It doesn’t matter how old I am, or how many years I’ve been going to school as a student and now as a teacher, I still get the first day jitters. When I was a kid, I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep. I looked forward to meeting my teachers and seeing my friends again. I just knew I was going to learn new things and I couldn’t wait to begin.

Then, when I was in college, my nerves always got the best of me the night before. Would I like my instructors? Would I meet anyone new? How would my classes work out with my work schedule?

Oh, then there were first days as an elementary teacher. I had spent the whole week before getting ready and even though I was prepared, my mind raced and reeled the night before. Would I have a good class? Was I going to be effective? Endless lines of questions marched through my mind.

Now, as a college instructor, I still find myself getting the jitters. Last night I was up later than usual trying to make sure I had all my lose ends tied. My mind kept replaying the morning again and again, trying to make sure I hadn’t missed any details. I was exhausted when I got up this morning from my lack of deep sleep, but there was this nervous anticipation, an excitement, about the day’s class. Everything went well. I have a great group of students, so I don’t know what the jitters were all about. I guess jitters just go with the first day of school no matter how old you are.