So I became much less engaged online (at least on my blog) over the course of the past 10 months.  Instead of blogging, I was using Twitter fairly prolifically for a while; that, too, has dropped off.  One of the things I'd like to do more of is tell tales out of school.  I'll be professional and all that, but some of my students are amazing, and their stories should be told.  They're also kind of ridiculous, and make me laugh; those stories need to be told as well. 

I don't know what it is, but I've attained the status of a rockstar, at least with some of my students.  The grad banquet this year was a prime example.  I literally could have charged money for people to take pictures with me, and would have come out at least a hundred bucks ahead.  I'm not sure what the reason for this is, but I find it really funny. Part of me thinks it's because I'm relatively young and I make the effort to get to know who they are outside of my classroom, but their never-ending obsession with MY life outside the classroom is borderline creepy.  They wanted to know for MONTHS what kind of car I drove, and when one of the grade 12s found out, he told EVERYONE withing a day.  They invite me to the bar, and out for their birthdays, and they're not just playing around.  They are actually serious.

All year long, I've been extolling the virtues of my grade 12 kids, because that class was definitely the most fun I've ever had.  One of the things I liked best about them was their willingness to buy whatever I was selling (both literally and figuratively).  I had them coming to class on the day of their commencement (when they didn't go to any other class); they came on the last day of school, after they had written their diploma exam.  I never had to chase anyone down for late assignments, and no one skipped a test (with the exception of one kid at the beginning of the year).  This really was an interesting bunch of kids, and I had a ton of fun with them. 

One of the boys in the class came to me on the last day with a card.  He had made it himself, and inside he wrote: “I cam to your class because it was always full of laughter and because you are so much more personal than any other teacher I've had before. I haven't had a teacher that actually seemed to care about individual students.  I appreciate that you treat me like and equal and friend.  You've helped to brighten a year that otherwise would have been dull.  Thank you.”  I was literally blown away.  I knew this kid appreciated the laughs we had in class, because he always joined in, but I had no idea that he felt so strongly about the class.  One of the girls in the same class also gave me a card and said “ Thanks for being supportive, encouraging and patient.  I know that you will be a fantastic teacher for a very, very long time and your future students are lucky to have you as their teacher.”  Again, I was floored.  I don't think anyone sets out in this profession to be loved, or even to be liked, but that's a huge bonus. 

All self-promotion aside, one of the neatest things happened near the end of the school year.  One of my kids, who I'm certain will go on to do great things in his life, told me that he thought I'd teach for a few more years, then I'd go out “and change the world”.  I wasn't sure what to do with that kind of assertion, because it's my job as a teacher to be telling kids that, not their job to be telling me that.  I was honestly speechless (and those of you who know me know how unlikely that reaction is).  I actually teared up a bit at that.  For an 18 year old to possess that kind of insight, for him to KNOW that I don't want to teach in a public school forever without me ever having said that, you could say I was just a little bit impressed.  While it's very true that this student was my absolute favourite for the year, and we spent a lot of time after school talking about his plans for the future, I was still quite amazed that he picked up on it.  I thanked him profusely and then shooed him out of the classroom so that I could take some time to gather my thoughts.  (I'd write his name down here, but then he might read it, and would be embarrassed that he's been mentioned, and then categorically deny any involvement in the above situation.  He's funny like that.)

I don't want to give this kid all the credit (though he changed my perception on the ideology behind World War II with a brilliant essay that he wrote), but I've done a lot of thinking in the last couple of weeks about where my career will take me, and I've ultimately come to a decision.  In a few years, I'll be gone, at least for a while.  I'd like to go to Uganda, and start with a teacher exchange there, and then do some work that is actually meaningful.  Don't get me wrong.  Teaching is great.  There are very few jobs where a person can go to work and legitimately feel like they've done something good.  Sometimes, though, I feel like I'm not necessary.  My students would ultimately learn whether I'm in front of them or not (though the quality of that education would definitely be under some scrutiny), so why not change things up and spend some time in a place where most people wouldn't go, and do some work that most people wouldn't do? 

I'm going to do it.  It's time for me to start actually “walking the talk“ with respect to the things that I care about.  I can't do it yet, but now that I've decided, I can make the decision to save money for these future adventures.  And then maybe I can come back home and change the world. 

I guess I just need a travel buddy....