I woke up this morning and realized that it was a Monday and I didn't have to go anywhere school- related. This hasn't stopped me from thinking about school, planning lessons and piling up the teaching books that I optimistically hope to have read by summer's end. I am my own worst enemy.
What will I do after I retire? I've realized that this is my last summer planning for the next school year. For the past 31 years, I've told people that I refused to be defined by my career. I'm here to say that I was wrong -- teaching is in my bones, my heartbeat, my breath. I'm already consumed by regret that here at the end of it all, I'm finally getting a glimpse of the teacher I always longed to be. I'm a slow but steady learner. Part of me wants to dig in and keep at it for a while longer, but I know that it's time to stop. My aspirations have always been a moving mark well-ahead of my skill -- I can pat myself on the back that I've never given up trying to improve. I'm defined by that as well, and hope to carry that quality with me when I begin my new life next summer. What that new life will look like is still a mystery.
I came upon your blog while googling ponds ! I really loved reading this, I live in a similar area and climate in the western cape, South Africa.( Near Cape Town )
ReplyDeleteHow nice of you to write! Isn't Google a wonderful thing? You googled ponds and found my blog -- I googled Cape Town and am still wide-eyed at everything I learned about that patch of Earth (for instance, you live in a place that has more species of plants than there are in the entire UK. Wow!). So, may I ask, why would someone who lives right by the ocean be googling ponds?
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