Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Reflections
As the year comes to an end, I often look back and reflect on the school year. As I take a look at many of my seniors, I began to look back at the time when they were all ninth graders. The reason for such deep reflection is, because this graduating class is my first. I think of the moments when those seniors were silly ninth graders that lived in their own world. A world full of silly actions and many silly mistakes. Now I take a look at them and I see a group of mature young people that are ready to take on the world. In the past four years those kids have matured in such a tremendous manner that it would make anyone proud. Most of our students come from difficult backgrounds and impoverish homes; to see them persevere is a joy that cannot be described. Because of the joy and happiness that seeing those kids graduate brings me, that is the reason why I love teaching and that is the reason why we as educators (whether you teach or not) must continue to implement the human aspect into our curriculum.
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When I was still teaching high school, for a while I "looped" with a group of students, so I would teach them in 9th and then in 10th grades. (I loved it!) I was always amazed at the magic that occurred over the summer between 9th and 10th grades. They began to grow up. Note: began! I also had the privilege of working with many of these students all the way through 12th grade when they chose to sign up for electives I taught. I agree, Manny, that there is great joy in following students over time. There is also joy in having that kind of extended contact with students, getting to know them really really well. I didn't think then of myself as "mentor," but looking back on it, I know now that I did play that role, and it meant a lot to them AND to me. Now, many years later, many of those students have found me on Facebook. I love it.
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