For the Seniors of 2007

"I remember you..."

--Robert Zimmerman (AKA Bob Dylan).

I offer the class of 2007 a simple message: Goodbye and do well—your kind is not likely to come this way again. What a great group this year’s seniors were.

I often felt that this year’s seniors have traveled a long road with me. When they were freshman, I had my first heart surgery, and when I was having my second surgery, I had many of them as Juniors in US History.

This was a great group. I think I said that previously, but I cannot reiterate it enough.

I will miss them, but ‘tis is the season to feel so. I enjoy every class, but his one is special, so parting is such sweet sorrow. Many of them heard of my separation and went through that with me.

Many of them raised money for the American Heart Association in my name to sponsor my Heart Walk.

Many of them kidded and chided me along the way.

They were nice kids.

Thus the joy of teaching in a rural school—it is a blessing as much as it is a curse. Everyone is a bit more "homey" and as I claim that is a deterrent, I really understand its importance.

Every year it hurts a bit more when the seniors leave me, but I understand the natural order of things. This is the bane and the annoyance and the fulfillment of being a popular teacher.

Whereas I want the best for my kids (and I look at them as my kids), I also want to protect them.

This year must have been a record as far as pictures and the like with the seniors before and after graduation. Many compliments from the seniors and their parents later, I feel a bit empty.

It is so strange how life is ironic. The paradox of my job is that which brings me pleasure can also bring me pain or least a bit of discomfort.

But I am mature enough to salute the class of 2007 for being the great group they are. I posed with the girls above and asked them for a “Charlie’s Angel’s” motif and they all posed the same way. Girls want to use guns, I suppose.

So I offer the best of the best to Kim, Mal, and Brit—three of my all-time favorite students.

Go out and make a difference, like I told you that you could do.