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Pomp and Circumstance

Wednesday Jun 9, 2004

Today marked the end of an era in my life. After two years I'm finally hanging up the chalk and overhead markers. Today as the 8th graders said goodbye I too graduated from James Denman MS.

It was a long and hard road and until today I was pretty sure I was glad to be leaving. That was before all the goodbye's and moving words.

At the ceremony four students spoke. Two of them were my own from last year. Though I expected nothing, a little part of me hoped I would be mentioned in their speeches. I never thought I was anything special in the classroom but something inside of me craved to hear that I had helped someone or had made a difference in a life. My craving was satisfied and in a big way. After Allyssa and Sophie had made their speeches I had tears in my eyes and felt really good about what I had done in my time at Denman. Both thanked me for my efforts in making the material fun and challenging but further for connecting with the students and being a person they could talk to.

Of course hearing such makes it hard to leave the classroom. The evenings festivities brough similar mixed emotions.

That night the cast and crew of Denman met near the mission at a collegue's home for drinks and dinner. As expected after a few hours the older crew vanished and the youth reigned supreme and prepared to take on the Mission District (a fun bar filled area that has a very down to Earth feel). Gossip, flirting, and insanity were the results. I also learned that several people actually visit this website from the faculty and would like to mention their names here: Matt , Brian , Sean , Elisa , and Mike . Thanks guys! :)

Its strange to spend time alone with the staff (alone meaning sans children). The children change us into these roles that we cannot break free from in front of them and since we never really have time outside of the classroom together we do not get to develop strong relationships with one another very easily. Its those rare evenings that you get a chance to see how much fun and how amazing the people are that you are surrounded with everyday.

Though I am ready to move on parting is such sweet sorrow. Goodbye Denman and goodluck and congrats 8th graders!