Eve of the End.
Tomorrow is the last day of school for the 2011-2012 school year at Dawes Middle School. In just 20 hours, I will complete my first year as a teacher. I have learned more about myself in the last ten months than in four years of college. As I think about this year, I feel like I will contradict myself when describing it. On the one hand, August seems like years ago. However as I stood in front of my science classes today I had flashbacks to the first day. I remember it so vividly it feels like yesterday. I arrived nervous with my script (yes, every word) in hand. I still remember what I wore-the black Dawes shirt and white skirt I meticulously laid out the night before (funny how that turned into my nightly routine). The local news was there-although 50 years old, we reopened this year after being closed for two years. In my classroom we played a get-to-know-you game with a squishy ball that became Mr. Squishy. My class loved him. When he 'died', he was replaced with "Little Lady", whose lifespan was unfortunately not as long. I caved and bought a gecko midway through the year. I am proud to say he is the only reason I ever went to work on the weekend (Okay, except for the Saturday before report cards were due for the first time). As difficult as some days were, I always woke up excited for the next day. That's the funny thing about teaching-a student who challenges you one day might make your day the next. Some days I felt bad that I was too impatient, etc. with a student, but they didn't hold a grudge against me. They don't hold on to things. I can learn from them. I learned from colleagues that sometimes you just have to make a choice to be happy. I saw firsthand how broken people can be when they don't have God in their life. I discovered that I am a neat freak, and my pet peeve is when students don't have a pencil. I am doomed in my career if those are my two fetishes.
Surprisingly, most of my memories are from outside of the classroom.
I can count on one hand the number of times I ate hot lunch. I discovered how much I loved (and needed) 6:30 Mass, and how I could still make it to breakfast duty at 7:15 on time. I decided I will never do breakfast duty again. :) I coached a volleyball team. What an experience that was. Our first game was literally 0-25. (Side note: I have never in my life seen one girl serve an entire match. Kudos to that student). We won one game-the final one. But oh, how much it was worth it to see their faces when we did. I also remember in October crying with joy in the hallway between volleyball games when I received the news that one of my best friends had her baby that morning. I can't believe I actually enjoyed lunch duty. I was one of few teachers who knew almost every student in the school. I will never forget how loved I felt on my birthday. I received six stuffed animals, an elephant piggy bank, and numerous cards. So thoughtful. The students whom I thought I had affected the least are actually the ones whose lives I believe I've touched the most-even if I don't know it yet. I know how much they've touched me. Even the two girls who I worked with individually for long periods of time. One will have an amazing eighth grade year. The other will move to Kansas City where her aunt and uncle will take good care of her. They both have been through more in twelve years than I have experienced in a lifetime, and through things I will never experience.
I learned oh-so many lessons about what I'll 'do differently next year'. Perhaps the most humorous lesson is to make sure never to give students directions to "define and draw a picture" for the vocabulary word 'sexual reproduction'. Oh. dear. Next year I'll be more consistent. Next year we'll do more labs. Next year I'll be more thorough. Next year I'll know how to do x, y, z. I could go on and on about this stuff, but right now I am just thankful for the year I've had. Everything, good or bad, has taught me a lesson. I am so grateful for this year God gave me. I can't believe I never got sick. I can't believe I was able to travel to Rome during the school year! I am amazed by the constant support of my wonderful roommates who heard me vent quite a bit. :) I am amazed every day by Chaz and his faithfulness. I am so thankful for my family who provided me with relaxing Sundays and my mom who can always relate to everything I'm going through.
Tomorrow will be bittersweet. I really will miss these students.
Surprisingly, most of my memories are from outside of the classroom.
I can count on one hand the number of times I ate hot lunch. I discovered how much I loved (and needed) 6:30 Mass, and how I could still make it to breakfast duty at 7:15 on time. I decided I will never do breakfast duty again. :) I coached a volleyball team. What an experience that was. Our first game was literally 0-25. (Side note: I have never in my life seen one girl serve an entire match. Kudos to that student). We won one game-the final one. But oh, how much it was worth it to see their faces when we did. I also remember in October crying with joy in the hallway between volleyball games when I received the news that one of my best friends had her baby that morning. I can't believe I actually enjoyed lunch duty. I was one of few teachers who knew almost every student in the school. I will never forget how loved I felt on my birthday. I received six stuffed animals, an elephant piggy bank, and numerous cards. So thoughtful. The students whom I thought I had affected the least are actually the ones whose lives I believe I've touched the most-even if I don't know it yet. I know how much they've touched me. Even the two girls who I worked with individually for long periods of time. One will have an amazing eighth grade year. The other will move to Kansas City where her aunt and uncle will take good care of her. They both have been through more in twelve years than I have experienced in a lifetime, and through things I will never experience.
I learned oh-so many lessons about what I'll 'do differently next year'. Perhaps the most humorous lesson is to make sure never to give students directions to "define and draw a picture" for the vocabulary word 'sexual reproduction'. Oh. dear. Next year I'll be more consistent. Next year we'll do more labs. Next year I'll be more thorough. Next year I'll know how to do x, y, z. I could go on and on about this stuff, but right now I am just thankful for the year I've had. Everything, good or bad, has taught me a lesson. I am so grateful for this year God gave me. I can't believe I never got sick. I can't believe I was able to travel to Rome during the school year! I am amazed by the constant support of my wonderful roommates who heard me vent quite a bit. :) I am amazed every day by Chaz and his faithfulness. I am so thankful for my family who provided me with relaxing Sundays and my mom who can always relate to everything I'm going through.
Tomorrow will be bittersweet. I really will miss these students.
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