I know all my loyal readers were constantly checking my blog this week, lost and confused as to why I provided no comfort for so long a time. This past week, I traveled back to my last state of residence, Texas, to see my last 7th grade class be promoted from 8th grade to high school.
Leaving teaching was hard. It’s still hard, even after being away from it for a year. Seeing the kids though gave me mixed feelings. We attended two promotions, as my middle school split this year to accomodate the growing number of students. It doesn’t seem like a big deal. I mean, if you think back on your 8th graduation, it wasn’t anything ridiculous. I remember wearing a polyester floor length blue dress with white daisies on it and being bored out of my mind throughout the ceremony. For some of these kids though, this was an uphill battle, fought over 3 years, only to culminate in another struggle for four more years. I had students clinging to me, telling me to come back and help them get through high school. But it is also an extremely proud and happy moment for them. This IS an accomplishment, and they started looking to the future. Students I could barely get to answer the daily journal question were passing their history TAKS with 90′s and 100%’s. They mentioned college for the first time with hope in their eyes. I had students running up to me, not being able to wait to tell me how well they did this year. And then you watch them cross the stage and run off with their friends. It’s heart breaking on so many levels.
I had two students my last of year of teaching that I had worked with when they were 6th graders. I saw them grow up over 3 years, something I really haven’t witnessed as an adult. I’m so proud and yet, it kills me that I won’t be there to see them grow over the next four years. That these kids who were part of my everyday life for so long, are now going to move and have futures without me bearing witness. I imagine all young teachers go through this until they either become hardened veterans or have kids of their own.
Overall, it was fantastic to see the kids and fellow teachers. Hopefully I’ll get back for 2012 when they hit the big time with high school grad. We shall see.