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The last two weeks have been filled with many ups and downs. Luckily though, there have been more ups than downs. It is becoming harder to deny the fact that things are coming to an end. I know that the friends that I have come to love here, will be leaving in a matter or weeks. I will be leaving in July to spend some much needed time with my friends and family. Although I am anxiously awaiting the end of school, I am still trying to slow time all at once.
Things have been good here though. Leigh Anne, Katie and I decided to do something different last week instead of the usual routine. We opted to have a BBQ. It was a lot of fun actually. It was nice having lots of people over at the house having some drinks and a lot of food. I have issues with quantity and will probably never get sent to buy the food ever again. When I got back from the grocery store, Katie laughed hysterically at me. As it turns out, I bought enough food to feed a small village. It didn't seem like all that much when I was
buying it, in fact, I wasn't sure I had bought enough. I figure it's best to have a little bit too much, rather than not enough. So they can laugh at me all they want, but at least there was no way we would run out of anything. Hopefully we can have another BBQ before the end of the school year, maybe as a going away party or something. If that happens to be the case, I will most certainly not be the one cooking the food. I felt like I was stuck at the front of the yard while everyone got to drink and mingle. While people were getting to talk, hang out and have drinks, I was bent over the tiny little grill making Elote. I learned my lesson and will be handing the tongs off to someone else next time.
It's still hard to believe that in two weeks I will be giving my students their last partial exams. I feel excited to have this year be done, but sad that my students won't b e my students next year. I have seen some real improvement in some of them. A few of the kids would
barely even talk when I first arrived. Now, they are the same ones who run up to me in the morning and hug me. It's amazing how those kids have impacted my life. I know that there are days when they drive me crazy, but there are other days too. Some days they say things that floor me. They show me how easy it is as a child to give and receive love. Even on their worst days, I know that they truly are just kids and that they don't mean to drive me crazy at all, they are just being kids.
I can't imagine what it will be like next year, not having them in my class. Everyday that I walk into class, I get hugs, kisses and of course I get to hear "I love you Miss." It really is an amazing feeling, knowing that no matter where I go after this, years from now, they will remember me. They will remember some of the cool tings we have done in class and hopefully they will know and remember that I truly cared about all of them. They will be able to look back and remember me
dancing in the middle of the class, just because it seemed like the right thing to do. Who doesn't need to do the robot dance in the middle of math class with their teacher. I want them to remember words like "migrate" because we all flew around the room and migrated.
Having these students didn't just make a small impact on my life, it changed things completely. I don't think I will ever be able to look at things the same. I hope that I will remember to not sweat the small stuff, forgive, laugh, share and love as easily as a child can. I want to remain hopeful that there still are really great people in the world and they all come from different walks of life. I never want to be as jaded as I may have been when I first arrived here. I have learned that with time, all wounds can be healed and that to give of yourself is truly what's important.
For everything that I have learned and will continue to learn in the future, I am truly thankful. This has been the best experience and something that I will never forget. I
could never forget the other teachers that I have become so close with, nor will I forget this community and the people here. So many things have made this the experience of a lifetime and made me a better person.
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swills82
Sarah Willett
Hard to tell but I'm guessing Walt is one of the ones inside (grey shirt?) He had a GREAT time that night. As for the life-changing experience... you'll never forget it. I, too, have been completely changed for the better and no longer take for granted the things provided to me in my life that so many others do without. Those kids will continue to "love you Mees"! Next year will be a completely different experience from this past one but it too will bring with it many more memories and learning experiences. Looking forward to meeting you!