Find end of term so hard - just me?

[redfacebigdisgrace]

Hi
I’m in Scotland and in the last week of term at high school.

I find this week almost unbearable. All the leavers’ speeches (staff), the pupils end of term prize giving and celebrations and fun. The leavers reviews. All the goodbyes.

Anyone else? I’m quite an introverted person anyway and don’t do well with goodbyes/high emotion. I feel so bad for it, less of a teacher and a good person 😢

My own son is leaving high school (a different one) so I’m dealing with all of that too. I feel wrung out and just want to sit in a dark room.

All my colleagues seem to love it, so I feel quite alone.

I should add I’ve only been in teaching for 5 years as changed jobs. Also due to Covid we missed quite a few years of end of term celebrations. Maybe that’s why as it’s still all relatively new to me.

We call it the wind up. Not the wind down. In our school

You are not alone. I find end of term hellish. Partly also because my school in their wisdom put all the events in the weeks before that last week, then we're all back in lessons for the last week with a bunch of kids who have mentally checked out. I also find the long holidays very difficult so I have that dread hanging over me as well. Hang on in there.

Thanks both. Good to hear I’m not alone. Some of my colleagues revel in it and love it all but I find it exhausting. Then I feel guilty for it!

I def get a sense of anti-climaxe at the end of the year! And it does take a few days to adjust to the long holidays and then I adore them! Lots of time to read and take my time coasts trips and not feeling guilty about spending an afternoon reading the papers or a book! Def a bonus of being a teacher when it's so full on the rest of the year! Not having that Sunday night feeling for six weeks is amazing as well!!

I feel similar about the end of term. I am quite shy and introverted so lots of big events doesn't suit me.

I also like structure and routine - the normal order of things. End of term always feels like 'normal' goes out of the window.

We have end of year assemblies/family open day/talent show/staff events (though I am avoiding both of those!)

Losing lessons all over the place and then trying to teach kids who are all over the place in terms of routine.

I probably sound miserable 😕