Wish me luck...

[nickel]

Today is the first in-service day for the school semester. I will be teaching one art class this fall at the eighth grade level. The correct word for how I am feeling is trepidacious. That is, fearful of the danger that may ensue. As opposed to apprehensive, which would be fearful of what might ensue period.

I really like teaching. I like teaching art most of all. I just worry that I will come across an event that I will handle so poorly that I ruin my chances of being perceived as a teacher, rather than a student, by my peers. Any new job would be that way, right? Today I will jump feet first into an entirely new work environment. There will be new people to get to know, new politics to identify and avoid, new etiquette to blunder through. It is impossible not to make a mistake in one of these three tasks on your first day at work, and most coworkers will form their judgements about you on the first day. Apologizing for your mistakes can only redeem you so far in their eyes. If you aren't the kind of person they want to forgive, they will allow their first impressions to define their behavior toward you forever.

And so I go, armed with only a smile. Wish me luck.