July 10th: Initial Fears and Expectations

Sarah Pierce
English Department
Athens Drive Magnet HS
Raleigh, NC

As a young teacher at the beginning of my career, taking the leap to attend a 2.5-week institute with more experienced and seasoned teachers who were all complete strangers was scary to say the least. Even when applying, I felt like I didn’t have the knowledge or skills necessary to justify my attendance at an institute meant to explore how to teach Shakespeare effectively. This was even reinforced during our pre-trip Zoom meetings, when I was consistently one of the least experienced in terms of teaching Shakespeare. I have only ever taught Romeo & Juliet, so I felt like my inexperience was apparent in every conversation.

​In addition to my lack of knowledge about Shakespeare, I also felt that as one of the youngest attendees, I would be taking away a lot more from this experience than I could bring to the table. I feared that my lack of experience would be seen as a detriment, and that I would be unable to give much insight or suggestions in terms of teaching strategies or conversations about pedagogy.
 
I was pleasantly surprised upon landing in Salt Lake City, Utah to realize that my fears were unfounded. My initial trip from the airport to Ogden with two other attendees was filled with conversation about our various years of teaching experience, former NEH institutes attended by the others, and great discussion about what we were most looking forward to for the next 2.5 weeks. Right away, I felt comfortable and in my element by this chance to chat with other teachers about what we love. This feeling only continued to grow as I took advantage of little moments to talk with my roommates, make friends with others at the institute, and find ways to learn from everyone in unexpected ways. Despite being newer in my career, I also found that others were willing to learn from me as well. I was able to bring new ideas and strategies that they hadn’t thought of or tried themselves.
 
This environment of mutual learning was encouraged in the classroom as well. Daily lessons were dense and full to the brim with knowledge about Shakespeare and teaching, so I was absolutely saturated with new information. While this was at times overwhelming, I could also tell that every person in the room was getting so much out of this experience, whether a young teacher like myself or a veteran teacher of 30 years. This helped to assuage the nerves I had about being so inexperienced with Shakespeare, because everyone was learning something new. I only had to take in what I could and work to process how to use these things in my own classroom and teaching practice.
 
As I reflect on both my initial expectations and concerns, as well as my actual experiences over the 2.5 week institute, I understand more than ever the importance of community and collaboration in the world of education. Despite being young and new in the profession, I have so much to bring to the table. Being around so many amazing and passionate educators reminded me of my why: students deserve to have access to quality, relevant, and engaging education, and I am so blessed to be a part of that mission. Educators are incredible humans, and the environment that an institute like this creates helps to bring like-minded people together to ensure that we have opportunities to learn from and with each other. I can’t recommend this experience enough, to teachers new and seasoned alike.
 

Lynne Donohue
English Department
Toronto HS
Toronto, OH

Adaptations of Shakespeare….Utah…three weeks…away from my family, my friends and out of my comfort zone. BUT….it’s Shakespeare!!! And it’s three weeks! Away from home…and out of my comfort zone!! It’s safe to say that I’m just a little scared, and a little excited, and a little hesitant to push the submit button. Am I qualified? Am I what they are looking for? Am I ready for something this intense? Yet again…it’s Shakespeare! Surrounded by people who GET IT…three intense weeks of eating, breathing and discussing my most favorite topic. In a place I have never been, with people I have never met, with a chance of traveling, road tripping, and the ultimate hotel stay! SUBMIT!

Now the waiting…will they accept me? Can I afford the time away from home? Can my girls handle my time away? I’ve never been away from them longer than a night. Lists would need to be made, recipes, and rules established. Schedules gone over and contacts made to make sure that they want for nothing and miss out on nothing while I’m gone…..if I will be gone. There’s the question still of IF I will make it. The waiting game is torture. But I need to set things in motion as if I will.
 
Sooo…I got an e-mail…I didn’t make it. I’m on a waiting list. Apparently, I’m “high on the list” and I should remain hopeful, but I have received letters like that before, and I cannot say that I’m not disappointed. I was really, really hopeful for this. I really, really wanted and needed this. I felt like I was made for this, that I truly was meant for this experience. I was more than let down. I’m tempted to apply for another, but I know that I was meant for this one. Sigh….
 
I GOT IN!!!! I know that my getting in meant someone else dropped out, but at this point, I don’t care. I'm in!! In a few months, I will be loading my car, and driving across the country, through areas I have never been. This is scary, it’s new, it’s exciting, and oh so scary. Did I say scary?   Zoom conferences to prepare for, and books to grab, and arrangements to be made. I hate Zoom conferences, but I love traveling. I love reading, I love Shakespeare, and I so cannot wait for July. It’s going to be hot, I’m going to be exhausted, and so mentally challenged, that I don’t think it can come soon enough!
 
“I am to wait, though waiting so be hell”
(Sonnet 58: That God Forbid, That Made Me First Your Slave)