Weekend Rewind....
For the past couple of months I have been gradually packing, sorting, throwing away,giving away, and burning school stuff. After 33 years of teaching-elementary, high school, and middle school students, I have collected a lot of stuff. And as most teachers, we NEVER throw ANYTHING away-hey we might need that one fun activity,that one handout, or that one book one day, right? 33 years of stuff!!
When the calendar rolled to December, I knew I had to get my butt in gear and begin the process of cleaning out my file cabinets, bookshelves and teacher desk. As I was going through my file cabinets, I chuckled at some of the things I had kept over the years. I found books I used on the old blue copying machines. I thought about the times I had blue ink all over my hands and the awful smell of the ink. I thought about some of my co-workers that had passed away and what wise wisdom they had given me.sigh
I did find some treasure in my bookshelves. A few years ago, well 18 years ago (teachers remember dates), an author had come to the elementary school in which I was teaching. I love books so I had bought two books and he had signed both of them-one for my daughters and one for me.
Retirement is supposed to be a happy time and everyday at school some of my co-workers say I am lucky. Yes, I do consider myself lucky. Lucky to have enjoyed 33 years of teaching students, which are tomorrow's future. Yes, I have taught them the academics of school, but I hope I have instilled in them more than academics. I hope every student I have taught knew how much I loved and cared about them-even the ones and all teachers know that one student that always tries to get your goat! I hope I have taught them to never give up on their dreams, to always persevere, to show respect, to be compassionate, to love, to give thanks,to give back, and that life isn't always fair-but to take the hand you are dealt with and embrace it.
The school hallway was empty Saturday....
my name will be taken off my classroom door in a couple of weeks...
a new person will be filling my shoes and life and learning will go on.
Our principal has assigned the book Teach Like a Pirate for our book study this semester. My voyage has ended and new one begins...not sure what? not sure when? but I know my ship will sail again.
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." Dr. Seuss
Have a great week and Enjoy Life.
It is definitely exciting, and a little scary too. I would just say give yourself time to figure out your new normal. It's a process. Congratulations, and enjoy!
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