“That’s the thing: You don’t understand burnout unless you’ve been burned out. And it’s something you can’t even explain. It’s just doing something you have absolutely no passion for.” ~Elena Delle Donne
I’ve been feeling it this year. The hopelessness of a position that has been overrun with other duties not related to my primary role. Burnout. It happens to the best of us. It’s the feeling that nothing you can do will make your situation any better. Yet, there is hope.
This year I have found myself missing the lure of the classroom. I miss teaching groups of students all day. Sure, I work with students all day in my middle and high school position, but the pull of having your own class intrigues me yet again.
I’ve decided to make a switch. I hope to go from secondary librarian to elementary librarian. I have so many ideas for collaborative library lessons at the elementary level. I miss the madness of book fairs. I love the theatricality of “Read Across America” week. There is something about paint stick shelf markers and stuffed animals dotting the rows of library bookshelves.
So remember, if you feel yourself getting burnt out, maybe you just need a change. It could be a change of grade levels or a change of schools. Find what makes your librarian heart beat with passion!
Author: Megan Shulman
Megan is both the middle and high school librarian at Humboldt Junior Senior High School which serves grades 7-12. She has her Masters of Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh. Mrs. Shulman has been both a classroom teacher and a school librarian. This upcoming school year, she will be entering her 8th year in public education serving Title 1 schools. Her areas of expertise are school library leadership, brain-based learning strategies, and creating maker-spaces in the current library atmosphere.
Categories: Advocacy/Leadership, Blog Topics
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