I cannot believe that it’s time to go already! Up to this point, I STILL can’t believe I’m a teacher. From day one I never thought teaching was for me. I was five years in before I stopped calling it my side-hustle. Until I started teaching, I had never lived my life governed by a clock. I awoke when I wanted. I rested when I wanted. I built businesses when I wanted. I lived what I loved. My life was calm. I meditated, walked and I wrote. All day. Every day.
Nevertheless, the Universe shifted this way and brought me here. To you. As your teacher, and for many, your mentor and sounding board. In the most unsuspecting ways, you’ve all changed my life professionally and personally in every way. In these few months we've had together, I've tried to give you everything I have in me as a writer and as a teacher so that you can apply it to your own life. I didn’t do it just to educate you academically, but personally, socially and mentally as well because in this life, you will need it.
Every day I question whether I accomplished all that I could. Lord knows I tried. But I don’t dwell on shortcomings. Everything in THIS life happens exactly when and how it’s supposed to so I don't need acknowledgement for my deeds. Instead, “the proof will be in the pudding.” One day, you’ll write something or read something or hear something that makes you say, “I remember my 12th grade English teacher, ms. d., taught me that” or “my 12th grade English teacher, ms. d., used to drive me CRAZY with that, twin!” (But saying "twin" at 45 years old is crazy.)
Nevertheless, this has been one of the most amazing, eye-opening experiences of my life! The lessons I’ve learned from the countless personalities I’ve connected with, have been extraordinary and heartbreaking. I would be remiss if I didn’t let each of you know that even when you didn't think I was, I was always watching. If we never said more than two words to each other, I know you. I saw you. I heard you. In some way, I helped you. I taught you lessons to ease your pain. I read you stories that lifted your hopes. I gave you grace in my gradebook when you needed a little joy. I gave you examples of real life when you needed to be humbled. It was intentional that NO student went unnoticed...in my class or in my heart.
Although it’s hard to say goodbye, it’s inevitable—we must. So, as you move forward in your lives, take these few things with you: always educate yourselves about something. Always watch or read the news as a fact-check against what you see or hear from social media. Remind yourselves of things you know. Educate yourselves on things you don’t know. Always go toward what’s challenging because that is the secret to success: discomfort. Be teachable.
To paraphrase the author, Chester Karrass, "you don’t get the life you deserve, you get the life you negotiate." What outcomes you get in your life, make no mistake about it: you choose this s**t with the choices you make, the decisions you fight against living with, or the struggles you try to avoid by taking detrimental shortcuts. I told you at the beginning of school: if you always do what you've always done, you're going to always get what you've always gotten. If you always do bad ish, life will hand you bad ish in a bowl. If you always do great ish, life will hand you great ish on a silver platter. Life is hard. But the journey along the way doesn't have to be. Do what makes sense. Always and all ways.
But no matter what you do, as I’ve done in my life, do it without abandon, without fear, without hesitation. Take risks, be the first, do something different, make a grand gesture. Question everything and keep forgiveness close. Own you. And never forget, Live What You Love! I Do! ™
—ms. d.
PS: My tag used to be: I write for the very reason I breathe. Now, it's I write for the very reason I breath, I teach to help teens succeed.
Until we meet again or not, be balanced. ‘Ase!
Nevertheless, the Universe shifted this way and brought me here. To you. As your teacher, and for many, your mentor and sounding board. In the most unsuspecting ways, you’ve all changed my life professionally and personally in every way. In these few months we've had together, I've tried to give you everything I have in me as a writer and as a teacher so that you can apply it to your own life. I didn’t do it just to educate you academically, but personally, socially and mentally as well because in this life, you will need it.
Every day I question whether I accomplished all that I could. Lord knows I tried. But I don’t dwell on shortcomings. Everything in THIS life happens exactly when and how it’s supposed to so I don't need acknowledgement for my deeds. Instead, “the proof will be in the pudding.” One day, you’ll write something or read something or hear something that makes you say, “I remember my 12th grade English teacher, ms. d., taught me that” or “my 12th grade English teacher, ms. d., used to drive me CRAZY with that, twin!” (But saying "twin" at 45 years old is crazy.)
Nevertheless, this has been one of the most amazing, eye-opening experiences of my life! The lessons I’ve learned from the countless personalities I’ve connected with, have been extraordinary and heartbreaking. I would be remiss if I didn’t let each of you know that even when you didn't think I was, I was always watching. If we never said more than two words to each other, I know you. I saw you. I heard you. In some way, I helped you. I taught you lessons to ease your pain. I read you stories that lifted your hopes. I gave you grace in my gradebook when you needed a little joy. I gave you examples of real life when you needed to be humbled. It was intentional that NO student went unnoticed...in my class or in my heart.
Although it’s hard to say goodbye, it’s inevitable—we must. So, as you move forward in your lives, take these few things with you: always educate yourselves about something. Always watch or read the news as a fact-check against what you see or hear from social media. Remind yourselves of things you know. Educate yourselves on things you don’t know. Always go toward what’s challenging because that is the secret to success: discomfort. Be teachable.
To paraphrase the author, Chester Karrass, "you don’t get the life you deserve, you get the life you negotiate." What outcomes you get in your life, make no mistake about it: you choose this s**t with the choices you make, the decisions you fight against living with, or the struggles you try to avoid by taking detrimental shortcuts. I told you at the beginning of school: if you always do what you've always done, you're going to always get what you've always gotten. If you always do bad ish, life will hand you bad ish in a bowl. If you always do great ish, life will hand you great ish on a silver platter. Life is hard. But the journey along the way doesn't have to be. Do what makes sense. Always and all ways.
But no matter what you do, as I’ve done in my life, do it without abandon, without fear, without hesitation. Take risks, be the first, do something different, make a grand gesture. Question everything and keep forgiveness close. Own you. And never forget, Live What You Love! I Do! ™
—ms. d.
PS: My tag used to be: I write for the very reason I breathe. Now, it's I write for the very reason I breath, I teach to help teens succeed.
Until we meet again or not, be balanced. ‘Ase!
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