Dear Lila.

Dear Joey.

Dear first year me.

Hola.

Hey kid.

Remember when dad said that the first six months of anything is the hardest?

Well, that is completely true here.

Everything is going to be okay.

Things may seem tough right now, and at times you may feel like you want to give up, but please don't.

Just know that you 'll make a great teacher.

You are probably wondering, " Why in the world did I ever get into this profession?"

Just take a deep breath.

I know that everything feels overwhelming, terrifying even, but you 're going to make it through this.

Those kids in front of you, they want to learn, they need to know.

Try every crazy thing you think of.

In the end, those are the things that they 'll remember.

Your students need you there, in front of the class, and they truly appreciate all that you do for them,

even if they don't show it all of the time.

You 'll have trouble the first day of school with a student throwing a book at you.

It will miss.

But don't worry, that student will come back five years later, introduce you to his new family,

and thank you for having his back all the time, even after that first day.

When a kid says your class is boring, don't take it personally.

It happens to everyone.

Holding your kids accountable is the greatest act of love that you can give them.

Teaching is never an exact science, and it's okay to struggle to find the answers.

This is one of the most important lessons to learn as a teacher ;

you will fail, you will make mistakes, and you will embarrass yourself.

When you do, accept it with grace and humility and don't be afraid to ask for or admit you need help.

You will also learn that you never stop learning to become the teacher you wanted to be on day one.

I want you to know that what you expected to happen on the first day of school,

won't happen until maybe the third, fourth or even eighteenth year of your teaching.