A recent college graduate is starting her first year as a third grade teacher. While she felt prepared from her student teaching experience, the transition to a new school district and being solely responsible for her own classroom has been stressful. She does not have strong coping skills to deal with stress and often feels overwhelmed, which has caused her to lose weight. She believes with more experience, she will learn better ways to manage stress.

1. Well-prepared by
year-long student
teaching experience
Living at home
with mom
Used church network
for job search
Transition to
new school district
bit rough
Don’t have
coping skills
to deal with
stress
Rewarding to make
impact in chosen
career
Wish would have
paid more attention
to last years of school
work
Wish learned coping
skills & better time
management

2. Cry when
overwhelmed
Take over
for teacher
during maternity
leave
Student teach
Lost weight
because of stress

3. Believes she is
still emotionally
maturing
Experienced teachers
don‘t feel overwhelmed Experienced teachers
know how to cope with
stress
Will take time to
discover better
way to deal with
stress
Still in midst
of transition
Transition pretty
smooth but stressful

4. Overwhelmed
Stressed
Pressure
Proud to start
chosen career
right out of
school
Accomplished for
pursuing education/
degree
Supported by
family & church
Supported by
mentor teacher
but not by long-
term sub
Confident &
capable

5. Young, single,
recent college
graduate,
teaching 3rd
grade
manage stress and
learn coping skills
she often feels
overwhelmed and
pressured which can
take a toll on her
health
needs a way to because