Announcement

Today, I made the official announcement at school that I would not be returning next year.  I started with my advisees, but by the end of the day, word had spread.

This has been one of the most difficult aspects of packing up and leaving for me.  By definition, doing my job well requires forming attachments with my students.  The better I do my job, the stronger these attachments are.  Well, that group of advisees has some pretty strong attachments.  The seniors were okay; after all, they're leaving this year, too.  The freshmen have barely had a chance to get to know me.  But the sophomores and juniors?  These are girls I've seen through thick and thin, in good times and in bad.  Of the three, two walked out without speaking to me.  That was rough.

However, I have to remind myself: this is part of doing my job well.  I don't plan to do my job poorly just so I can leave more easily.  Nor will it be any easier in a year or two; those sophomores may be seniors then, but I will have grown attached to an entirely new set of girls, a whole new set of problems to solve and stories to listen to.  To stay strong, I remind myself of the new challenges awaiting me: new kids without the resources these kids have, kids I can help even more.

A sobering reminder that even when moving to paradise, moving is still moving, and leaving is still leaving.