Monday, August 12, 2013

I'm A Teacher--My Last First Day of School Today

I'm A Teacher--My Last First Day of School Today
August 12, 2013
 
 
      Today was bittersweet for me:  I experienced my last "first day of school" of my career.
 
      Everything was familiar this morning, and I want to remember how I felt all day today:  The lovely breakfast provided by the PTSA, the heartfelt welcome by our principal, Mrs. Paige L. Tracy, and the usual list of things to remember as we begin a new school year.
 
      As the process of rearranging our classroom furniture progressed, I stopped and stared out at the beautiful sky outside my window.  Would life ever be this pleasant in retirement?  I don't know yet.  I've only got 58 more school days to live the "teacher" life until then.
 
       Truly, I enjoyed every conversation and interaction with all of the teachers and staff I encountered in the halls.  We all bustled to finish up or begin or just perfect our classroom preparations.  Students actually begin their first day of school here in Orlando on August 19.
 
      Memories of my very first teaching job flashed through my mind as I prepared papers to be copied for the older students.  My first teaching job was teaching thirty! three-year-old children in 1973, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, at a very small private school.  Looking back, I don't know how all those toddlers survived the year with me. 
 
      Look at me now:  almost 40 years of teaching later, and I'm still smiling about greeting my students next week.  I'm still checking the alarm clock to make sure it will wake me up on time...can't be late to school, especially if you're the teacher.  That's a big no-no!
 
      All of my official retirement papers have been processed, I've received a very nice letter from our school superintendent, Dr. Barbara Jenkins, and now the days will fly by too quickly.
 
       Yes, today was my last, really last, "first day of school" forever.   I'm sighing deeply as I finish this post tonight.