last day has arrived...

Today is officially the last day of school. I came to work today with mixed feelings. I am very excited to finally have a break from the tribulations and stress of teaching, grading and dealing with students every day. But, I think about it, and that seems to be such a small part of why I became a teacher. And really, I can see the real reason every day when I see the students in hall. For many, we are the only people that really care about who they become - or what they do. We truly want them to become better people, and want to see them succeed. Many, have never had people believe in them so much. Then, I sit and think about it. We will lose many students this summer to the streets. A few will get caught up in gang activity. Some will get wrappped up in the drug community. And sadly, some will become involved in both. Next year the students will walk through the door on the first day of school, and we will be missing a few students - and the truth is, I may never really know why they didnt come back - whether it was a choice or a consequence of the streets.

There is a group of students that I am happy we are losing. We have 50 students graduating on Sunday. 50 students that may not have been able to walk across that stage had they not walked through the doors of this school and made the commitment to let us help them. Some were more of a challenge than others - family issues, community issues, pregnancy, alcoholic/druggie parents, etc. I am extremely proud of these 50 seniors: many, as they will tell you, never thought they would see the day that they would actually graduate. For many, they are the first in their family. And for most that are continuing onto college, they are definatly the first in their family to take on the responsibility and prestige of college.

So, though I am happy to see summer come, I will miss these students that I have definately come to love. And the truth is, once school comes around in August, I will be ready to come back and start all over again.