So the senior graduation was last night. I am always sad to see individuals go. However, this year I am overwhelmingly sad to see a large amount of them go. There are a greater number of students I will miss dearly. I tried to have an impact on all of my kids - not always successful, I fear - and I want them to remember their time with me in a positive way. But I also want to know how they will continue to do after PV. And I know I will only ever hear from a few. There are some I really grew fond of, protective of, or admired a lot. I have never felt this sense of loss in my 15 years of teaching and it is weird. I went to bed very sad last night.
I guess the closest thing to this is when a parent/parents have a child move away. I will never have kids and my students are my kids. There are those who I know will do well, and I want to know all their happy stories. Then there are those who shared way too much or those who put up a wall and shared nothing and I will worry about them.
There are many teachers whom kids want to keep in touch with; they meet for coffee, talk about their lives. I hope that if any of my students from this year want that from me, they know that I would be more than happy to. I believe that a good teacher never stops caring about his/her students, even long after graduation.
Gosh, having feelings like this is so weird for such a sarcastic, non-touchy feely person.
At least I have those past students who like to keep in touch, visit, talk online, and sometimes even meet for coffee.
Sniffle....
