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First day jitters

Classes start tomorrow and I'm feeling oddly anxious. For some reason, I seem to be having a particularly hard time getting mentally into 'school mode' - I've been saying for the last week that it just doesn't feel like it's time to start classes yet. I think my problem is that we are starting a full week before Labor Day; the last few years, I think we started on Wednesday or Thursday so I had to be on campus for advising and such for a few days at the beginning of the week before starting classes and could get mentally prepared. Although I was on campus a few days last week, it just doesn't feel the same...

I'm always a little bit nervous for my first classes of the semester, though the nerves generally go away as soon as I start talking. I remember feeling like I was almost going to throw up before walking into the 500-seater the first time. It helps when I already know students in the class; last spring, about two-thirds of my writing class were students I'd had in the data class already and I think that was the most relaxed I've ever been in a first class meeting. Deep breaths and chocolate help too... I do wonder if this ever goes away. Maybe it's a good thing - as one friend put it, "You probably wouldn't feel nervous if you didn't care."

Whether you get first-day jitters or not, I hope everyone's fall term gets off to a great start!
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