When the idea of swapping positions with a student was first brought up, of course I had nervous jitters about the thought of a grown man trying to fit in with teenagers for a day, like we hilariously watched in “Billy Madison” (look it up on Netflix, you’ll thank me later).

    Perhaps I could wear some skinny jeans to school or bust out my English to slang dictionary and try out some new phrases.

    However, while there was that fear of the unknown, my primary emotion was joy. I have always loved learning, and the idea of leaving my numerous responsibilities as a teacher and spending a day in which the sole purpose was to attain more knowledge seemed thrilling.

    As adults we often romanticize the “carefree” days we had as students, when we had no concepts of mortgages, working late, or what the word responsibility really meant. I yearned to be transported to that time, and this idea was the perfect time machine.

    When Katie and I learned that this experiment would just be one hour, I had to make a choice. I chose the class on Katie’s schedule that seemed like the polar opposite of what I teach. Knowing that the last time I took a Spanish class was over a decade ago, I chose Spanish 2 with Senor Kurt Garner. I was hoping that I did not choose poorly (I know, another old person movie reference, find “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” on Netflix too).

    First, let me just tell you how deceiving a sweatshirt can be. To transform from teacher to student, I put on my Publications sweatshirt, placed earbuds in my ears, and went off down the hallway. Three teachers, all of whom I talk to daily, did not initially recognize me. My first test was passed.

    When I walked into class and found Katie’s seat, some students seemed curious at first, but nobody really spoke to me. The bell rang and class began. Señor Garner started explaining the plan for the day, which was to play Clue or Monopoly, en español. He introduced me as a new student and everyone just stared. I sat at the Clue table, and was soon joined by one of my English students, sophomore Nicole Prouhet.

    I felt a small sigh of relief when Prouhet sat down, since I really did feel like the new kid at school, and she made a great effort to try to help me assimilate. The other students were pleasant to me, but our table was much quieter than the Monopoly tables, probably because they were as uncomfortable with this idea as I was.

    My initial expectations had come true. I was having much more fun with this activity than most of the other people at the table. My rusty Spanish was coming back, and I could identify all the different character names and rooms. I felt freer than I had in a while, knowing that my only responsibilities for the next hour involved learning Spanish through an excitingactivity.

    At one point in the hour, I pulled out my phone just to see what all the fuss was about.

    I have to say, if today’s cell phones existed when I was in high school, I would not have been a successful student. While merely pretending to play on my phone in class, I saw a SportsCenter message and read it, and by the time I looked up, everyone was waiting for me. I really did feel like I was transported back in time, if only for an hour. I was always an extremely quiet student in class, only speaking when spoken to or when it was my turn, and I remained the same in this experiment. One of Katie’s friends, senior Mark Chandley, remarked that I was way too quiet to be representing Katie.

    Overall, the experience was great. Aside from the obvious fun, this experiment put things in perspective for me. I watched positive interactions between Garner and my new classmates, and I saw what it meant to the students. It reminded me that I truly can make an impact on student’s lives every day, even if I am just as tired as my students in May, just by having a meaningful conversation with them.

    Also, while my experience validated my complaints about all my responsibilities and made me hearken for my carefree days as a student, I know it was not at all representative of what it is really like to be a high school student. If I had traveled a full schedule for a number of weeks, I am sure that the stress of assignments and tests would have started to overwhelm me, and I would be begging to be back on the other side.

    I am glad that my time machine took me back to 1996 for at least one hour, but I am definitely much more appreciative of what I have here in good old 2013 (Seriously people, have you never heard of “Back to the Future?”).