Oh the times, they are a changing. I've never been a big fan of change. I like what I know and what I'm comfortable with. Change is new. It's different...and unknown. It's even a little bit scary. But it can also be exciting at the same time. And like the cartoon says, sometimes change can be good.
Without giving anything away, or speaking prematurely (even though things are "definite" as of yesterday, I don't think they're set in stone yet...the ink's not even dry) I know I can safely say that there are a lot of changes happening at my school. And as of yesterday, I am one of the ones making a change. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it. I'm OK with it, but I think it is also very bitter-sweet. And I'll save more on that for another day...hopefully it will all be finalized before school actually starts next year. :)
As my team (the group of 2nd grade teachers I am lucky to work with) prepares for change, I am reminded of the last time our grade level had a major change. It was 4 years ago. We've changed a little each year since then, too, but that year we lost 3 people all at the same time. It was very difficult, but then it also brought 3 new people into my life that I am lucky to have been able to work with and be friends with. But as I am feeling sentimental in the face of change, I would like to reminisce about that old team for a moment. Those ladies were and still are some of my best friends. I mean, who else would (at the beginning of the school year when we all had more important things to be doing) take the time to use spare fabric to recreate cheesy high school senior portraits of each other? And who else would use those pictures, along with some other lovelies to create the best hospital room decorations when one of their own was diagnosed with leukemia?
And as much as I miss working with these ladies, I know the ones that have moved on are happy doing bigger and better things. And as I've said, it enabled me to meet, teach with, and become friends with more amazing women. So, I'm sure that this change (whatever it finally ends up being) will be for the best and will work out just fine.
So for now, I'll leave you with a couple of quotes and a song:
~ "All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another." ~Antole France
~ "Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely."
