Today I walk out of this classroom forever.  I may return to teaching. I may not. I’d love to. I love my job. But Utah County is the place for us, and if I do return it will not be to a 90 minute commute. SRMS has been so good to me. They took a chance on me. They gave me support and mentors. They let me dance at school dances and flash mob at lunch. They introduced me to new cultures, people, demographics and circumstances I never experienced in Mapleton & Provo. When I drive off these premises, it will be without regret, but definitely with grateful sadness.

I have had the amazing opportunity to teach over 800 teenagers in the last 4 years. Not many people have the responsibility/burden of influencing 200 teenagers a day for 180 days. As I walk away from it and look to a future that consists of one tiny babe that number just seems staggering. I can’t believe they LET me have that much influence over that many kids in that formative a stage of life. Mildly horrifying.

Did they learn? I hope so. Toward the end of each school year, which for me is right now, I always ponder on what they learned. What I hoped they learned. (Today I’m having them answer some questions on big posters around my room. I’ll probably share them once I stop crying from laughter/sadness.) There’s so much I hope they walk away from the classroom with:

+ America is the greatest country in the world.

+ America is not perfect. We mess up a lot of stuff. We’re ignorant and arrogant and obese and over-privileged.

+ America is the land of rebels, opportunity, hope, improvement and McDonalds.

+ The Founding Fathers were amazing, imperfect, brave and principled men. We owe them so much.

+ I can’t say that God has protected and prepared this country, but notice how so many things have worked out in miraculous favor of the US of A??? We’re special, to say the least. (It has been God, by the way.)

+ Writing in complete sentences is important.

+ If you ride the coattails of your group during group work you are officially “that guy” and no one likes you

+ Cheating, taking crappy notes, wasting time, etc., hurts no one but yourself

+ Every minute you spend on education is future dollars in your pocket

+ Not graduating high school is the dumbest possible decision you can make. Besides probably crystal meth, I guess.

+ Bullying hurts

+ Kindness changes lives

+ The world is so much bigger than West Jordan.

+ Barack Obama is not “evil” or “Muslim”

+ Phones and iPods are such awesome resources. Use them! But wisely.

+ College is a blast!

+ PDA really is gross.

+ There are adults in your life that care about you. Really care.

+ Mrs. Holdaway is one of them.

+ Trying hard might be nerdy and challenging, but it’s also cool and impressive and leads to success.

+ You can do it. Whatever “it” is.

+ Please, Lord, don’t let “it” be heroin.

+ Life is big and scary and wonderful and important. Don’t miss a single heartbeat of it.

Funny how really none of these are on my State Core or mandated by the government or included in the textbook or on the job description for which I get paid very little.

It was worth every measly penny.