Kids These Days

Like most people, I can't wait to walk out the door at the end of my work day. I'm exhausted, hangry, and just ready to go. In fact, it surprised me on Thursday that the kids were sad about the end of the year because, um, hello...? End. Of. The. Year! But at the end of that particular day, I had the chance to see some of their thoughts from the year (with a busted student desk standing in as my version of a yearbook...):

I figured that, given the opportunity to deface school property-with teacher encouragement, no less!-they'd be gung-ho. What I didn't expect was both the quantity and quality the kids wrote for me. Some of the best, in terms of sincerity and wit:

And there were dozens upon dozens more in varying degrees of snark and authenticity. Interestingly (or y'know, actually not...), not a single student referenced a book we read or a test-prep assignment or a research paper. They did, however, mention encouraging and laughing and just being present. It's almost 😉 like they saw through the formality of it all and realized that we, their teachers (or at least most of us), are here because we care. A particularly meaningful gem? This note from a graduating senior:

There were other thoughtful tokens, too. 

Gorgeous, right? And the student who gave them to me has never been in one of my classes. She has, however, spent many mornings joining her sister in my classroom for visits and chitchat and, as it turns out? She enjoyed those conversations almost as much as I did.

It's humbling and so terribly rewarding to know that, even though it isn't every day and it isn't every kid, what we do matters, and it matters to the ones who need it most. Yes, I love walking out of the school doors and getting the summers 'off'...but, man, I love how I get to spend (most of!) my work week. When other people talk about "kids these days," I just smile, nod, and say, "aren't they great?" Because, the truth is, they are.

Have a happy summer, sweethearts, and congratulations to the class of 2016!