Winding down, thinking ahead

Every year, right after my birthday, I see the new school year looming ahead. I usually have two or three weeks until I have to start listening to the alarm and find something decent to wear - not shorts and flipflops. I go through the class lists, seeing some familiar names - siblings, and, in some cases, CHILDREN of students I've had in the past. I think about those students who will be coming to me, preparing for their last year of public school. Like kindergartners, my seniors are embarking on a year that will prepare them for the next big phase of their lives. I have to strike just the right balance of nurturing and tough love - gradually snipping the strings that provide support so that by April, May, and June, they'll be ready to step confidently out into the world, armed with the skills and confidence they need. But right now, some of them are SO scared - scared of not getting in the "right" schools, scared of not getting in ANY school, scared because they don't know if they WANT to go on in school, scared because they know they need to go right into the world of work and they don't feel anywhere near ready for that.

I think it's harder for these kids than it was for their parents, even though most of them probably have greater financial resources. Life is competitive and HARD. I just have to remember that my job is to help them understand that it is hard and what they need to do to deal with it. If they leave me not needing me anymore, I've done my job well.