Graduation

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....