A lot of things are over for me, but for now I want to talk about saying goodbye to teaching. I was a Spanish teacher for eight years (not all these years full time). I thought it would be my career for a lifetime once I finally finished my Master degree. I used to say my proudest accomplishment was getting my MS with high honors, working a full time job, being a full time mom and taking night classes three nights a week. I don't know if I can still think of this as my greatest accomplishment with the way things ended up. I spent so much emphasis on my schooling from high school all the way through college; always pushing the limit and trying to rush things along. Like how I took Summer classes so I could get my BA in three years rather than four. Actually, I've rushed a lot of things in my life (but that's another blog). Now it seems like a slap in the face, but I know that I must look at the more positive side and have faith that there is a reason for everything and that I amexactly where I am supposed to be at this moment. It doesn't mean I have to like it. It doesn't mean it's easy or fun, but it is what it is and I need to accept this before I can move on. I really don't want to be that person who stares so long at the closed door that she never sees the one that opened.

As many good memories as I had teaching, I am ready to say goodbye. I want to hold all the good memories close to me and put the bad ones away forever (this could apply to many areas of my life). I know that I made a difference, but I guess I should admit that when life got overwhelming...I wasn't as effective. I did my best, reallly I did, and to be honest I thought I was doing a decent job. I was stressed out to the max, but I guess I was convinced that other teachers felt ike I did too (and I wasn't alone).

Now teaching is another thing that I can add to my list of "used to be". It's hard to believe ,as all change is and harder because I have no idea what is ahead for me. Here comes that word again: FAITH.

My Happy Memories Of Teaching

1. The videos that my students made in my first year of teaching at L.G. Still to this day I have no idea what happened to my copy and I sincerely miss it. It could always make me laugh. And it would be great to be able to share it with these students who have now all graduated from college! They were 9th graders when I had them.

2. First fire drill: Stepping in fresh cement; losing my shoe; borrowing a student's gym sneakers for the rest of the day!

3. All the students who used to come eat lunch with me at L.G.

4. The students who used to visit after school in Granville.

5. Playing games in class: especially volleyball, the flyswatter game and when I'd put a category on the board in Spanish and teams would give Spanish (one word) clues to their team representitive until someone guessed the word.

6. All the cards students made me and the little poems and letters I got.

7. When more than one student brought me flowers.

8. Getting students at L.G. ready for the Bravo shows.

9. L.G. fashion show (in Spanish).

10. Me always stickng my foot in my mouth and totally saying the wrong thing (getting a bunch of teenagers giggling and me blushing).

11. Students who've asked me for letters of recommendation.

12. Students who've come back to me and thanked me for all I did for them.

13. Students who still connect with me through Facebook.

14. Seeing students out and hearing them call me Senora :0)

15. Subbing in pottery class the year I didn't have a position and getting to visit with all my past students.

16. Having a student come in to see me in the morning and ask me to cut her bangs because she cut them herself and they were all crooked.

17. Students telling me I was like an aunt or even a mom to them.

18. All the students who counted on me as a trusted person to talk to over the years.

19. The students who made me laugh when I really wanted to cry.

20. Knowing how proud of me my grandparents and parents were of me every time they mentioned that I was a teacher to everyone they knew