Transitioning from College Student to Classroom Teacher!

As my graduation date approaches, I am beginning to feel the pressure, but relief at the same time. I'm a non-traditional student, so this seems like a long time coming for me. The most daunting thing I see while I work my way there, is having the confidence needed to be in the classroom day after day. I'm constantly worried that I'm not doing good enough and that I will look bad to my cooperating teacher! I know that I'm doing fine and she knows that I am learning as I go, but there is always a thought in the back of my head bothering me about my skills, and it makes graduation seem even like it'll never come for me...

When I was in high school I lived in my art classroom, and I thought then that I should be an art teacher, but I went into interior design instead. I lived in the "real world" for awhile after getting my degree working in a high end home store, and I quickly realized that I never should have doubted myself in becoming an art teacher. I couldn't work for rich snotty women the rest of my life! I decided to go back to school and slowly got back into classes and began my journey to being an art ed major at the university of IOWA!

My wardrobe has done a 360 if that's possible! At home and even at work, my clothes are beyond casual--t-shirts, sweats, hoodies. I have dress clothes in my closet, but they literally have dust on them! After 6 days of student teaching I've really enjoyed looking the part of a teacher. It makes me feel confident and I know that the students see me as a teacher, and not someone just hanging out in the art room. As a class we haven't done anything too messy--yet, but I know those days will come, and I will dress down a bit, but never to what I was wearing all summer!

If I could add an article of clothing to my wardrobe, I guess it would be a nice suit. I keep hearing that I have to have one for the interview process, but I'm worried that I will never wear it again after that! I wouldn't want to destroy it with paint and glue in the art room...maybe I need a really good apron...