The Best....and Worst Part....of Being a Teacher

It always amazes me just how much love kids have and how open they are with it.  My students have spent hours upon hours with me over the last two years and have seen all of my moods (some not pretty, not pretty at all), and yet, they still pour affection over me and simply accept all of who I am.

Although my kids show me appreciation all year long, the last few weeks have been turbofied.  It started on my birthday, a Friday.  As I walked into the classroom, a bunch of students were waiting by the door with balloons (let me tell you how distracting those were throughout the day) to give me hugs and wish me a happy birthday.  They even had the birthday song playing over and over on my computer.  A sixth grader, Vale A., brought in a huge chocolate cake for her class and I to share.

Then last Tuesday, we had a middle school award ceremony for academic and athletic achievement.  At the end, they announced me Teacher of the Year, an award I am quite honored by.

That Thursday, Elizabeth and I gave a pizza party to our NJHS members.  Some of the girls stayed behind at the end, so we were a bit late getting to lunch.

The music kids were giving a concert in the cafeteria.  Sixth grade had already been playing a couple of songs, but as soon as I sat down near the stage to listen, Toto (Jorge Mario), the lead singer of sixth grade, dedicated a song to me and made a really sweet speech on how they were going to miss me.  The song is "Caraluna", one we had listened to in class a few times.  The video quality doesn't do justice to Toto's singing, who is actually quite good, but you'll get the idea.

Then, as if the week could get any fuller, the last Friday of school rolls around.  When my 7B class came in second hour, I was impressed with how quietly they were doing their warm up.  Elizabeth came in just as I was starting on attendance and told me Carlos needed to see all seventh grade in the kiosk to discuss discipline and that they needed to bring their things.  Ah!  We had final review planned for the day, so I told the kids to go quickly and quietly and to nod their heads in agreement to anything that was said so we could get back to reviewing.

The first signs of me being duped were Carolyn (English teacher) dramatically yelling at my kids and me seeing sixth graders in the kiosk area.  I finally caught on when I heard my song, "A Ti" by Ricardo Arjona, playing in the background.  The sixth graders had planned a going away party for me and brought cakes, cookies, soda, chips, etc.  The 6A class had written on a COJOWA shirt several of my sayings, and the 6B class had made banners with them as well.  (Don't look too closely at the sayings: they make me sound like a horrible teacher.)  Plus, all the songs I had played in class were coming out of someone's laptop.  It was great fun, though terribly hot, and it made me rethink my decision to leave Cartagena....again.

   

Add on all the heartfelt letters and teary (students) quality time during breaks, I was not yet ready to say goodbye to my kids when Monday rolled around.  They had welcomed me with open arms, and the likelihood that I would be seeing any of them again soon was not high.  This is the worst part of being a teacher:  bonding with a group of students and having to say goodbye to them at the end of the year, knowing that even if you see them again, it will never be the same as when you had them all in class.

Pictures were taken and a speech given to each class.  Only the kids exempted from the final exam could hug me, though.  The others had to wait until Thursday: I can only take so much mushiness, which thankfully, the students already know.  I sure am going to miss these guys!