Am I worrying to much about things that I cannot change? Am I worrying out about the one time I said that one thing wrong that one day? Am I worrying about my student that has never missed a class and now has been gone all week? Am I worrying about the student that has such terrible anxiety that they cannot even participate in class? Am I worrying about my student that works three jobs to make ends meet? Am I worrying if the blog I write will hold a candle to my colleagues? The answer to every single one of these questions is, YES!

The real question is what can be done about it?

We at NMC do a great job of providing each other and our students the support we need to work through many of our struggles. It is very easy to contact my students and find out what happened to them when they miss class unexpectedly (if they answer the phone or respond to the email that is). Our counselors and nurses do a great job helping my students with problems such as anxiety. The food pantry helps keep my students from going hungry.  My colleagues are very easy to talk to and are good at reassuring me that I am not an utter failure.

Yet, I still cannot sleep. I toss and turn worrying about all of these events that I have no control over or have done everything in my power to help. I think I just need someone to tell me every once in a while that I am doing a good job.

I am here to tell you the same thing I tell myself. You are doing a great job. You are doing everything you can for these students. You are needed.  Keep up the good work.