Teaching: A Most Unusual Rollercoaster
A school year really does feel like a rollercoaster. You strap in, ready or not, and the chain pulls you up that first hill—names to learn, lessons to plan, routines to set. Then come the drops and turns: surprise assemblies, lessons gone sideways, and the kid who asks to go to the bathroom right after the bell. There are slow climbs too, like grading piles that never shrink. But every ride has its high points—student breakthroughs, laughter, small wins. And just when the ride stops, you find yourself back in line, ready to go again.
One Last Lesson Before You Go
The last day of school is loud with relief—teachers and students alike ready to bolt for the door. But for me, that walk to the car is never simple. Each year, I feel the pull of goodbye, knowing many students I’ve poured into will disappear from my life. What do you say in a yearbook line when what you really want is to hand them a compass? Over time, I’ve realized the best lesson isn’t clever advice—it’s reminding them that joy, courage, and kindness outlast possessions. That’s the message I’d stamp in every heart, if I could.