Countdown to the End: Day 19

Last night was our annual banquet, and I thought it went well. We had more people than past years, and I suspect it's because it was my last one. It could have also been the catered food and the cake. My only regret is that my family wasn’t able to be there. This is the first banquet that my husband has missed. He is usually the one that keeps me calm, and helps me problem solve. The kidney stones kept him in bed all weekend. I am grateful that my mother-in-law drove two hours to our house to watch the boys while my husband stayed in bed. She even brought supper, which I was so grateful for. I haven’t been to the grocery store in two weeks. We have a freezer full of meat, and a pantry full of veggies, so my family isn’t starving.

Graduation sashes awarded to qualifying seniors

I was happy to give out awards, and we raised a little money with the silent auction. After the officers gave their retiring addresses I gave mine. I didn't plan to give one or have anything prepared, but that's what it turned out to be. I said that I wouldn't just miss the students, but I would miss the families too. I knew them very well because I had all their children in my program. For most families this year they were graduating their youngest, and I taught all the siblings. I told families that these students spent more time in my classroom than anywhere else in the high school. I taught some students twice or three times in a day because I teach 7 different classes for them to choose from, the repeat offenders. I said that even without me as a teacher, the program is still one that needs to be built and kept growing for all the repeat offenders.

When we were done with the program, and we were cleaning up a parent and former student gave me a present and a card. I also received some presents from my students and a big card signed by everyone. It was very nice. I read the cards when I got home, and they were very sweet. A former student wrote a 2 page letter thanking me for my efforts, and pushing her to do her best. She wrote that the one time that she failed me was when she didn’t run for a district office. I remember that time well because I was disappointed in her, but it made me realize that I push students sometimes too hard. I push them because I see their potential even when they don’t see it. My former student is a junior in college and she still remembers that time. I don’t want her to hold onto that memory of disappointment, but I want her to push herself now. She is contemplating vet school now. I’m still pushing her to do it.

I spent the day in Ames at the Iowa Youth Institute for the World Food Prize. The schedule was pretty tight, but I worked it out. My son had an ear examination at the Ears Nose and Throat Dr. in Ames. So my mom picked up my son from daycare, then picked up my husband from work, and picked me up from the World Food Prize. We all went to the Dr, and thankfully his ears checked out fine. While I was at the Dr my student attended the Iowa State tours, and was supervised by another Ag teacher in case of emergency. When I got back it was time for the roundtable discussion where students discussed their research papers. My student had to pick a country and a factor affecting that country. Her country was Malawi and her factor was education. I observed the two-hour roundtable discussion, and I was very impressed with all of the students. The students made the connection that education is a privilege, and hunger is more complex than just giving hungry people food. They were genuinely concerned about feeding 9 billion people by 2050. It's a major world concern, but it’s not something I would expect a 16 year old to be concerned with. The facilitators of the roundtable did a good job motivating students to always strive forward because they are the future, and they are the ones who can change the world.

I know I made the right decision because taking my son to the Dr won't have to involve 4 different adults with 3 different pick ups and drop offs.