With being an education major, the finish line is always student teaching. Something that many professors and advisors don't really warn you about... until you're actually doing it. And boy, should they be warning you, and preparing you for the excessive level of exhaustion you will be feeling, and the intense amount of overwhelming pressure of deadlines and expectations that will be a constant stress on your body for the next fifteen weeks.

Don't get me wrong, it's an exciting and rewarding experience, and I wouldn't change it for the world... I absolutely love it. But the exhaustion is real and I am undoubtedly counting down the days until graduation. So consider this your warning, this is the reality of your student teaching experience throughout the semester. Sleep now, you'll need it.

1. Week One

You're bouncing off the walls with excitement, you made it to the last stretch of the education program, and you're ready to take it on full speed ahead.

2. Week Two

You've been in the classroom for a few days now, and you're eager to get started. You find yourself studying the curriculum. And did you know there's a teacher manual for almost everything???

3. Week Three

The Takeover. The anxiety is real, but this is what you have been waiting for! It's time to officially complete your duties as a student teacher!

4. Week Four

The exhaustion is real. You've probably already had about three colds and the students are starting to get comfortable with you. AKA, their attitudes are beginning to appear, slowly but surely. Welcome to the world of teaching.

5. Week Five - Week Ten

You're the teacher now. Your cooperating teacher has stepped back completely and this is essentially your classroom and your kids. And trust me, you might not notice, but you're attached to these kids... and you'll miss them on the weekends.

6. Week Eleven - Week Thirteen

THE FINAL STRETCH! You're almost there! The final two weeks of assessments, reports and scoring. You've done so much work to get to this bitter sweet moment, and it's almost time to say goodbye to the kids that have essentially became your own throughout these past few months.

7. Week Fourteen - Week Fifteen

Ah, the time we were looking so forward too, but also dreading. The time to start stepping back and giving the power of the classroom back to your cooperating teacher. Looking back at the semester in it's entirety, you were always looking forward to this day... but now that it's here you just feel empty and sad. This is definitely not a time to wear any makeup that isn't waterproof.

But just think, you made it through the most difficult portion of your education program, and now it is officially time to graduate and begin the process to start up your own classroom someday. It's bittersweet, exhausting and stressful, but this opportunity gave you everything you need to be the amazing, well rounded and prepared teacher you now are.

Congratulations teacher, you did it!