Back To School

 

This happened quickly.

A look at my life a few weeks back revealed that some things needed to change. In short, I needed to work more.

To that end, I've often been told that I should become a substitute teacher. Once, briefly, many years ago, I played with the idea of becoming a substitute in Mahopac. There was mutual interest and, for some reason, it never came to be.

This time, only a few weeks ago, I went to the Greenwich Public Schools website and began the process of applying.

By the next morning, I had an interview booked. For that afternoon.

A day or so later, I was offered a position. After that, it was a whirlwind of paperwork, references, background checks, and so on.

Oh, many thanks to those who served as my references. I owe you one. I likely owe you many.

There was the question of juggling other parts of my life to make sure we can make it all happen. Hunt Scanlon conferences remain important for me. Games, obviously. The Renegades, of course. And so on.

I was told that wouldn't be a problem. I'll be able to get to London in December for two conferences (yes, two). As for games and other commitments, there will be some hustling, but we're going to try to make it work.

Then, the only thing left to do was start. That is, after I went to San Francisco for Hunt Scanlon last week. I had been asked to start even sooner, but they were very understanding.

So today was my first day.

I handled the afternoon for a kindergarten class. But, before that, I was given a pretty complete tour of North Mianus School, my new home.

Every teacher and many of the students greeted me with warmth and genuine excitement.

Now, let's deal with the most obvious point of all: I'm not a teacher. I'm a substitute. There's a big difference.

And, after only one day, let me tell you: teachers are incredible. 

They're heroes.

The work they put into caring for their students is remarkable.

For me, that's a similarity to being a broadcaster: the students come first.

And that's what it will continue to be.

But how was my first day? I kept saying I was overwhelmed, and I stand by that. That's exactly why teachers are incredible.

When it was over -- when I knew each child was safely where they were supposed to be -- I packed up and went home to be a radio broadcaster.

Then I fell asleep. I had been thinking this day for a few weeks and pushing back the anxiety. It manifested into me passing out on the couch.

And now, onto the next day. 

How will this play out? Anything can happen, and that's what I keep telling myself. But this was something I had to pursue. I've often felt I should have been a teacher, while maybe broadcasting on the side. Life, of course, doesn't play out how we think.

And thus I'm here now.

So, as I ponder everything, I think about whether or not I did right by the students and by the teacher I filled in for.

I mentioned that to a colleague (is that fair to say?) who had helped me during the day, and her response was a panacea.

"You're here," she said. "We need you. Don't question yourself."

I'll move all around my new home, mindful of the responsibility of caring for these students when they're with me. They'll get my best.

Oh, one more thing. For my entire life -- as a father, baseball coach, and anything else -- I've generally avoided the title of "Mr. Adams." 

Like it or not, that's who I am now, and it's very weird.

Back at it tomorrow.

There are some other things coming that I can't quite talk about yet, but I'm excited to put all of these things together. For now, that's all I can offer.

A year ago today, I ended Project 55, my nearly six-year run of publishing one blog post per day. I had reached a point of some burnout and felt it was time to stop. To be honest, I thought I would have written more over the past year, but I opted for more of a micro approach by putting thoughts out via things like social media posts.

But, rest assured, I think about writing often. Sometimes, it's just getting me in front of the computer with an inspiration to my thoughts down.

Like today. This felt like an important day for me.