Letter from the editor: prepping for school and remembering not to compare

By Courtney Warren

Sometimes I wonder if I’m the only teacher who absolutely hates the summertime. I miss my students, I miss my school, and I get so bored being at home. What a blessing it is to have a place to miss so much. 

As I prepare for another school year, I’m scrolling through social media, getting new ideas, prepping new lessons, and purchasing all of the things. 

I think the reminder that we all need as we prepare for another school year is that comparison is the thief of joy. Your classroom doesn’t have to look like Pinterest, your backpack doesn’t have to be name-brand, and your new shoes are cool no matter where you bought them. 

Do they express who you are? Do they show off the best parts of you? That’s what matters. When students walk into my room, I want them to feel safe and loved. 

So, when I find myself scrolling through social media and thinking I’m not as worthy as these other teachers–that’s what I remind myself. I am worthy. My students enjoy me. My school enjoys me. They want me there. 

We have to remember that social media can be such an awesome tool. I use TikTok and Instagram all the time to learn from and connect with other teachers. However, it can be used in the wrong ways, as well. 

A few years ago, I realized I was struggling with my follower count. It was all I thought about, and, when I had special moments in life, I had trained my brain to see them through a photo on social media rather than through a moment I could enjoy. 

That was a huge wake-up call. I was missing such important moments. 

That summer, I deleted all of my social media from my phone. I realized how often I picked up my phone just to check social media, and, eventually, I was able to retrain my brain to not depend on those apps anymore. 

Once I got back on, I had such a different perspective. The follower count didn’t matter; it was the connections with other people I truly cared about. I loved seeing other amazing teachers and collaborating with them.

That experience has also allowed me to share a new perspective with my students, because I know what they are going through, and I can relate to how they feel when they open up their own phones. Who are they comparing themselves to? Who are they worried about seeing on their grid? 

So, as we fill our Target shopping carts, decorate classrooms, and get ready to lay out our first day of school outfits, let’s remember to cheer each other on and shine in our own ways, rather than trying to shine like someone else.