I don't have the emotional energy for my students right now.

I teach High School English. I'm usually someone who is very very involved with my students. I miss them when they graduate. I go to their sports games, musicals, and plays. I know their parents. Many of my students are my neighbors and I watch their younger siblings while they are at my house studying (this wasn't always my choice). We laugh a lot and have a good time. I put a lot of my life into my students.<br><br>Due to COVID, I'm teaching virtual. I haven't seen my students in person for almost a year. My seniors from last year didn't get to walk at graduation. Between being quarantined and virtual teaching, I've been told I'm not allowed to go to anything they participate in, which makes me so sad.<br><br>My school district is all remote until we get out of the red zone, and we won't be in person until the district decides to which will be when we are in the green zone. We were supposed to begin in person in October, but we're still in the red zone and no one is able to do things.<br><br>I'm burnt out emotionally. I love my students. I want the best for them, and I want to see them succeed. I can't help but feel like I'm failing them. They're not able to do the activities they love, and I'm not able to be there for them the way I have in the past. When, or if, we go back in person, I'm not sure how long it will last. I'm so exhausted, and I want to be able to cry, but I'm too tired. I'm just so tired.