Life is full of the unexpected, yet some things remain the same from year to year. If you would have entered the school year of 2021-2022 a week before school began, the building would have been bustling with activity. Volunteers offered their services late into the night in a mad rush to finish before the influx of students. They were installing doors, building new classrooms, assembling cubicles, and painting the entrance. The night before school began, a band of exhausted teachers turned out the lights, knowing that in a few short hours the doors would open wide to welcome 72 scholars to a brand-new school year.
On September eighth, the buses rolled in and students disembarked, excitedly greeting each other. Teachers quickly assembled their students to organize the confusion. Rows of students marched into school in anticipation of the unknown. The school year had officially begun. Within fifteen minutes, all seven classes had found their places and were being familiarized with procedures and schedules. Everything would be smooth sailing from here on out, right?
A few days later, during recess, I observed three grades of students playing a lively game of soccer. The scene felt so familiar that I suddenly wondered if the summer holidays had ever happened. The routine was so normal, the recess scene so familiar, that it seemed as if last school year had never ended. With this thought came a sudden sense of claustrophobia, as I remembered how last year had ended. It ended a month early with a forced lockdown. Adding to my growing feeling of uneasiness, a student dashed over at that very moment with a perplexed look, innocently asking, “Miss, why does it feel like last year never ended?” The question only confirmed my eerie feeling.
I reminded myself that last year had ended. This was the beginning of a brand-new year, not a continuation of last year’s problems. A new chapter was unfolding. This chapter would hold its own unexpected circumstances that would result in growth, maturity, and wisdom if responded to properly. I reminded myself that I cannot seal the fate of this year with the outcome of last year. It is crucial for me as a teacher not to let the fear of past crises cripple current progress.
We must embrace what lies in front of us without allowing the ‘what if’s’ in life to interfere. The future lies before us, hidden and uncertain, but we have a mandate: “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Heb. 12:1) The race is run facing forward, not focusing on past trials. We trust that there will be grace supplied for all our difficulties, and we believe that all is governed by Divine Sovereignty.
I began teaching at Hosanna in 2016, after teaching at Lockport Christian Fellowship. I believe school should never be boring! I enjoy making school interactive and exciting for my students.
3 Responses
May our God of Hope and Strength and Love be with you in this “New Chapter”.
Thank you for sharing that with us Deanine,
May God be your strength and your song this coming year.❤️ We will pray for y’all.
Aww my heart ❤️ gets a tugging feeling and I somehow get a little teary 🥲 eyed whenever I read these updates and look at the pictures. (I wonder why?) May God sustain all of you with bucket 🪣 loads of Grace! Thanks for sharing!