I don't just talk to myself...I write letters as well

Dear Natalie Skidmore,

Congratulations on finishing your student teaching semester with your sanity still (mostly) intact. This may be premature, as there are still a couple of required weeks left, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I'm sure you'll make it through! This semester has been a whirlwind of activity, I know, but I hope you feel that you've learned a lot and have become a better teacher because of it.

When you first began student teaching you were enthusiastic, excited, and passionate about the craft. NEVER LOSE THAT. There is a reason teachers start out with passion, and I believe it is because this profession is one of the greatest in the world. What could be better than waking up each day and getting to go work with young people and educate the future of our country? Not much. However, I do need you to realize that the students will NOT always appreciate how hard you work, how much you care, or how much thought you put into the class activities. This is not because they hate you, or think you're weird (even though they definitely do), or want to make your life miserable. They will act this way, on occasion, because they are teenagers, high schoolers, essentially still kids, and they haven't learned how to act appropriately yet.

At times this will be overwhelmingly frustrating. Your late nights spent planning and replanning lessons to engage the students and make learning fun will occasionally seem useless. That "awesome" activity you worked so hard on will be received with statements like "This is stupid. Why do we have to do this?" And you will have to take a deep breath, remind yourself that they are not attacking you personally, and use these questions as a learning opportunity. You will spend entire days reminding students to get to work, and trying to explain why your activities and assignments are important. But, you WILL make sure that you can justify every assignment you give, because you know that work without a purpose only hurts you and your students.

Above all, use what you learned during student teaching to become a better person and teacher. There have been good and bad experiences, but they are ALL learning opportunities. Don't get caught up in petty, meaningless thoughts and discussions. Keep your head held high, and always think about what is best for you and your students. You may be a student TEACHER, but this is a learning experience. And you will experience a lot.

You will be proud.
You will laugh.
You will get to know students and never want to leave.
You will cry (but only when no one is around)
You will experience more frustration than you have ever known.
You will be overwhelmed by pride.
You will doubt yourself.
You will be proud of yourself.
You will work hard.
You will work harder.

YOU
will succeed.