Are there any health-related challenges you've faced during your first year of teaching?

What strategies do you currently use to manage stress and maintain emotional balance?

How do your social connections contribute to your overall well-being?

Are there specific challenges or successes that stand out in your professional journey so far?

Are there specific goals or areas for personal growth you would like to focus on moving forward?

Are there any specific steps or goals you would like to set for yourself to enhance your overall well-being in the coming months?

Thank you for your honest reflection! 

A way to manage my stress is to only allow myself to complete work at home during certain hours and be strict with restricting working at home.

I would like to move towards a +30, but I struggle financially to do so.

I also feel like in school I have an amazing mentor who I can turn to for anything, at any time of day. I also feel so much support from administration in the school and from DO.

I also had my first observation and had very nice feedback from my observer, which is a great boost in my confidence.

I found adjusting to a new school and a new principal was the most difficult part about my professional journey in Hauppauge. Attending all the new teacher meetings and having opening communication with administration is helping with the learning process.

Also I am enrolled at Queens College in their TESOL program to achieve my +30 over the next year.

One of the challenges I am facing is being tired after work and not being up to working out/socializing.

One of the things I have been doing to combat the stressors of being a first year teacher is to find a good work-life balance. I have been trying to get as much done as possible during my periods off so I can have time to work out/spend time with family when I get home.

These connections remind me that everything will get easier! I feel very supported in and outside of school.

A challenge I've experienced , like many, is remembering to drink water during the day! I am also trying to also take at least 5 minutes during lunch to just get some fresh air- being inside all day takes a toll.

Stressors right now include the next grading window and being as mindful as possible for every student I will be grading and commenting on.

Right now, being with family, friends, and my physical health outlets has been the best thing for me.

I am so fortunate to have a group of friends who cheer me on - who are proud of me and let me know even on the craziest days I am doing the right work. My husband and children have supported me endlessly. I consider myself very lucky when I tuck my children in and they say they are "proud".

Having the students walk in, and be ready to work and excited to create with me has been the greatest reward.

I am eager to start taking my Grad classes so I can work towards my MA + 30. Unsure what classes I want to take, hence why I have not enrolled.

Overall, it's take a deep breath. Focus on yourself- the old oxygen theory on a plane. Remembering, I need to take time for myself and then I can be the best version for my students.

I make the most of my lunch and prep periods during the school day to make sure I get most of my to-do list done while in school, this way I can decompress with a clear head when I am home.

I would like to start moving across the scale but have so much stressors that I felt it would be better to wait till I am more comfortable

I've been accepting of my restrictions, out of necessity. The nice thing is that by accepting that, I've been nicer to myself when things don't go well. When there's no other option, it is completely futile being mad about it.

Outside of school it's a little harder to build supportive relationships, but I do have a wonderful friend that I went to school with who is now in Georgia. She is always a text message away and there have been days when those texts have helped IMMENSELY.

With everything going on, I am proud that I've made it this far and am doing as well as I am.

Personal Development: not as much of an emphasis (due to the cyclone in my head) but even though I wasn't actively trying, I have grown personally a significant amount as well.

I haven't yet mastered dealing with the stress, but I remind myself daily that I am doing ok. I remind myself that I am only 4 months into my first year of teaching, and I will hit some challenges, but I will learn from them and keep going. I actually dislike the word "perfect" because there are few things in the world that are, and perfect is often subjective. Perfect as a concept is often stressful. I relay this often to my students. I remind myself that I am allowed to take my own advice, and that I don't have to be perfect to be effective, or to provide my students with a great experience.

I also have teacher friends outside of school that provide positive support.