Yesterday marked the end of the first week back at school. Today, the beginning of the ruthless, unending ocean of grades. We are in it once again, and there is no land anywhere in sight. With students back in my classroom, and a stack of essays on my desk, the reality of the situation is suddenly immeasurably real, immediate, and, yes, rather terrifying. That it calls to me, like a drug? August 9, 2015.