How long is your stride as you start down the new road ahead of you? (Photo by J.A.C.K. - CC License)
A new term has begun for me. For many of my teacher friends around the world it is about to begin. A new term means a new beginning. I like new beginnings.The excitement and the fear of the new, tangled up. I always get very nervous before my first classes of a new term. What will it be like? What will the students be like? What will be the challenges?
New terms can make us especially anxious if we have taken up new projects, new paths, a new job. If this is the case we worry about whether we’ve taken too long a stride. Will I be able to do it? Will I be successful? Will I get where I want to? So many doubts…
Yes… I believe new beginnings usually come with challenges. But challenges are motivating. They make you try harder, they draw you out of your comfort zone, make you look for new ways of doing something… They may also be scary. We are afraid of failing, of not knowing what to do. What’s wrong with failing anyway? Everybody fails eventually. The key is not letting yourself be taken down by it. Don’t ignore it. Feel bad about it, acknowledge it. Learn from it. And then move on.
Change is usually scary for most people – and a new term means change, as small as it may seem sometimes. But change can be very, very positive too. They open new horizons, bring new victories, new connections.
So, embrace your new term and any challenges that may come with it. Think of them as steps up. If the stride feels too long, grab a friend’s hand to help you cover it. There’s nothing wrong with that. It actually makes the journey more fun when we’re not alone.
Wishing a great new beginning. To all of us. Teaching-wise or otherwise 
Happy New Term Cecilia!
Wonderful Post !
If we look at challenges we may face as teachers in the begining of term as chance to try new ways to overcome them.Teaching will be more exciting .
Thanks alot
My pleasure
I think we always have many ways of looking at the things that happen to us – we choose which. I try to choose a positive one, one I can learn from. And trying new things is something I love!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hello Cecilia,
I like this post as it reflects exactly my feelings about the beginning of the new schoolyear. I started three weeks ago, but I have already had my “oh-my-god-what-now” moments. However, I like to think of myself as a roly poly pop up teacher. I get it wrong at times, I am disappointed of my own performance – but I always try to find the energy to get back on my feet – wiser again
Have a great new schoolyear and thanks for the great blog. I will be following with pleasure
Hi Sirja!
As I imagined, many of us feel the same… and we all get things wrong and make mistakes. The problem is not on falling – cause we all do. It’s, like you said, getting back on our feet, finding the energy, motivation, courage (you name it!) to pick ourselves up and move on. Hopefully wiser!
Have a great term yourself! And thanks for such great feedback!
Hope you have a great year, Ceci!! I love new beginnings too.
Thanks David! New beginnings mean so many things… happy I’m in good company!
Cheers! x
LOVE the picture!
A Ceci quotable – “a roly poly pop up teacher” – what an apt image!
Have a great year!
I was amazed I was able to find that image Naomi, because it’s exactly what I had pictured
Sometimes I have a hard time finding the image I have envisioned under a Creative commons License 
A great year to you too!!
Cheers! x
I love the sentiment in embracing change and that you won’t always be perfect. In fact, I’m inspired to write about change myself. My professional life has gone through some tremendous change after change after change in the last two year and accepting it all was difficult. What’s more is accepting that I needed to take responsibility for what is going to happen.
This same sentiment applies to all our new terms – accept responsibility for what will happen and release yourself from the fear of it not all working out perfectly.
Have a great new term to all.
And great results and consequences for your changes and new beginnings Ty!
Great post Ceci!
Change is usually scary, but I have no doubt that with changes come new opportunities and possibilities. We must learn the art of being resilient in order to survive.
Resilient and open to the possibilities the change, new beginnings and challenges bring us!
Thanks edu!
Cheers! x
Ahhh…great post and wonderful timing for me….I have so many new beginnings this semester that come with anticipation, fear and excitement……I am hoping I prove to be as resilient as I have been in the past
….thank you for posting this!
Kerri
So good to hear this Kerri
This is a semester of many new beginnings as well, of both personal and professional order.
Wishing you the best luck with your strides and challenges this semester. I’m sure you’ll do great
Cheers –
Cecilia
[...] New beginnings and the length of the stride [...]