Final Lesson For The Teenagers

Friday, our students completed their last exams and finished the academic year.

On the dry erase board in my room was the final lesson for the three grades I teach at the bilingual school. It was this:

Final lesson:

8th, 9th, and 10th grade -

You are the reason Mr. Joshua feels...

• Honored to be your teacher.
• Proud of how much you have learned in this classroom.
• Impressed by all the things you already knew.
• Glad that knowing you has made me a better person.
• Doubtful that I will ever feel more love for any other students in the future.
• Happy we were able to laugh, smile, and learn together in this room.
• Sad that I won't have the chance to share more of the same with you next year.

THANK YOU.

I made sure no one saw the information until the last period of the day. Up until then, the students had been unaware that I won't be back next year.

In those last moments, I saw some tears...some that were quite unexpected. I also heard some kind words that took me by surprise as well.

Sweet, sweet kids.