There’s something sacred about a fresh start. A new school year always brings with it the scent of dry-erase markers, neatly stacked notebooks, and that tingling mix of excitement and nerves as the first bell rings.

And as I start to prepare my classroom at Boca Raton High this week, adding some fresh pop culture posters, adjusting my desk, and look forward to checking out my student rosters, I’m reminded once again why I chose this path, and why even on the hardest days, I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

Teaching is not easy. Let’s just get that out of the way. It’s exhausting and emotional, unpredictable and overwhelming. There are grading papers, time spent planning lessons, and moments where self-doubt sneaks in and whispers that you’re not doing enough.

And guess what? You are doing enough.

But teaching also gives us the chance to witness growth in real time. Growth is to watch a student discover their voice, to see them fall in love with a subject, or simply find a safe place in your classroom. These moments stay with you. They fuel the fire.

More than anything, though, I’ve learned that teaching isn’t something we do alone. It’s a profession powered by community. And I’ve been incredibly lucky to find teacher friends who have become family, people who cheer me on during victories and hold me up when things feel heavy. Finding your teaching tribe is hard but trust me when I say that some of them become your best friends and family.

There’s Sarah, with her generous spirit and calming presence, has a way of making every moment feel understood, whether it’s a quick check-in on a hard day or a thoughtful gesture that reminds me I’m not alone. Her friendship is the kind that grounds you, lifts you, and quietly reminds you that you’re loved just as you are, even though she now works at home teaching students virtually with her beautiful daughter by her side. She was the first one I met at Boca High in 2015 and is still there for me and allows me to also dote on her daughter when we have a chance to meet.

As for Marissa, she has become family, the kind of friend who lifts you up with her unwavering presence, whether it’s through a handmade bracelet or the honor of being “Auntie Aurora” to her daughter Natalie and son Wyatt. She finds the quietest, most beautiful ways to show she cares, like inviting me to share Natalie’s very first movie theater experience, watching Moana 2, where we watched the movie simply feeling happy.

Kimber, now in Orlando, is one of those people. Her drive to teach high school students Spanish, a language she learned and studied, not one she was born into, has always inspired me. The way she honors language, culture, and connection in her classroom is nothing short of beautiful.

Then there’s Samantha, another part of the family, a brilliant World History teacher who made the leap to move to Florida and join us at Boca High. Beloved by students and peers alike, she’s constantly reinventing the classroom space with creative lessons that bring the past to life. Learning about her work reminds me of the magic that happens when passion and purpose align.

And even though our worlds might look different, teaching high school versus elementary, my friendships with educators and close friends Alexandra, Cynthia, and Taylor have become lifelines.

There’s a camaraderie among educators that can’t be explained, only felt. We swap advice, celebrate wins, and vent over the everyday chaos. We get it. We see each other.

Closer to home, my colleagues Rosemary and Danielle are both brilliant and brave in their love for Literature, English and Writing. Rosemary, with whom I share a creative class with, pours her heart into Yearbook and her English classes just as I do into Newspaper, Journalism. Danielle's deep literary insight inspires the kind of conversations that ripple beyond the classroom walls, and I can tell that their students, both Rosemary and Danielle’s, love their lessons, which are fun. Working beside them makes me better.

Then there’s the newer teachers, like Angelina, who step inside the classroom all day and try their best, think of others and are not afraid to ask questions when they need help the most.

And then there are mentors such as Eve, Gerry, Tina, Christina and Laura, who have been in this profession long enough to know that it’s not about perfection, but perseverance.

They’ve taught me that difficult moments are part of the journey, not signs of failure. Their wisdom has been a comfort, a compass.

All these incredible educators, and so many more, have shaped my life as a teacher. They’ve reminded me it’s okay not to have it all together, that being yourself in the classroom is the most powerful teaching tool there is.

They've shown me that support systems aren’t optional, they’re essential.

So yes, there are hard days. But then there are the moments when a student writes something that stops you in your tracks. When they tell you your class helped them feel seen. When they come back years later to say thank you. That’s why we do it. That’s why we stay.

As we gear up to welcome a new group of students, I carry all these lessons, and all these people, with me.

It’s time to prep the classroom, open the door, and start again. Because every school year is a new beginning. A new chance to inspire and be inspired. And I am, above all, grateful.

It’s never too late to learn something new, and at times the strongest and most powerful lessons come from those that surround you.