Dispatches from girlhood.

I forgot about the giggling.

Earlier this month, I spent a week teaching a writing workshop to 80 teenage girls. This was a first for me. I have never formally taught anything, and I also haven’t stepped foot in a high school in a decade. I am rarely around teenagers, if ever. I was excited for the opportunity, but if I am honest I was mostly scared.

In the weeks before, I found myself planning outfits and mini lectures down to tiny details. I thought about specific accessories and practiced the cadence of lessons and anecdotes. I talked to myself out loud while driving and pacing back-and-forth in my office. I was nervous. I was intimidated! Yes, they were just teen girls, but that was just it! I worried I would come face-to-face with the reality that I was a horrible teacher or, worse, simply and tragically uncool.

The night before I left for the workshop, I laid in bed and wondered why I said yes in the first place. I feel this way directly before most trips, even the ones I am most excited for (thanks, anxiety!). I would have been perfectly fine saying no, I thought. I wouldn’t have to deal with these nerves. But I woke up, I got in the car, I drove, and then on Monday morning, on three hours of sleep, I sat in front of my first class and started talking, shaky voice and all (luckily, that went away by the second or third group). I am so, so glad I did. Here are my takeaways from the week.