Graduation!

How can this year be over already, and what took it so long? Yep, that's how I feel. The year seems to have flown and yet... there were times I wasn't sure I'd make it through the week, let alone the year. At the end of it all, this class selected me as their most influential teacher, said nice things, and gave me pretty flowers. The senior who spoke was well-chosen. G has had a rough time with her family: alcoholism, abuse, multiple divorces. We spent hours talking through many issues. She made it, did very well, and will attend a great four-year university in the fall. Some of the other students counted on my help when dealing with other teachers. One came and confessed a very serious disorder because she was in trouble, needed help, and knew I would contact her parents and convince them to get her into counseling. Counseling led to a critical decision to commit her to an institution that will give her skills to live a new life; at least she'll have a life! It was touch-and-go there for a while. Teaching is about life adjustments, not just growing the brain, but altering a student's perspective on life and learning. I tend to preach as I teach but it works. Through it all, I told these students the same thing I told my first class in 1973... You will change the world; make it better!

Here are two of my best writers: Savannah and Kay.