feel lucky to share space with them. I laugh daily with our incredible teachers, who share a love for students and recognize the craziness of middle school. My school is a special place, worth waking up for, even on the hardest of days.
I still feel a pull, a calling, to do more. I want to finish my career leading a school, implementing all the things I have learned as an AP from this incredible team. I listen to my friends who teach in other schools, and feel compelled to help them implement change. I’m still motivated by a strong sense of purpose and eager to take on whatever comes next.
For now, though, I’m staying put. I love my school, my team, and all of the systems we have built. Of course, things aren’t perfect, and I look forward to working hard to implement positive change where needed, where I am. Because right now, I’m not ready to leave my home, my family.
