Lessons Under the Lights

     I sat under the Friday night lights and watched as my seniors were honored on their home turf.  I sat and choked on unexpected tears as I realized that just as quickly as their last home football game would be a memory, so would our time together. I cannot put into words how much I will miss these kids when I have to leave them in three weeks.  I cannot explain how honored I am to have spent these 15 weeks with them-- to be a brief part of their lives-- and that just maybe I taught them a thing or two---which pales in comparison to what they've taught me.

      They taught me how to be uncomfortable and to get out of my comfort zone--and that's okay. It’s more fun out there, anyway! They taught me to just be real and that it's okay to say, "I don't know but we can look it up together,” or “You are right. I was wrong.” They taught me to be vulnerable, yet confident. They taught me the importance of making executive decisions that affect life in the classroom.  They taught me how to push them to be better while they pushed me to be better. They taught me how to reach the unreachable. They taught me how to improvise when the technology fails or there are 15 kinds of interruptions during those precious 54 minutes. They taught me the importance to laugh with them and at myself. They taught me that no matter the curriculum, the controversial standards, or whatever else is thrown my way, when the day is done, the relationship within the classroom, sometimes, teaches more lessons than any literature book.

     In three weeks I will no longer be their student teacher. In fact, in three weeks I am not sure what I will be doing, but I know that wherever I am, I will be carrying a little piece of the Class of 2014 in my heart forever.

     Sometimes I think I may get too attached emotionally for this career---but then I believe that it is the emotion that drives the career.