Wandering Aimlessly with a Purpose

I couldn't wait to leave high school. The reason I looked so thrilled at graduation? Because it was yet one more senseless (I thought at the time) hoop to jump through before I could move forward.

For all of the great people and experiences (and there were many) in my high school career, it never felt like a place I belonged. Peers and teachers alike weren't sure how to handle me because I've always been a bit out of the ordinary, for both better and worse.

But I got through high school, and I got through college (a place I genuinely loved and would revisit any day). What did I do from there? I went back to high school, of course.

When I became a certified secondary English teacher, through a series of fortunate events, I knew one thing above all else: my classroom would be different. It would be safe and welcoming, a place for everyone, including kids who felt like they didn't have a place at school. And at least some of the anecdotal data -- and after all, school is all a-effing-bout the data -- I'm on to something. For starters, kids outright tell me that they value the class and our time together:

Then there are the moments where we have fun learning, whether it's a silly costume for a presentation...

...or spending an unconventional class period celebrating the National Day on Writing (zoom in for their awesome reasons about #whyiwrite!).

There are also the most important moments to me, the ones where we transcend the teacher-student model and come to value one another as people. It might mean students are partaking in goofy jokes, just because it makes us laugh (and FYI, the other side says I Haz the Dumb, and it's amazing!!!).

Or it might mean my professional and personal lives collide, and my awe-struck (birth) kid gets to hang out with my lovely (classroom) kids. It's hard to beat.

And lest you think it's just me, or just me tooting my own horn, it's not. Certain coworkers have been voted Class Mom, or have students planning years ahead to be in her class as seniors, or merit a major mention in the superintendent's blog, or...how much time do you have? Because I could go on and on (and on...) about the amazing teachers and students at my school. At the end of the day, what matters most when you put us all together? Well, it's what we make, of course.