By: Shannon Boatwright

I came across an anonymous quote that says, “I’d rather be completely exhausted from the hard times which breed success…than well rested from achieving nothing.” I can, with confidence, say that I have achieved this.

This special student message is one of the moments that makes all the hard work totally worth it!

With each year I’ve been teaching in the public school arena, I’ve somehow managed to get busier. My first year, I was overwhelmed, proving myself and in survival mode as I dove into a whole new world. I certainly experienced firsthand the importance of needing to learn to say NO to taking on new things and responsibilities. I thought for sure I’d have it all down for my second year. Yes, I was better equipped with that first year under my belt, but fellow teachers and perfectionists know that we still take on the world and the busy-ness just truly never stops! I outdid myself with my shows and required trainings on top of planning a wedding and moving into a new house.

A precious student note that meant the world to me

When my third year came along I guess I just wanted to really test myself and challenge myself to the core, because this past school year I:

• Settled into a newly built school with no real classroom
• Adapted to a new school schedule
• Bought a new house, which led to yet another huge move
• Took on two grad classes back-to-back while teaching full time
• Produced/directed an enormous show with 56 honors drama students.

And I won’t even get into the personal stresses, responsibilities, requirements, commitments, health issues, and drama that are an inevitable addition to my professional life!

  Grad class Final Grade – Worked incredibly hard for this A!

Final grade for my last grad class of the year!!

I’m sure there are many of you out there who can totally relate. Needless to say, reading that quote made me realize that everything I do, everything I struggle to survive, all my busy-ness that keeps me on my toes and in a lot of cases, fills my heart, is all worth it in the end. I work so hard….so when those beautiful moments come – those moments that remind me why I’m working so incredibly hard and how my efforts help to inspire others make me a better teacher, a better mother, a better person – they make it all incredibly worth it.

Yes, I’d rather be exhausted from the success than bored amongst ineffective restfulness.