my heart. [orem junior high.]

teaching the past three years as been the best thing of my life.  it's also been hard, frustrating, but so so rewarding.  a few weeks ago a sub left me a note about my class.  it was one of the nicest compliements i ever recieved.  it said, "thank you for the opportunity to sub your classes today.  it is obvious that you care for your students and they care for you!  i was treated with nothing but respect from them."  i wanted to cry.  because every single part of that is true.  i have grown to love these kids more than i thought possible.  they are teenagers, but they are such amazing individuals, with so much potential [sometimes they just don't want you to see it at first].

what i'll miss most [or maybe not]:
all the babies, being a student for a day, teachers vs. students basketball, bins of grading, hilarious student work, the best coworkers, fccla competitions, parent teacher conference drink runs, food and more food, surprise baby showers, having the "sex talk", my voice cracking when i'm teaching, all the embarassing and awkward moments, seeing them "get it", chatting on gmail, all my lame jokes that no one laughs at, being a teacher making you automatically cool, hearing all their life stories, sewing projects, lesson plans, monday collaboration with my favorite teacher friends, faculty room lunch time, "...with your choice of milk" every day for announcements, getting the bell schedule wrong every monday, the creativity, the lack of motivation, how the dynamic of every class can be so different.  but what i'm really, really, really going to miss the most is these kids.  they've inspired more than words can describe.  [and now i'm crying.]

once a jaguar, always a jaguar.

#ojhsrules