Advice to Self

When your students walk in on the first day they are going to need to know what to expect. High school is the time of changes and uncertainties and insecurities. What you need to provide for your students is consistent support. They need to know that you are invested in them and are willing to help them whenever they stumble. This seems like a big challenge when in actuality it really is not. The fact of the matter is that you really just need to take time to get to know your students and show your genuine appreciation for who they are. Be honest and open with your students, because nothing will win them back if they smell a facade meant to woo them. You really do not have to force them to answer those long questionnaires that a lot of teachers give out on the first day. But be prepared instead to notice their general behavior their conversations, where they sit, who they talk to. These small cues will give you a larger picture over time of when they are not at their best.
Also paying attention to your students will help you make sure that the generational gap does not come between you and your students. If you pay attention you can not only get to know your students but understand the language they use in context and understand what is important or valid to them.
The things you teach should be exciting and motivating and yes, challenging. High school students need to be challenged, not enough so that they want to stop trying but this class should engage their critical thinking and enable them to problem solve. Your responsibility as a teacher is to step in and guide them through the process to culture an environment where students feel safe to take risks and sometimes fail because the best discoveries often times come from failures.