I’ve started and stopped and deleted and rewrote many times throughout this reflection.

Build Ups. I’m in my third year as an administrator and each year there have been major changes. I’m learning this is even harder than doing a PhD program and writing a dissertation. Up to this point completing that degree and publishing a dissertation had been the most difficult thing I have done. Teachers, paras, administrators, office staff, custodians, maintenance, lunch staff, when do we reset? When do we get to release emotions? When do we get to say job done take a break? Weekends? Winter break? Spring break? Summer? Keep in mind, many educators work another job because of low pay. But I do not want to get off topic. When do we reset?

Reflections. By nature, I am a self reflecting person and always think about things I could be doing differently. Not only during the challenging or busy times, all of the time. Maybe I am always trying to get to the most efficient way things could be done. Minimize the time it takes to complete a task. I encourage all my friends to reflect, but don’t obsess over things. Reflecting may help with solutions to problems or changes to some of things we do. But, when do we reset?

Celebrations. Celebrations in school come with some reset, at least it has for me recently. This past week was one of the busiest. Winter storm cancelation. State testing. Scholastic bowl tournament. Book Fair. Family Reading Night. Illnesses. No subs. But at the end of the week, we celebrated. And it was good. A ton of smiles, high fives, cheers. Now, when do we reset? Was that a reset?

Growth. Working in education is the most rewarding job you can have. But, it comes with stress, worry, and ever growing and learning new things ourselves. When do we reset?

Nature. This is where I reset. Watching the way the wind moves the water and changes the reflections helps me reset. Feeling the breeze in my hair and the sun on my back helps me reset. And it didn’t take long.