Where's the 'good' in GOODBYE? How does it benefit both parties? Rather, how can saying goodbye help, unless, of course, you really don't want to see that person again..
That is the reason I always bid someone 'bye' without the 'good'.
I've only been working as a teacher in Stella Maris primary school for five months. Just when I was getting to know Year 6 pupils a lot better, they have already gone off on year-end school holiday, and chances of seeing them again appears slim as they will be advancing into secondary school elsewhere. I can only cherish the good times (no bad times, thankfully) I have spent interacting with them and hope to see some of them soon. Good thing I've some encouraging words from some of them written in my journal - will talk about that later.
I don't actually teach Year 6 class but had the opportunity to teach songs to some of them who are enrolled in Bible Knowledge (or BK) classes. You see, we have a yearly concert usually held in November at the end of school term and I was assigned to guide the BK of Years 4-6 in presenting a concert item, with the help of another teacher, Ms June. That was when I got to know them better during the song practice. At first I was a little uncomfortable cos I wasn't sure what they would make of me, a new teacher, and how well they would accept me. But during the practice we did have fun, we laughed at our mistakes, and we did try and improve. After the first practice I was already looking forward to more as most of them were quite a matured bunch and they enjoyed the song practices. Heck, I was also enjoying their company!
Of course I also enjoyed the song practices we've had with Years 4 & 5 as well. But I just want to focus on Year 6 in this blog.
Over time, I have regarded them as friends, not just my pupils. Sure they've learned from me, but I've also learned some things from them too. I've learned that we can have a good time in school. I've learned that friendship means a lot to me as it is to them.
But I've also learned how heart-wrenching it can be to build friendship just to have it distancing from me at year's end and leaving behind the memories of a wonderful time amidst a very quiet and empty school, where I am still working with a skeleton staff till year end.
Well, I guess this is one thing I did not see coming. Thankfully, during the last week of school when Year 6 pupils went around asking friends and teachers to autograph their school magazines, I asked some of the Year 6 pupils to autograph my Starbucks journal. All of them, knowing that I am a new teacher recently out of the corporate working world, wrote very encouraging words and asked me to stay as a teacher in this school.
Sometimes when I feel lonely and a little discouraged in school I would open my Starbucks journal and read what they have written, and my heart would begin to power up once again. That is the stirring I feel in my heart. That's what friends are for - encouraging one another. I wish all my Year 6 friends the best that life has to offer!
Next year 2013 I will miss my Year 5 (going to year 6) friends..
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