Time to Say Good Bye

I have been putting off this post mostly because it is a little too emotional. I feel like crying as I write this blog post. When I was younger I thought I would get married at the age of 20 and have children right away. I wasn't ever going to use my degree and I wasn't even sure if I was going to graduate. Well things don't always work out the way we imagine and sometimes they work out for the better. When I graduated single I got a job at Orem Junior High teaching 7th and 8th Grade History and I have been there ever since. If you would have asked me my first year whether I liked my job I am not sure what I would have told you. But the last couple of years I have fallen in love with teaching, with hormonal teenagers, with OJHS, and with my coworkers. I had the BEST job! I could say a lot more, but I would rather get through this post without sobbing. I am grateful that I graduated and that I had the opportunity to use my degree. I have learned so much the last few years, but I knew it couldn't last. Allen graduated in April and we are off to Alabama in July. As much as I wanted the best for Allen, a part of me would have been okay if he didn't get accepted and I could have stayed at OJHS for another year. But he did and I am proud of him and I am excited for our new adventure, just sad to leave my school. When I told my principal that I was moving and cried in his office. He probably thought I was crazy.

Here are a few pictures of my cute little (but larger than our apartment) classroom

Allen drew the United States. We both were invested at OJHS :)
This was my corner for my students to get to know me and my name plate

I had a lot of students give me some really nice gifts.

The last week of school was pretty difficult. I cried a lot... For most the last week of school is a time to celebrate, for me I felt like I was in Mourning. The last day I was trying to be strong and not cry. The bell rang and I had succeeded, until this large group of ninth graders that I love came in to say goodbye and I broke. I love these girls so much and all I could say to them was "take AP classes." Thanks Sabey... We love you too....

And then I had to turn in my keys to me dear sweet friend, mentor, VP, and Mother at OJHS. Once again I wasn't as strong as I hoped. This woman is amazing. We call her the bionic Woman. She is the energizer bunny. She does so much for the school. As a former Social Studies teacher she does so much for our department and she did so much for me. She never had a negative thing to say. She showed me how to see the positive in everything. She has so much love to give and I am grateful that she has been placed in my life.

This is Camille and Jake. I coached Track with these guys for four years. I keep hoping that if we come back for a PhD they will allow me to join the coaching staff again.

And these are the ladies I love at OJHS. These are the ladies that kept me sane on days when I wasn't so excited to be a teacher. On the far left is Kathe former Social Studies teacher and department chair current Vice Principal. (It helps to have friends in high places). Debbie is in the Red. She is our administrative Secretary who I just wanted to always go talk to during my Prep Period. Camille is in the sunglasses. She is the most amazing choir teacher and runner. She has run something like 24 marathons. Missing from the picture is Lindsey who was at OJHS my first two years. She truly is my mentor. I student taught in her classroom and I like to say I just follow in her footsteps as she left OJHS because of her husband's graduate school. And the two ladies on the right are my best friends Allison and Ashley. We made up the Social Studies Department. Our former principal once called us the "babes of the school" he could have meant our age, but we like to think he meant our great looks. While teaching is such a rewarding profession, it is incredibly draining and difficult. But the few minutes I could walk down to the copy room with them or pop into their classrooms to blow off steam or check up on each other made those hard days better. I worked with my best friends and not everyone can say that. I am so grateful for all the ladies in this picture.

I loved my job and not everybody can say that. I miss it already. I feel like I need to have a moment of silence every time I drive past Orem Junior. I love history, I love teaching, I love kids. Luckily I get to have all those loves in my next job :). I love Orem Junior, but I am excited for our new adventure.