Most adults look forward to starting the new year on New Year’s Day; however young people get to start a new year in August or September when they return to school after summer break. As a teacher, I get to start a new year too. Since I have been a teacher, I have realized that I don’t have to set goals or create new habits only at the beginning of a new year. I can have fresh new starts throughout the year. They can be each month, each week, and each day. Our ultimate goal is to restart every day.
You cannot have a wish list of dreams when you are going to start new. You must prepare yourself. In our current society, people are upset with successful people because they are envious. We cannot live in envy but create our own success. When we are focused on our own lives and living out our passions, we don’t have time to condemn or judge others. God has called us to a purpose. We must live out our purpose for him.
First, we need our supplies. As a writer, I love “Back to School” sales, but as a teacher, I hate to see the signs because I know that my summer break is ending. In order to succeed in the classroom, you have to have the right supplies. Whatever you need to reach your goals, you need to have the right supplies.
I have discovered that my best supplies are my prayer and Bible reading time. I have set-up my supplies and my time. When I am able to be consistent, I am able to remember that when life goes wrong, God is on my side.
I also make sure I have my supplies for my writing life and teaching life. Being prepared is essential in any area in life, but if I walk into a classroom unprepared, life is rough. People rely on us being prepared. So, whatever it is that is your purpose in life, make sure to gather the correct supplies.
Next, you need to have a positive attitude. Some people have made their success with encouraging people to be positive. It’s not just that. We all fall. We all fail. We need to be positive that with God, we can turn it around or make the best of the bad situation. For my students, I encourage them to start the year with a good attitude.
In college I had a science class that was rigorous. For exams, it would take 8-12 hours to study the details needed for the exams. My professor was intelligent, and his material was difficult, but I learned so much from him, and not just in science. I decided on the first day of class that I would walk into the classroom with this phrase in my head, “I love science.” The irony is that I hated my science classes in high school. I had to pass this class, so I decided that I loved science. This class was earth science, so I had to love rocks. I loved rock music, but I had no idea how I was going to love rocks.
At the end of the year, I not only loved the class, the professor, but I also loved rocks! I learned how earthquakes are formed, which was very important for me as I moved from Ohio to California. Not only did I pass the class, but I passed with high marks. My attitude changed. I realized that with a better attitude I could conquer what I disliked but had to do. So, whatever the mundane is that you have to do, try to find a way to love it. Then, when you give yourself a restart, that love will drive you to become better at the task that you hate. At least, you will appreciate it.
Finally, you have to be prepared. Along with supplies and a good attitude, you have to adapt to changes. Every day has its own challenges. Every day brings us new opportunities. We have to make the most of them. As a teacher, I have found that the more prepared I am as a person and then a teacher, the day is smooth. I lay out my clothes the night before and fix my lunch. I make sure I have enough gas. I have my materials ready for the first class of the day. These little tasks help me be prepared and helps me start fresh.
Being prepared doesn’t mean that everything will be smooth and perfect. It means that you prepare what you can so that when a crisis arises, you will be able to confront it. The more prepared I am for the start of a class, the less I have to worry about when an interruption occurs.
Instead of just setting goals and dreams for the new year, try to set goals and steps to achieve them each day. The more you see each day as a new beginning, the better you become as a person in every area of your life. I hope our children have a great school year. I hope they are prepared with their attitude and supplies. More importantly, I hope I am all that and armed with the strength of God. Go and start with the strength of God in your life. So, join the students and teachers and start fresh and new today!
