12 Years Down - Almost

If I can make it 12 more days of school, I will have completed my 12th year of teaching. And that process should be easier now because yesterday was the seniors' last day of regular class. They will be present on Monday for their semester exam, but that won't be too bad. As my second class of seniors left yesterday, I started thinking. This class of students challenged me and my tested patience. Both times that I had them. And yet there are those that I am going to miss. That Alma High School is going to miss. But the world is going to be better because they are going to become an active part of it before too long. I could name you those who were great and those who made me want to hurt them, but the bottom line is that they all have taught me something. That might be something about myself (usually how impatient or insensitive or what a control freak I am) or about them. About what works in life and what doesn't. For some I have such amazing expectations because they have demonstrated their intelligence, resolve, compassion, or willingness. Others - I fear what life is going to bring them. I always call my students my babies, and you always want your babies to succeed. So for some I hope and pray for maturity because they are going to need it if that success is going to happen. I don't know if this makes any sense to anyone but me. I just know that as I look to close out another year, I find myself rejoicing at another year completed and yet sad to see the good ones go and afraid of the paths that others will go down.

On a super pleasant note, last night at the movies I saw one of my all-time favorites (I am not supposed to say that, so shhhhh!). He was always encouraging. He was so much smarter than me, but you never got the opinion that he felt that way. But most importantly, he was a Christian, stand-up guy. He has worked for the last 2 years for Campus Crusade and is leaving in August for Louisville, KY, where he is going to start seminary to become a pastor. So there is one of my babies doing well and excelling at life! Hallelujah!