Good-Byes, Thank You's, and See you Later's

Saying Good-bye. I am terrible with good-byes. I was that senior in high school who pulled away from my family and fought with them before leaving for college. For some reason my natural instinct is to pull away when I know a "good-bye" looms in the future - like not associating with them is going to make it hurt less when I leave. This was not the case this time. Tears rolled and hugs were long. Heart felt good-byes were told as I saw my students off for the last time.

Two years ago, the Lord set before me an amazing job opportunity. As a senior out of college I, of course, went on a frantic job search. It was only a year before when there were several layoffs around Texas for teachers. Jobs were SCARCE. Having seen friends who spent an entire year job searching, I threw my all into it. Job fairs, school visits, e-mails, and all sorts of job seeking strategies took place. I went to several job fairs, but this one in particular is where I first encountered my future school. I approached the last middle school at the fair and stood in line to hand them my resume. I made it to the front of the line and as I shook his hand the man standing there told me, "I don't care if you already have a job, if you get called in for an interview here you take it". I thought it was strange that of all the things to say right off the back, that he choose those words. He really believed in this school with his whole heart and you could see that by the look in his eyes. About a week later I got a call from that same school and not forgetting the words he told me I thought, "I definitely have to take this interview". I went to the interview and learned more about the school. It was a charter school and was run much differently than the traditional school where I had currently been student teaching.  Not being from Houston or knowing a single thing about the school I was interviewing for, I couldn't decide if this different was a good thing or a bad thing. Feeling the Lord's pull on my heart,  I trusted Him and I took the job. Little did I know how much this place would teach me. 

This was a smaller charter school and I quickly learned it was much, much different from anything I had ever known. Sure most every traditional teaching method you could imagine was blown out the window. However, it wasn't just the teaching methods that made this school different, it was the teachers themselves. These teachers had more passion as a whole than I had ever seen at one school. They just truly loved these kids with all of the heart. Anything they did in the classroom was for them. Whether it was how they were teaching them the material or instilling in them what character and integrity looks like, these teachers made their classroom into whatever their students needed.  As a school we did not make decisions based off of what others might think, but what we believed was best for the kids. Something, unfortunately, that is getting lost in today's world. The classroom was a place where these kids could totally be themselves - they were free to be as unique and awkward (middle school, remember) as they wanted. They had the freedom to share their thoughts, feelings, and life with these teachers. School was finally fun for these kids. They actually enjoyed learning in middle school (who would have thought, right?).  What a sweet place to start off your career. To be in an environment that mimicked that of a family for these students was almost indescribable. What is more amazing is that these kids came from all over - all different races, cultures, beliefs, and socioeconomic statuses. And yet, they were a family. 

So yesterday I said good-bye. I am a 7th grade teacher and have been teaching for two years now. This means that my very first babies…. the ones that saw me through all of my failure and mishaps in the classroom were leaving. The ones that I got to see struggle through the most awkward year of their life and then blossom into incredible young teenagers were leaving me. I thought about all they had learned during their years in middle school. How to organize a backpack, work in a group project, lead a student organization on campus are just some of the things I physically saw them learn. However, some of the things I hope they've learned most is that character and integrity are characteristics that can never be taken. That being a kind and loyal friend and having those kinds of friends are worth more than they could imagine. That their mouth speaks what their heart is full of - to be people who speak kind, encouraging, and uplifting words. That they have the opportunity to choose joy daily.  But most importantly that they are loved. They are loved dearly by their teachers - gosh, do we love them a whole stinking lot. And they are loved more than they could ever know, by a man who died to save them.  By a God who is more loving, merciful, and faithful than one could ever comprehend. 

Not only did I say good-bye to my 8th graders (a natural progression of life), but I also said good-bye to my 7th graders as well. This year I felt the Lord calling me away from my current school. After much prayer about timing and where He wanted me to go, an opportunity was placed into my lap. He guided me through the process of interviewing for another job and then opened the doors at yet another wonderful school. 

I am so excited for my new journey to begin. I am expectant for the things the Lord has in store for these coming years, but for today I sit and reminisce. I reflect on all of the things taught to me by this wonderful community of teachers. They have taught me by example what it looks like to love students well, to fully care about the important things and leave the rest be. To make learning fun, and to do all of these things with a passion that cannot be matched. I am thankful for the lifelong friendships I have formed and for the support and love I was given. So I will not say good-bye. Its not true - it is not truly good-bye. It really is just a see you later, but more importantly it is a vast and heartfelt thank you. Thank you so much for making me a part of your family. I will be forever grateful for the lessons I have learned.