It can't be the last day of my internship, can it?!

Today was officially my last day of student teaching at Fairmont Senior High School. It was so bittersweet! I got lots of hugs and well wishes from the students and lots of congrats from the teachers, but I felt a little sad while all of this was going on. I realized today that I am a teacher and that I have found what I'm good at. Being away from the classroom only makes me realize how much I truly do enjoy it.
In the beginning, I sort of just fell into teaching because I couldn't make it through the classes that I needed in order to become a doctor, which is what I really wanted to do. However, I am so glad that it didn't work out that way because I'm definitely not cut out for those crazy long hours, sleepless nights, and crazy insurance rates! In being a teacher I can be myself. I can show students who I am and what I love. I can make a difference in the world by simply changing a student's outlook on a topic, certain issue, or even life. I think my job as a teacher is much more important than I ever realized. I have the ability to instill values and morals in children, which is something our society desperately needs.
I've learned so much over the past 16 weeks and I'm so thankful for my wonderful mentor teacher. She really took me under her wing and taught me the things I will need in order to be a successful teacher. She taught me real life things that I'll certainly take with me when I get my own classroom.
It really is hard to believe that my internship is over. In the beginning I thought it would never end, and now here I am completely finished. It has been a great experience and I'll always remember it.

Thank goodness it's Friday!!

Today marks the very last Friday that I’ll have to attend school as an intern! I have already given full reign back to my mentor teacher; that’s pretty much all this week was about. She is once again the full-time teacher and I am simply an aid. I help out around the room with passing out papers, grading, getting things set up, and answering a few small questions, but she is the one who has the full teaching load.

It’s weird, but my students still give me the same level of respect that they did when I was teaching them. It seems that they still see me as their teacher even though they know that I’m not now. In the beginning of the year, my students didn’t really feel comfortable around me. They wouldn’t talk to me about things other than English and they wouldn’t really interact with me. However, now having taught since the beginning of school, they interact with me all the time! It is amazing how much of a transformation has occurred and I’m so glad that I got to witness it firsthand!

Speaking of student interactions, I’ve actually received my first present from a student this week! This really sweet girl in my second period class brought me a present on Tuesday. She walked right up to me and put it in my hand with a smile on her face. (This is very important because this little girl hardly ever smiles!) I looked at her with surprise on my face and opened the bag she’d given me. Inside were a scented candle and a bottle of lotion both from Bath and Body Works. I told her how much I loved the scent that she’d given me and that it was actually my favorite and she just continued to smile! I hugged her and told her that I really appreciated it! Not only was this a great experience for me, but I think for her as well. She really opened up to me this semester as I tried to push her out of her shell. It has really shown me that even just helping one student makes it all worth it!