Most people get reflective around the new year. Teachers get reflective as summer vacation begins.
At this time last year I was getting ready to embark on a grand adventure far far away from the comfort and protection of things familiar to me. I was getting ready to not only travel to a place where I knew no one...but to move there...the furthest south and the furthest west I've ever been in my life...and I moved here without even visiting once...what a scary and whirlwind decision.
So much has changed since then. I've had so many experiences, been to places my lil northern self could only dream of, experienced weather I'd only read about in science textbooks, and met many people.
I've learned a lot about communication, emotions and handling life as an adult. I've learned how easy I had it surrounded by like minded people at my Catholic college, or at my youth group growing up...and I'm learning how hard yet important it is to find that support when. You move away.
I'm learning how attached I am to my hometown even though it was my life goal to get the heck out of that place. It's where my family is, my sports teams are loved, and many many memories take place.
...but I'm making new memories.
I'm just about to officially finish my first year as a special education teacher. I've spent so much time and energy working with and working for my students that I feel they are a part of me. They've pushed me, pulled me, and torn me in several different directions. Sometimes there were tears, sometimes candy was a must to relieve stress, sometimes there was laughter, sometimes pure joy. It was a rough go at it, but when I was asked by a coworker if I was teaching special education again next year there was not a doubt in my mind that I would.
I'm looking forward to having a summer off for the first time since I was 16, and I'm excited to see where I am a year from now.
