I've told lots of you that I'll continue to update this blog as I teach at Church Hill Academy, so I figured I should get started.

I've had a busy summer, running around between lots of different places, but right now I'm in Chapel Hill, packing up my house and getting ready to move. Just two weeks ago, I packed up stuff from my home in Charlotte, and in less than a week, I'll be unpacking in Richmond. On August 12, I'll start my job doing lots of different workshops and planning, and then September 3, I'll have my first day teaching.

I'm very much looking forward to being in Richmond. I'm excited to spend time with new roommates. I'm excited to get a Virginia license and license plate (it's a small, silly thing, but it'll make Virginia feel like home, instead of just a place I'll be for a while). I'm excited to get involved with church and be in a small group. I'm excited to catch up with friends from last summer, and meet new friends and students. And probably most of all, I'm extremely excited to have my own classes.

In getting ready for classes, I emailed my high school math teacher. I haven't kept in contact with him much - I think I only emailed him freshman year to talk about math classes I was taking - but I consider him a friend. He is an excellent teacher, and I hope teach in similar ways.  In my email, I asked him many specific questions, and then asked for any other general advice he may have. His response:

"Start building relationships the first day. Read 1 Timothy 5:1-2 (the whole chapter is great). I have lived by this since I started teaching."

It's excellent advice, and it's incredibly encouraging to be directed to scripture by a former teacher I greatly respect.