Since it has taken me so long to post my "good" list, I decided to do all ten on one post, so this one is going to be a little longer, but I suppose if they are the things I love, the list should really get special treatment. It wasn't that difficult to come up with my list because contrary to posting the "hate it!" list first, I have truly loved this job and been very devoted to it over all these years. Here is why:
1. Great schedule: So let's just get that one out of the way because it is what everyone thinks is the number one reason we love our jobs. ( And yes, I am listing it as number one, but the important stuff comes last here.) June 25, the big check--a feeling that cannot be duplicated--PRICELESS!! I am going to miss that. Then again, every day will be June 25!
2. I am my own boss: I did work in business for a year, and one of the things that bothered me was having to rely on other people to get my work done. In this job when I close the door, I am in control of my day. Yeah, right!
3. I love my subject: I guess one of the best things about a school is that it is filled with all kinds of specialists who are really into their specialties. As an English teacher, I have found there is nothing like being able to "give the gift" of a great classic piece of literature to someone and to hear that that book has become a part of that person's life and will be a part of it forever.
4. It has kept me young: Get together with a bunch of high school teachers, and you'll soon come to realize that we are a lot like the kids we teach. But those kids also allow us to sip from the Fountain of Youth.
5. Kids are pretty funny: You have no idea how funny kids are. I have had times in the classroom where I have literally been rolling from some crazy funny thing some crazy funny kid has said. And they are always so surprised to see me, the "Spadinator," lose it like that. I once had a whole front row of "comedians" who would crack me up the entire period.
6. Long term relationships: I have been working at the same place for over 30 years. That has made for some pretty long lasting and special relationships with my co-workers. We have seen each other get married, have children, and seen those children grow up and get married.
7. Relationships with kids: How rewarding it has been to form special relationships with those students over the years that you just "click" with. They come and ask you for advice on everything from trouble with parents, to trouble with boy or girlfriends, to which college to choose, to which dress to pick for the prom. A colleague and I were even asked to mediate a fight between two best girlfriends once.
8. Relationships with families: Because I teach in a small village, it has been such a pleasure to get to know so many wonderful families, teaching brothers and sisters, and yes, even students and their own children. Let me tell you that is an eye opener the first time it happens.
9. Thank you's over the years: Better than any monetary bonus I could ever have gotten have been the times that former students have either called or sent letters or come to visit to let me know that I made a difference in their lives, helped them to grow and become better people. I once had a young guy call me just to thank me for pushing him to succeed because he was about to fulfill a dream of entering the police academy. And just last year a very special former student decided to make a donation to the district and made a point of telling the superintendent that I was one of the teachers that had really influenced him.
10. And that brings me to my final thing but the most important thing. When I worked at Allstate as a supervisor, I was doing very well in the short year that I was there. I had even won an employee recognition award. But I'd come home and think about the fact that at the end of the day all I was doing was helping a company to make more money. I wasn't leaving anyone better through my actions, wasn't leaving my mark anywhere, and that is why I decided to go back to my real "calling."
So even though there have been frustrations and troubles, and yes, many tears, throughout the years, I know that I have absolutely been in the right place.
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