This has been great. Focusing on the positive has helped the last few weeks of a year I never need to repeat go more smoothly. I plan to keep this practice, though maybe not as often next year.
As always no identifying information will be provided.
Today was the goodbye celebration for our seniors. This is the group I started with at my school. These are my babies. They will forever hold a special spot in my heart. They have grown with us, shown us grace and understanding during a very difficult 2 years in education, for as much as students thanked me today, I had to thank them too. They kept me going. They were my reason for getting up every day, they were my reason for going into work, they were the smiles that meant the most in the halls. They checked in on us as educators to make sure we were okay. Today they just wanted to be together, they just wanted to have connection and contact.
Today there were hugs. You may not agree with this but I don't care. Human connection matters and this group has been so deprived of it over the last 2 years that I'm not going to say no to hugs. Additionally at this point the County I live in is at heard immunity levels with vaccinations and nearly all of the students I work with have been vaccinated as well. But above all that, my students know that their mental health ALWAYS comes first, and today that meant hugs.
I wanted to share all the things that happened today that made me cry.
Today we had a much better version of our school tradition of tunnel of tears. I hope we do it this way every year. Teachers lined the inside of our track facing out and students came around. Over the course of an hour the majority of the senior class walked around the track and had final check-ins with teachers who impacted their lives. Rather than 5 minutes without conversation that really matter we had an hour to check in to say goodbye to make sure they know that they still matter and to remind us as educators that we do too. These are in no particular order of how they happened today.
1. Student walked the track 5 times showing us positivity the entire way.
2. Student said "I didn't know I needed you when I started HS, but I'm so glad I had you as a teacher, you've changed my life"
3. You saved my life. - This is where I officially lost it.
4. I would not be standing here today without you.
5. We did it! And before you tell me that I did it, I never would have understood math without you, you got me here, so we did this.
6. You should teach math, you make it accessible, you make it fun and relate-able, you're the reason I got it.
7. I hate math a little less now.
8. You saw me.
9. I love you
10. Student asking for a side hug and giving a full on huge hug with such a huge smile.
11. Thank you for always believing in me
12. Thank you for sticking up for me when no one else did.
13. Every time a student shared where they are going next year with pride.
14. Thank you for showing me that my mental health comes first.
15. Thank you for being a role model. (I think this was in reference to the fact I am open about my disabilities at school, but in any form I love it).
16. Presenting my senior award to one of the first students who I met 4 years ago at my school.
17. 1:1 time with a student who reminds me that the late nights pay off.
18. Watching the interactions my colleagues had with students who just wanted to say thank you and goodbye.
19. Feeling the happiness. Some people say it's hard to tell facial expressions through mask, but all the smiles today were more than evident.
20. This group of student more than any I have ever had in the previous 9 years gives me a renewed hope for the future they bring. They are thoughtful and understanding and honest and kind. They fight for the underdog and for justice. They look for the best in people. They understand pain and isolation and the value of connection that has been missing from our tech driven world.
I hope these students keep in touch with me. I hope they keep me informed of all the amazing things they continue to strive towards. It was an honor to be part of their last 4 years.
Signing off for now
-C
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