Being one who is a keeper of few things, I immensely enjoy the end-of-the-year-annual-cleanout. Its so exhilarating at school to dump papers and get rid of old books and to organize files (or have my lovely aides do...thank you very much Sara and Kristen!) My stacks of things to hand out are dwindling and soon enough I will have nothing left to hand out.
Im not particularly attached to this year's senior class, nor will I be overly sad to see the Freshman pass through my hands. Most of them I will have next year for Geometry. They have shown significant growth this year. Looking back at those first few weeks I remember thinking I was going to dread the entire year with them. Freshmen have a ethos all their own; they tend to be (because they are) young and a bit needy. To their credit, they have come so far! I know they will be back so Im not too emotional over them. The Sophies are great...love them. The Juniors I ADORE and to see them become Seniors will be delightful! The class of 2006 will always have a very special place in my heart, but the class of 2008 certainly has its own lovely personality.
What saddens me is that many of my colleagues are leaving. I cant imagine going to work with out Debbie, or Leslie or Alicia or Bob.
I will miss A's sweetness and the way that she is so genuine and deliberate in her work and her relationships. She is an amazing teacher...tireless and truly a servant of God. I will miss hearing her tell me how to say Spanish words that I dont know...I will miss our early morning talks as she and I regularly open up the school before 7am. The building is so quiet and our conversations always good.
D...good Lord, what will I do without her? She makes me laugh every single day!! I love her heart and her sense of humor. She has a delightfully quick wit! Her and I are so different and yet it doesnt matter a bit--in fact I think that it is one of the things that draws us to one another. I love how she can cut to the quick of a situation and tell me in love something I need to hear. Very few people have that characteristic ( I believe its called exhortation) and can do it in love. She does. And she is like a freak in her knowledge about economics and government. And she loves meercats...
And L...what do you say about a person who has revealed so much of herself to you over the years. Ive seen God transform L and burn off so much of what He didnt want her to have. Its been painful and blessed. I miss her already. She makes me laugh constantly and her quick responses to things people say. Who else could call me a blog whore and get away with it? And she truly loves Freshmen. I was just telling her the other day that I was jealous for a bit because the Freshmen really DO prefer her to me. They love her and are like little birds all day flapping around her desk. (believe me I got over my jealousy) Who will I write notes to during boring, senseless pre and post and mid year in services? Who will I send the million and one emails to during the day saying...HELLLLLLLLLPP MEEEEEEE!!?
And B...well I have known him for over 15 years. As much as I call him Satan to his face and as much as we "spar" there is tremendous respect there and I will miss him. This year I teach in his room while he is there and we have had such great opportunities to talk. There is something so special about someone who you have known for a long time...someone who knows all the things you know...someone who you can tell jokes with about the past. When he found out I was taking a more administrative job he looked me dead in the eye and said, "Dont let them work you too hard...be sure you have good boundaries. You know how it goes. You have to be sure youre okay." I about cried...it was so genuine.
Yes...I know things will go on. Ive already told D and L that I will not be making any new friends when they leave. I was thinking in my head about what it will be like to go to pre planning and not have any friends to sit with. It made me sad.
I know things will go on. The school will move forward...people come and people go in the history of things. Its part of the way it works...how life works. And still there is so much sadness to realize the end of an era. To realize that this time is over. That it wont come again. I know it only hurts because these are people whom I love. These are people whom I have served with. To stand shoulder to shoulder with them and to progress the Gospel is a blessed thing.
Im only sad because I love them.
2 comments:
It really is sad... about half ( i think) the teachers are leaving.. if you left.. i'd die....fo real
it leaves room for other cool people to come...if they know what's good for them!!!
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