He opened the door to Room 104. I held my breath.

I tried to ignore the cockroach scurrying out of the room and between my feet as the principal told me that I was hired and that this was my classroom.

It’s been a whirlwind of a week. Training. Training. Meetings. And finally, today, classroom setup.

I told my friends that I don’t have anything to set up my room with, but by Gosh, those desks will be in really, really nice rows!

I took Before pictures and am excited to see what the After of my room will look like.  Right now it’s just a bunch of broken-down furniture, a lot of cockroaches, and a poster from what appears to be the 1980′s that says “In this class we raise our hands”.

When I think of how far I have come, it’s crazy to think that this journey is only beginning.

And it’s beginning in Room 104.