Dear Senior of 2014,
Last year, I ended the year thinking that teaching could not get any better.
You all proved me wrong.
This year, you have made teaching (mostly) enjoyable and never
boring, whether it was because of your inappropriately timed dance moves,
tendency to wear clothing that I just don’t understand (why are grandma pants
back in style?), or ability to get me to laugh even when I was trying to be mad
at you. I feel like the luckiest teacher
in the county, no lie.
Every year I teach, I get older and further removed from being
in high school, and sometimes I forget what it felt like to be in your shoes. I
forget that you’re fragile yet strong, full of potential, and simply longing to
be taken seriously, listened to, and accepted. I forget that there is much more to you than
meets the eye. There have been many
times this year when I have found myself being humbled by each of you, and I
have grown because of you.
Despite the fact that we’ve had our differences sometimes, I hope
you feel, as I do, that we have some sort of relationship and have been able to
talk one-on-one, whether it’s verbally or through your journals. You are
important to me, even if you think I don’t see you, even if you’re quiet and
fly under the radar, and even if you’re loud and kind of obnoxious a times. You
are important, you are valued, and you are loved. I often leave school thinking
there is no way I can possibly give you everything that you deserve as a
student (hopefully, you can forgive me for my shortcomings). You should to be
told that you are capable. You
deserve to be pushed. You should to
be told that you have the power to create a life you want, if you work hard and
don’t just expect to be entitled to success. You should have people who will
let you grow into adulthood, who will let you make mistakes and still love you
for it, and who will bring out the best in you. As you enter the “real world,”
if we can call it that, I have a few thoughts to share, things I wish someone
had told me when I bebopped off to college at 17 years old.
The first is to treat everyone you meet with kindness and to
look for the good in people. You never
know what someone else is battling. If you are always looking for flaws in
others, you will find them, and you will harbor bitterness and likely have a
pessimistic view of the world. As John Lubbock said, “What we see is what we
mainly look for.” So, look for the positives.
The second thought I wish to leave you with is this: real life
is MUCH like high school. I had this grand idea that when I left high school,
there’d be no more cliques, no more immaturity, and no more judgment. This
simply is not true; these are all manifestations of human nature. The best
thing I’ve done is learn to accept it and deal with it by looking for the good
qualities in people and remembering that wasting time on drama is just that: a
waste.
Finally, I wish I’d known that it’s ok to have no idea what
you’re doing with the rest of your life. Is it good to have goals? Absolutely.
Is it necessary to know at 17 and 18 years old exactly what you’re going to
major in and what you’re going to do for the next 30 years? No way! Find what you love and do it. Make sacrifices
and work hard. Short term sacrifices lead to long term rewards. Make new
friends, help others in need, and travel to new places. Don’t be mean to cats
and do read a book occasionally. And please…do stay in touch over the years
and let me know how you’re doing. I can’t wait to hear about all the amazing
success you’re going to experience!
At the beginning of the year, you were just a name on a roster.
Now, however, you are one of my kids,
and you’ll always hold a very special place in my heart. If you have
learned nothing else from my class this year, I hope and pray you have learned
that you will always have an old
high school English teacher who is in your corner, rooting for you and believing
in you. YOU make every unpleasant aspect of this job SO VERY WORTH IT. You are the best part of my job. Thank you for
blessing me.
I wish you all the best on your journey through life. May you
find joy in the simple, clarity in the complex, strength in the storms, and
contentment in the every day. May you surround yourself with people who will
value you, inspire you, encourage you, and challenge you. May you never take
one day for granted, and may you always remember that you are loved. May the
odds be ever in your favor.
Best wishes always,
Mrs. S.
