Today was my last day with my third graders. :( :( :( While obviously no class could ever compare with my Bachis, this third grade class came in at a pretty close second. Alberto and Lucy and Lidia and Sophie!!! <3 <3 <3 I just ADORE these kids.
I had them fill out an evaluation of me, and every single kid gave me a 10 (well, a few gave me a million, and a few others infinity - teehee). They also made me adorable goodbye posters and gave me lots and lots of hugs. <3
These little guys have all managed to make me feel like somebody really special in a way nobody else ever has. Their big smiles and hugs and colorful notes to me and calling me "Taco Tuesday" and giggles... It's all just made me feel like a mini celebrity! Only, I adore them just as much back.
At the beginning of the year my goal was just to make all of my students feel comfortable speaking English and make them excited about it. Now that it's all said and done, I think I accidentally accomplished WAY more than just that. These kids don't just see me as a random adult from a country that is really far away who speaks a different language natively than them. No... Not at all.
They see me as their dear friend who they want to share their cookies with that their mom packed for them for a special snack... As their dear friend they practiced a Taylor Swift song and made up a dance to just to awe me... As their dear friend who they ask to please wear pretty colors on Tuesday because they like my bright clothes. ^_^
My initial exigency at the start of this whole adventure was based in giving back. L had had a native English speaker when she was younger who she had really adored and who had inspired her in part to become completely fluent in the language. Perhaps had she never had anybody like this, I would have never had the opportunity to meet her and then... well... my life would look NOTHING like it does now. I would have never heard of this program. I would have never returned to Spain. Everything would be different... And I quite adore the way my life is in this moment!
And so, I set out on this journey hoping that I could be that girl to just one of my students, in order to... I don't know... thank the Universe in some way, I suppose, and pay it forward.
But after all the hugs and drawings and notes and giggles and tears today -- just from 23 of the 250 students I have! -- I'm beginning to see that I way surpassed my original goal.
I remember all of my teachers fairly well starting from preschool on. Some of them I really liked and some of them not so much. But even the ones I adored I never cried when I left their class. I never made them fanciful multicolored notes of devotion with little cupcakes and giraffes drawn on them. I never did a song and dance to their favorite artist just to make them happy. I only gave very few nicknames, and even when I did, never called them it to their face! ;)
I know there's no real way to tell, but if today was any indication, I think I may have just positively influenced these little people in a way that will stick with them long into the future. <3 I know they certainly have had this affect on me, at least!
Before this year, I used to see teaching as a rather lowly profession - one for people who couldn't live in the "real world." Certainly there were the remarkable few who were beyond amazing... But many just seemed stuck in the whole education system that they just didn't know how to get out. I still feel this way to a degree. I still want one day to have a job "in the real world," but for now I really love this teaching thing. What other job gives you the possibly of supporting and adoring burgeoning minds and spirits? What other job makes you feel like the most loved celebrity on the whole planet (without all the drama of being an actual celebrity)?
I will never be certain how much I was able to positively influence these little people past just the time I had with them, but I am certain that their love and respect for me will stick with me for a very, very long time. <3
XOXO
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