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Let me tell you why I am burned-out and what I have seen many colleagues go through. I went into teaching
with the most noble of thoughts. I didn't care about working 70-80 hours a week, staying up at night to worry that I wasn't
reaching some of the kids, because I thought I was making a difference on today's youth who are tomorrow's future. I generally
liked the young folks, and loved watching faces light up when they got a good grade that they had worked hard for. Then, bit
by bit, it began to eat away at me like a flesh-eating bacteria. In fact, I don't even think I noticed when the burn-out first
arrived. I sure did recognize it when came when I cried when I woke up because I had to go to work. To a job I once loved.
I have
taught freshmen at the University of Maryland, middle and high school kids at the French International School, High School
at Boys' Latin in Maryland, and now I am at a public school in Anne Arundel County. This was to be the year that would determine
if there was any way I could find it within myself to salvage this career I once loved. By November it has become clear to
me that there is nothing to be saved of my dream and that if I really want to live a serene life where stress isn't riding
me like a jockey at the horse races, I have gotta get outta here! So, I am digging in my heels to make it through this year
and then - back to grad school - Library Science.
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