I Think I Can Do This

The night before I started this semester last month, I had a major anxiety attack.

I'd gotten through my first semester, last year, going back to college for the first time since getting my teaching certificate back in 1997, and studying science for the first time in nearly 30 years. But truth be told, I had major anxieties about it all, remembering the struggles I'd had with Math and Chemistry. There'll be a lot of it, especially after I start taking the actual classes in the Pharmacy program.

Today, we were doing some practice problems before our lab, getting ready for a test on Wednesday. I looked at the problem, the one at the top of the page in the photo, and realized I saw the route to solving it very clearly. I worked it out and noticed that the kid sitting next to me was looking at it puzzled. I turned to him and said "You're stumped on this one, aren't you?" "Yeah," he replied sheepishly. I outlined the way to solving it, explaining conversion factors and connecting it to some math that I figured he knew. I saw the light go off and he solved it.

I brought my solution to my professor, who checked it off. I started working on another problem and he went to get his work checked off. He returned, stating "You were right!"

Our lab this week required a partner, and we decided to be partners. As we did the lab, we had a chance to chat. He's only 20 or 21, but he, like me, is returning to school. He grew up in Iowa, the son of a physician from Canada.

At the end of the class, I felt good. I realized that I'm enjoying being a student. And I realized that I still like being a teacher. And I realized that despite my initial doubts, I think I can do this.