A Year of Teaching

Wow, has a year really gone by since my last blog post?! I guess so.... It has been a wild ride to say the least. This time, a year ago, I was at home with my family for the summer. This would be the last summer I would live in my parent's house as I had just graduated college and was now on the career path. Last summer, I spent my time with family and friends celebrating mine and my sister's graduations. I worked two jobs so that I would have enough money for an apartment that fall wherever I was employed. Some of that time was spent with family in other towns. (I have come to realize how much I really like travelling.) In the span of 3 months, May-July, I went on several job interviews. My last interview in July would be the job offer I had been waiting for. The summer went by way too fast and I soon found myself in Texarkana. A new job, a new place to live, a new church, a new environment altogether was waiting for me. I just had to take hold. My parents helped me move in to my apartment and, boy, am I glad they did! They bought all my food and essential items to last me until my first real paycheck. I showed them the school and my classroom before they left that evening. I'll admit, I cried when they left. It's really hard when you leave your family for the big world the first time. I knew it was coming, but it didn't make it any easier. That Monday started professional development for my new job. I had been employed as the new third grade teacher at College Hill Elementary in Texarkana, Arkansas. Little did I know how much I was going to love this job, my new coworkers, and the kids I was going to have the privilege or teaching. Before I knew it, it was time for school to start. The first semester was rough, admittedly, but hey I have two parents who are teachers, a grandma, an aunt, several teachers to call in Arkadelphia, and a well of support in my own school. Classroom management got the best of me, as it does many new teachers. I found myself wondering if I was adequate enough to be in this career. Slowly, but surely, God reminded me why he placed me in this field. It's not by chance. Soon enough, the year started to change tides and things started getting much better. I had found myself. What made everyday special were those hugs and comments from my amazing students. Each day, no matter how much trouble they would get it, they would always talk about how great a teacher I was. By the end of the year, I could see so much change and progress in my kids that I wondered who their teacher really was. I had the opportunity to laugh and cry with my students. The school went through a big loss when one of our staff members passed away. Since I taught an older grade, we saw the emotional toll a bit more in the upper grades since they had been here longer. Even students new to CHE felt the loss because Mr. Caudle was such a light when the students arrived and left for the day. Some of them clung to me; others clung to their friends, while still others kept their tears to themselves. Days passed on and the classroom felt more like a family as the year came to a close. Many of the students asked every day how they could help me pack up the classroom for summer. They have such big hearts and it was clear everyday. On the last day of school, one of my colleagues was crying as one of her students was crying about leaving. One of my students asked "Ms. Himes, do you cry everyday when we leave?" I replied, "Not everyday,but I will today after you leave." These children became more than my students, more than a test score, much more than a paycheck....These children became mine. I love them and will forever support them in whatever way I can. My first year of teaching was, indeed, the hardest....but it was also the most rewarding yet. I look back on pictures and memories of my first year in 3rd grade and I smile because I have more positive memories than negative! I will always remember my first students!
Until next time...