August 29, 2008 was the last day I worked full time in public education. As this day passed, a year later, I found myself reflecting on it’s significance.
As an educator, I was a teacher, a father, an assistant principal, a curriculum leader, a technology guru, an administrator, an evaluator, and about a thousand other daily chores. The lifestyle of an educator is often stressfull, usually consuming, and rarely boring. I don’t miss these things. I don’t miss much about full-time education, but I’m grateful for many things.
I’m grateful for the camaraderie among educators.
I’m grateful for the professionalism of the profession.
I’m grateful for the challenges I had to overcome.
I’m grateful for the victories that brought celebration.
I’m grateful for the failures that helped me to learn.
I’m grateful for the mentors that poured into me.
I’m grateful for those that allowed me to pour into them.
I’m grateful for the doors that were opened.
I’m grateful for the windows that never would.
I’m grateful for the people that I shared life with, who left an imprint on my soul, and transformed my view of life.
I’ll never be the same. And for that, I’m grateful.