Today I drove to the middle school, where I have worked for the past three years, for the last time. It was a surreal feeling as I parked and walked into a school I will probably never return to. Saying “Hello” to staff members, and opening the door to my room for the last time. Today was a free/fun day. Both the boys I work with are ninth graders and went to the slide show first thing. It was a moving tribute to the entire ninth grade class, who are going to the high school next year. Then for two and a half hours they hung out in the courtyard and signed yearbooks – for the last time at middle school. When the kids boarded the buses and began to drive off, the entire staff stood waving good-bye and singing, “na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, good-bye.” The ninth graders drove away from the middle school for the last time as they said, “good-bye” for the last time. This was their biggest milestone; a lot happened to them during middle school. They arrived as children and left as young adults headed towards life. We watched them grow, and we watched them struggle with identity and sexuality. Their next three years will be spent at high school – where I get to watch them finish growing and graduate into real life. My eyes were teary today, I can only imagine how emotional I will get the day they walk across the stage, never looking back, and my “good-bye” will be a final one. I am excited for my students, as well as myself. I was not born to do this job, but I believe I am here, right now, for a purpose. I am here to help these boys through the toughest time of life and groom them to go into the world with their heads up high and ready. I am proud of these kids, we spend a lot of time together and we became a second family. We trust, love and sometimes hate each other – but in the end we are always there for one another.

I have had the pleasure to work with awesome folks! People I can call friends as they have become a major part of my life. I will miss walking into second period each day, and looking into the faces of friendship. We are all pack animals, and I had finally found my pack. I am so sad to have to leave the comfort zone that is room A-3, and the welcoming faces that enlightened me each and every day. They supported me and loved me and I will miss them very much! I know we will stay together on the “outside,” because I never want to let them go! My students had great teachers, who showed patience and understanding. Through it all and in the end my students learned a lot from these awesome people. I will miss them too.

I don’t plan on staying with the school district after my students graduate from high school, and the good-byes I handed out today were more than just an “until we meet again,” but more of a true “good-bye.” I probably will never see these folks again. The great office ladies who always had a smile and went out of their way to help me out. The principals (all three of them) who have supported my students and me, and who are the biggest partiers of them all! The school’s dynamic was the the best I had ever worked under – the best atmosphere, the friendliest staff… I could probably go on and on about them. The bottom line is that I have never worked at a place like this middle school, and I probably never will again. I looked back, one last time, as I left and I said good-bye for the final time. My heart cried because I loved my job there – but the reason I showed up every morning won’t change. Next year I’ll still be with the same two students, the same two reasons I do this job every morning, at the high school. The students are stepping up to another major milestone in their lives, but so am I.

Good-bye!

Never forget the grooviest Interpreter to ever touch your lives!

I’ll miss you…

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