Tomorrow is my last day of student teaching. I cannot begin to describe the plethora of emotions that I’ve gone through this week. Over the summer I envisioned the end of student teaching as light at the end of a very long tunnel. Instead, I feel like perhaps my eyes have adjusted to the darkness, and the light is a little too bright. I’m shunning it, instead of rejoicing in it. Although I have plenty of work to keep me busy during the week (too much school work, really), I already miss my kids. I have totally, and completely, fallen in love with my class.
When I observed, or when I was doing my practicum, I think I purposely kept my distance emotionally. But once I began in my classroom, the way I did things, and how I acted towards these students would actually matter. I invested in them emotionally. And in the classroom, I feel like it totally paid off. I gave them 100%, and in return, they never disappointed me.
But, I know they’re not my kids. Handing them back to Jan and Jered this week was hard. Leaving them for good is going to be even harder. Although I will still be around as an Extended Day and Substitute Teacher, it isn’t the same as being with those kids in their classroom. To make things more difficult, I have a couple asking me to stay. I have one threatening to take me hostage (what’s funny is I think she believes she could actually do it). I’m grateful that they make me feel so loved. I just hope they realize how loved they are, too.