Ending the year is probably one of the most bittersweet moments for me. You realize just how far your students have come, how hard they have worked and what beautiful individuals they have turned into. You realize that they came to you as small little people and leave your classroom as insightful souls-many ready to take on the world. With the snap of your fingers, just like that, you start over. With the snap of your fingers, just like that...they are gone.

Every year is difficult for me and this year was no exception. Many individuals always come up to me and say "goodness you must be ready for a break! I bet you cannot wait for a few weeks of relaxation." It is true that I'm mentally and physically exhausted, but I always respond with, "It's hard to let those little feathers fly away and move on." As teachers, I do not think we would be doing our job if our students weren't sad to leave us. There were many tears on the last day of school. In fact my students walked in completely silent during the time before our morning meeting. I think in third grade, they really do become aware that we became a family, that it's hard to move on and say goodbye and that we will never be together again, with the same students, in the same classroom. Not having children of my own yet, I think it makes saying goodbye just a bit harder. These are the students I have worked with through lunch and recess and after school. I have seen many of them perform in their dance recitals or soccer games, I have laughed with them, cried with them and we have seen eachother at our best and at our worst. 

I am so proud of my profession. I cannot think of a more rewarding job. I am blessed in the sense that every year I am able to shape new minds and grow them as students, but most importantly good people. My students this year were incredible. I will remember my 2017 3A friends as witty scholars who taught me that "If you aren't having fun every day-you certainly aren't doing it right." I cannot wait to see where they go in the future.