Chapter Closed

Well...it is official...I am officially done with my teaching career (for now...something tells me I will come back to it). Yesterday was my last day at work. It was moderately stressful only because there was a lot to do and take care of and pack up before I could leave. Luckily I have amazing coworkers who helped lighten the load. In a lot of ways it hasn't hit me I am not going back. We leave every year for summer so it just feels like summer vacation. Of course I went out with my work friends and some of their significant others to have some adult beverages and celebrate the end of the year.

I sat the other day and thought about what I have experienced and learned in 3 years at my job. My first year teaching was a stressful one...I was finishing up my Master's degree, my Grandfather passed away, I was still getting over a break up and finding myself again. On top of all that, I was learning the ins and outs of teaching, making lesson plans and busting my butt. I would come in at 7am and leave most nights at 7pm. Crazy! My 2nd year was a stressful one because we had some students who really tested our patience....I taught mostly boys that year and man it was a physically and mentally exhausting year. However, it was never uneventful. I had a lot of laughs, cries, screams, and growth that year. I was determined if I made it through that year I could make it through anything. And this year...I was in the groove. I had the Math and teaching thing down fairly comfortably, the kids were pretty chill, and I enjoyed my time with my friends and students at work. Not much drama or craziness....really a relatively calm year. I made the decision rather early that this would be my last year there was some excitement all year long. I tossed around a lot of places (Jacksonville, Austin, etc.) and in some ways I think a lot of people never thought I would leave or sell my house...but I did and I am :)

I will miss a lot about my job and the routine and the people. But the good thing is, I am friends with people outside of work. Work is how we met, but work is not why we are friends. My friends at work have played such an important role in why I loved my job so much and why I looked forward to going each and everyday. I will miss the laughs, the comfort, the inside jokes, the talks, the Happy Hours, the field trips, the random things that happen, and overall miss liking the people I work with. I am just hoping I get as lucky in San Diego. Hell...I am just hoping I get some form of job in SoCal! ha

I have pretty much decided to take August and September off from working to enjoy my new city, take a breather, and maybe travel a little bit on the West Coast. We shall see...

So off to the first trip...Kure Beach, NC. Hoping for sunshine and good times.