This is my third year teaching and I’ve realized that there are several factors that must come together to make a class successful. Student personalities must mesh with the teacher’s personality. Just like any other inter-personal relationship not every student is going to like every teacher and vice-versa. In addition, the students must feel comfortable with each other and the teacher must help make the students comfortable. It is very infrequent when all these factors come together, but when it does – well, it’s magical.

This semester I had a group of students in my world literature class that I doubt I will forget any time soon. The challenge with teaching literature is that if nobody reads what you are teaching the class can be VERY dull. I’ve had semesters that I wanted to gouge my OWN eyes out. However, this semester was golden. I started the semester with 16 students and I ended with 15 – an almost unbelievable phenomenon. Not to mention that EVERY student passed. Granted some worked harder than others and some did better quality work than others, but they all showed up, they all participated, and we had a lot of fun. And I mean we had A LOT OF FUN!! Oh yes, we talked about “Paradise Lost” and we talked about “The Aeneid”, but the fun part was getting to know all of them and watching them get to know each other.

Friendships were forged in that class. People made life decisions. Bonds were created, memories made and for three short months I got to watch it all unfold. It was flattering to have them invite me (their incredibly dorky, grown-up, English teacher) to birthday parties, dinners, lunches and this week to their Christmas party. I will miss all of you! Good luck; Amber, Melissa, Jeff, Jarred, Lindsey, Kat, Taryn, Luke, Cory, Nikki, Trey, Evan, Shanna, Yazmin, & Donna.