For the sake of the children

I knew at the beginning that I would grow to love these children, the ones at my site for student teaching.  But I don't think I realized I would love them as much as I do.  Next Wednesday, a week from today, is the last school day of the semester, meaning that it will most likely be the last day that I see them again (unless they come to family conferences the following week, but if that is the case, I won't really be interacting with the child).  This issue has been discussed in the past at our staff meetings, and our mentors (the head teachers and director of the center) have stressed to us that it will be difficult, and that we will need to sort out our feelings beforehand.  It is also all right if the children see us cry, which I knew as well, but it is a comfort to actually hear it.  Deb (the head teacher) has stressed that these children will miss us terribly, and they will not understand nor see that we won't be coming back until the children return in January.  Because we won't. 

Dana (the director) also said to emotionally prepare ourselves for our own exit from the university.  SHe was a complete wreck during her final week of undergrad.  I won't lie; I am scared s hell.  I have no plans to return to school in the near-future.  I eventually would love a masters degree in a related field but not for a while.  I want to take that slowly.  I have a job for post-graduation, for which I am very thankful; many of my colleagues do not,  and I know that I will do the best I can with that job as a preschool teacher, it is not what I ultimately want to be.  I want to be a certified Child Life Specialist, but I cannot apply for that position without an internship and then I have to pass an exam.  So that's still a few years in the future most likely. 

I digress; the children at my site were what this was supposed to be about.  I must be vague with what I say here for confidentiality purposes, but I can still express my feelings, which I am sure others have felt similarly.  These are children that I want to follow through their adult lives to see what they grow to be, especially the two on whom I have focused my observations and assessments.  I want to know what becomes of them, what good they will do.  I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that our program is extremely high quality and we have given all of them the best environment and care that is just about possible.  I want to see the positive outcome for these children. 

I leave it at that for now.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl is calling my name.  XD