Teaching is a romanticized profession but the reality of the job doesn't always mirror the much-dreamed ideal. This clash of fantasy and reality can be difficult for teachers to deal with, especially early on in their careers. In my first few years of teaching, I would often find myself wallowing in doubt and reflect solely on the negatives. A more experienced former colleague, who is now a close friend of mine, once remarked that when reflecting, you should first think of 5 accomplishments and then identify 5 goals to work towards. Her words stuck with me and so, at the end of each year I create reflection, which this year I am going to share publicly.