Chapter 3: Goodbyes

Nine years. 
Nearly a full decade. 
And now, I say goodbye.

Is it weird for me to say goodbye to and mourn the loss of a room? Maybe. But this place represents far more than just a room.
For nine years, room 210 has been my second home. In those same years, I have lived in three different houses, but this classroom never left me. It has seen me at my best, and at my worst. I have laughed, yelled, cried, and celebrated here. It has seen hundreds of students come and go, each one making an impact on my life. I have spent nine years trying to build a safe space for all students. A place where everyone could feel welcome, loved, supported, and able to learn and grow. Clearing it all out and walking away from it was so much harder than I ever thought it would be. 

Walking away from room 210 also comes along with walking away from HighMark Charter School. I have put nine years of blood, sweat, and tears into this school. I started during the school's second year, when everything was still fresh and new (including 90% of the faculty and 100% of the admin). I love this school, and all of the opportunities it has given me. Has every memory at this school been a good one? Absolutely not. Have I been frustrated with a lot of things that have happened here? Absolutely. But, overall, HighMark will always have my heart. This school pushed me, challenged me, supported me, and helped me grow into a better teacher. I met some of the best people in my life here, and cultivated beautiful friendships that I hope will always last, even if we no longer see each other or talk as often. When I (likely) make the move back into the teaching world, I hope to bring with me all of the things I learned in my time here. Because, between the good, the bad, and the ugly, this place has helped shape the person I am today. This huge chapter of my life has come to an end, but it's one I will never forget. On to the next.