Perspective

It's a funny thing when you get to see yourself through someone else's eyes. Rather, it's a funny thing when you get to see one of your past selves through the eyes of your current self. My first day back at work and I look into the eyes of the new teachers and see the exact same fear that I felt. I can read their minds and hear them asking themselves what the fuck they got into. I can see how they are going to struggle this next year. And now I know what everyone must have thought of me on my first day.

But I don't let them know that I can see their fear. I tell them that I imagine they must be a little nervous, but they aren't showing it at all and I can tell they are going to be great. I tell them how prepared and impressive they are. I tell them all those things because that is what other people said to me, and even though I now know it was a lie, it felt so good at the time, and it made me act a little braver.