There are always a few pivotal times of the year when we humans tend to get introspective and reflective.
- Birthdays (especially the decades & milestones ones!)
- New Years ("Old Lang Syne" can always do that to you.)
- And for the student and teacher: the end of the school year!
Today was my last day of school (which means last day of teacher meetings, packing up, and end of the year luncheon). It was a lovely day (with amazing food) paying humorous homage and honored tributes to those folks who are retiring or moving on.
It was a day of happy dance ("Woohoo! Summer ahead!") and a day of reflection.
Today was the last day of my 22nd and a half year of teaching. (Yes, there's a "half" and it's a story for another day. Along those lines, this whole 22.5 thing elicits the punch-in-the-gut feeling of "How on God's green Earth have I been teaching that long!")
Today was the last day of the first year at my current school. I survived being a newbie! I never would have been here had my
previous school not closed.
Today was the last day of the first year I have ever been "a special" versus "a homeroom teacher." (There are definite things I miss in setting up the routines and camaraderie of my own classroom, but definitely perks as well.)
Today marks my last day of school, after teaching in 6 schools total, in 3 different states.
Today is my official start to summer. Complete with goals of both relaxation, accomplishment, parenting, blogging, learning, environmental visions, and health on the horizon. And pool time. Definitely pool time!
Today I reflect over my years of teaching, and my many schools, and I feel an enormous sense of gratitude. I have been fortunate enough to be in 6 truly dynamic schools. Public and private, with mentors every step of the way. People I love, adore, and treasure. Amazing teachers, amazing people. I have learned and grown and made incredible friends along the way. I have refined my craft, found new interests, and sharpened new talents as I have trekked along. I have met phenomenal people. This year I was in a situation to have many of my former colleagues embarking upon "the new," and I have seen how lucky I really truly am. Public & private & then some.
Today I am blessed.
Today I sit at the cusp of 2 and a half months of summer ahead. What I do with it is up to me!
May you be faced with the same challenge, whether you work or not, whether you are a teacher or not, whether you have the summer off or not....it's still your summer. Go forth and make it amazing.