Saying Goodbye

I am getting ready to finish student teaching, and I'm finding it harder than I ever imagined to say goodbye to my students and co-workers. This has been one of the best experiences of my life and I can't imagine what my days will look like without it. I don't know anyone who goes into student teaching feeling confident and well prepared; I certainly didn't!!! However, it didn't take long at all to feel like I was exactly where I belonged. Life is full of opportunities to discover one's passions, but I think it is rare for that passion to be so apparent and so all consuming. Education is my drug of choice - I sincerely believe it has the power to foster a global community of peace, trust, and communication, and I'm excited that I found such an empowering path to lead the rest of my life.

I spent the last four months of my life surrounded by ninth graders. This is an experience all people should have; it would make us all more empathetic, less guarded, and light hearted. They have a way of disarming a person; they see to the heart of a matter, regardless of one's efforts to to mask a mood, a true intention, or insecurity. They are ruthless little people!!! There isn't a bump, blemish, spelling error, mispronunciation, or little white lie they don't call you on - and every time I was faced with one of these encounters I realized how small their lives really are, how basic their needs, and how sincerely and deeply they feel everything they can't help but wear on their sleeves. There isn't a single day I pack up my bags, lock my room, and head for home that my heart doesn't race a little faster looking back on a witty comment, appreciating an un-prompted complement, encouraging exemplary efforts, or anticipating the excitement that will land itself on my desk the following day. It is like being a detective - I am in constant investigation mode; probing their brains for what makes sense, searching their souls for the clues that lead to their passions, and devouring any evidence that sheds light on making education an empowering experience. And as hard as I tried to change my 100 ninth-grader's lives over the course of these past four months, there is only one absolute conclusion I have been able to draw - One life was absolutely changed, and will forever be . . . mine.

I feel supported by a nest of co-workers and friends; people who share my passion for reaching students. I feel excited about the prospect of living this life forever; attempting to implement every new idea, devouring creative curriculum, and embracing a community of people who foster that desire. I feel thankful to have been placed in a town I could easily call my home, with a cooperating teacher I feel proud to know, and a group of friends I will cherish forever. I feel scared to say goodbye to any of it. I feel sad that finding my passion meant a journey that would rip me from this deep comfort; and I feel really excited to chase this new found love all over the world.