Teaching is an incredibly rewarding and satisfying experience most days, but these last two weeks in particular have been special ones for me.
Several months ago, one of my students, Alexandria Lu, decided to start offering Chinese and English articles on her website. Most of the stories she has posted online are writing assignments that she has completed for me in our creative writing class. Each time she has posted, she has sent me an email to let me know. This week, I received an email from her that had me in tears.
As most of you know, last week was a rather emotional week. I informed my creative writing class, SW7, that I have a new job. The only way I could continue teaching them was to merge them with my Tuesday night writing class. One of the girls started crying immediately, as she didn’t think her parents would allow her to change her class time. We were all really upset at first. Luckily, the secretaries at my school called all the parents while we were in class and sorted everything out.
I was able to bring the two classes together without losing any students. This is a feat in itself, as my students are all in junior and senior high school. In all likelihood, their schedules are busier than mine. This week, nothing made me happier than to see all their faces in class on Tuesday night. They couldn’t have given me a better gift.
But, they did. I received a flurry of congratulatory emails from each of my students this weekend. And then I received an email from Alexandria, a senior high school student who has been studying with me for 2 1/2 years. Alexandria decided to write a post about our last Wednesday night class together. Here is the link to her post. Normally she sends me her articles before she posted, but she didn’t with this one. It was a complete surprise!
It’s special moments like these that make teaching such a joy. Thank you, Alexandria. And a special thank you to each and every student in SW7. Your openness and honesty are something I rarely see with students, and I’m so incredibly honored and touched that you share your stories, thoughts, and feelings with me on a weekly basis. It is students like you who make people want to become teachers. I’ll never forget you!
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Great news, Carrie! I’m happy for you. Alexandria seems like she would be so much fun to teach and interact with. It was nice to read the letter she wrote you and feel a little of the joy that comes with teaching such eager students.
OMG Carrie! I’m so glad I found out you’ve been writing this blog! It’s like one of my best friend’s is back from the dead! I felt like I lost you when you moved overseas, and now everytime I see a new “Several Worlds” post in my reader I get a little rush in my middle. I can’t wait to see you when you get back next month. Keep writing!
That’s cool. It’s always nice to be appreciated for a job well done.
She is fun to teach. I’m always impressed with her willingness to learn and her fascination with English. In fact, all the students in the class are just like her, but she is definitely the most confident. She has a personality that’s as bright as the sun.
Al,
And kudos to you for being one of my only friends to leave a comment. I love you even more for it. I can’t wait to see you. It’s a little over a month away. The countdown begins…XOOX
I’m so glad you found me. It only took a few years!
Craig,
Yep, it is. This is one of the reasons I became a teacher.
I read her post, it was very touching. You have made such an impact, I miss teaching and I hope one day I can teach again.
Ahw, that’s so wonderful and sweet of her, and your other students as well! Such students must make your job feel less like “work” to you.
Hi Michelle,
That’s really nice of you to say.