I do realize that it is only June, but for the past few years my years have been measured in only ten months, not twelve, they begin in September and end in June. So here we are at the end of a year for me. That’s the life of a teacher I guess.
For me, June doesn’t just mark the end of a year, but the beginning of summer. Two months of endless possibilities with no work to get in the way. It is a time to reflect on my goals and accomplishments and look forward to new goals and aspirations for September.
The end of a school year is always bitter sweet. Who wouldn’t look forward to two months of freedom to do whatever you please and still get paid? But even with all these positives there is still negative. The end of a school year marks the end of some wonderful collegial relationships as some of my fellow teachers who I have shared a cup of tea, a laugh, and even sometimes a freak out in the staffroom, may be moving on to greener pastures in September, and thus, who knows when I will see them again, if ever.
My wonderful class with whom I have spent 190 days and built some wonderful relationships with are off to a new class (maybe even in a new school), to start a new relationship with a new teacher all over again. I have not seen many of my students since the day they walked out of the classroom, but there are many that cross my mind now and then, and I wonder what they are up to, what they are doing, and wonder if they remember when we built that man ‘John Michael’ when we studied the human body. Or the reality TV show we created that we wanted to pitch to MTV because our class was so filled with drama, we thought it was worth the coveted Monday 10pm time slot, complete with an after show hosted by Jesse and Dan.
There have been so many changes this year in my life; I can’t believe it has been only ten months. Twelve months might fly by without even a hair out of place, but these past ten months have marked loads of change in both my personal and professional life. Although at the time, I thought my life was coming to an end, I can clearly see now how things change and why they do. I am far better off now than I was only ten months ago when I moved to this tiny island.
The words to the song Auld Lang Syne, say “should old acquaintances be forgot and never brought to mind?” When we start fresh we want to put everything behind us and forget about the past, but is that really the best choice? If it wasn’t for what happened in the past we wouldn’t be where we are now, whether it is good or bad. Although I would like to forget some of the past, I look back and am happy that I have had those experiences; they have made me who I am today.
On one of my recent dates, talking about his life and growing up, I felt bad that I sometimes think negatively about my own childhood. Although it was not perfect (no one’s is) my life has been pretty privileged compared to others and for that I am lucky. This guy was able to take the challenges in his life and overcome them to become a successful, independent man with a very positive outlook and the confidence to know exactly what kind of life he does not want for himself and his family, and I am confident that he will get it.
Life always has a way of working out. It may take us on a roller coaster ride blindfolded so we have no way of knowing what twists and turns are ahead, but we always get off, stand up straight, dust ourselves off, and with a big smile say, “Wow! What a ride!”
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