Instead of wishing you were someone else,

be proud of who you are.

You never know who has been looking at you wishing they were you.

Life is like a roller coaster ride,

It has its u p S and D o w n s.

But its your choice to SCREAM or enjoy the ride.

I think the only reason why people HOLD onto memories so tight, for so l o n g is because memories are the only things that dOn'T change, even when people do.

We'll never forget you. You're totally awesome!

My days here at Columbia High are coming to a close.

Here is another gift I received from 12 of my students.

CARD

I'm going to miss you SO much! I will never forget you! Keep on dreaming (wink) ... but please please come back and teach. Please with cherries on top!! Oh and good luck with your knees!

Ms. Barnes

I will miss you and your funny farm stories and hilarious faces!

Ms. Barnes
Hope everything goes good on your graduation. You were and awesome teacher! Hope you come back because you always made us laugh and cheered us up!

Ms. Barnes

We'll miss you. Hope you will come back!

I'm going to miss you very much. I had a lot of fun, when you taught. You're very funny. Ms. Barnes you're going to be a good, (NO) a very good teacher.

Don't forget to come back and visit! Love you and I'll miss you bunches!

Hey Ms. Barnes!
I am very sad you're leaving but I hope you have fun in Utah!

Have fun getting your manicure and eating them cupcakes!

You are the bomb dawg! You will make such an amazing teacher! You will be so missed!

Well it was nice meeting you. Hope you had a blast with us! Miss you!

Hey Miss!
Well we are going to miss you! Hope you like it!

Ms. Barnes

You're the best student teacher ever! You're super pretty and sweet!

GIFT
Big stuffed teddy bear holding and AVOCADO! My favorite red velvet cupcakes and a gift card to get my nails done!

I hate saying good byes! So my thought was to just slip away without the students knowing.

Littled did I know that my students WANT to say good bye. So I am letting them... even though it takes everything in me not to cry in front of them.

Is it worth it?

Today I received this note from one of my students.

Ms. Barnes,
We would love to get you a little gift for how good of a student teacher you are. WE want to show our appreciation by giving you a red velvet cake/cupcake/little cupcakes since we got you to tell us your favorite dessert Ha! Ha! :) But we need to know what kind of frosting.... we insist on getting you an appreciation gift so there is not talking us out of it. So anyways let us know and thank you for helping us when we needed it.

Sincerely,
Hannah and Erin

Teaching as a Profession

Before I started teaching, I thought anyone could be a good teacher. I was going to touch young loves and be every one's favorite teacher. Students would come to me and share their secrets. I would prepare and deliver meaningful lessons that would change lives.

No one told me what teaching was really going to be like.

I never knew that I would spend infinite evening planning lessons that would be met with rolling eyes and groans. I never knew that in the rare case that a new lesson went off brilliantly, only to be interrupted with fire alarms, unwanted visitors or random pep assembles. I never knew how many homework assignments could be "lost" and how happy I would be for it ment less grading for me. I didn't realize that I would often feel more stress over giving a failing grade to a student than the student receiving it. I didn't know that students wouldn't always give me the respect I though all teachers deserved.

No one told me that I would be haunted at night with the stress of presentation and deliver of tomorrows lessons.

What I now know after student teaching.

I now know the satistfaction of creating a lesson that causes the light bulb to turn on for several students. I know how it feels to work in an atmosphere with other intelligent and like-minded staff who pull together and help one another. Talk about first impressions. I was thrilled to be involved with a great school district starting day one. I appreciate when a "thank you" escapes a smiling face or when a discipline strategy is caught not taught. I know I can't solve all my students' problems, but I have seen that listening to and encouraging them are gifts I can give. During my breaks, I find myself wondering how "my students" are doing.

Most of all, I did not know that I would feel so needed. Someone once told me that teaching happens in one-on-one relationships. I find myself teaching my students that they are capable and able to learn and that's why I am here.

My time here student teaching has been more varied then I have realized. No two days are the same. No two students are the same. My days have been filled with planning lessons, grading assignments, following through on discipline issues, and keeping up on individual students needs.

I forgot why I became a teacher......... because I care deeply about cultivating minds and spirits.

There aren't many people who get to witness these profound changes in people on a daily basis.