As a parent, I’ve oddly been missing that back-to-school vibe. For the first time since 2004, I haven’t participated in the shopping and gear-up for another school year. The rhythm is off now that Hannah’s a college grad.

After returning from Denison University in May, she immediately jumped into a fellowship with Innovate for Maine. Summer has been full of her fellowship work, applying for jobs, and working on her film script. That she knows at the age of 22 that she wants to pursue a career in screenwriting is amazing to me. At that age, all I wanted was a job.

A couple of work opportunities have come along, but they weren’t right for her. Job hunting in the era of COVID is a weird new world. Then just last week, the assistant principal at her high school reached out to see what she was up to. It turns out they have unfilled teaching positions and school starts September 1st.

In a quick turn of events, Hannah will be a long-term substitute teaching Health at the high school. In her typical way, she’s jumped in headfirst creating a curriculum with a textbook that is almost as old as she is.

Hired officially last Wednesday, today is her first day of teacher workshops with classes beginning Wednesday. So in an unanticipated way, the school cycle begins again in the Bennett household.