Yesterday, I finally told my student that he shouldn’t repeat me verbatim when I say goodbye at the end of class. For months, he has been telling me, “See you guys tomorrow,” running off before I can correct him. Glad I finally cleared that one up. (But not glad at the same time. Makes me laugh every time…)

As a teacher, certain things become routine as time progresses, but there are many things I don’t think I’ll ever get used to.

Like saying goodbye to students at the end of the semester or hearing from their friends that they are suddenly dropping the class and I will never see them again. Hearing the f word tossed around like it’s nothing (because it is nothing to them) or seeing students attempt to cheat. Seeing the wonder on a student’s face when they grasp a new concept for the first time. Or seeing their surprised joy when they correctly answer a question they thought was beyond them. I don’t think I’ll ever stop laughing at the funny mistakes they make and the comical looks on their faces when they realize what they’ve done. At least I hope I don’t.

Sometimes my students utterly exhaust me, and I can’t wait to go home. But other times I find myself thankful that we get to do it all over again tomorrow. Even as I am breathing a sigh of relief at seeing them all lined up at the door, I can smile in all sincerity as I tell them, “See you guys, tomorrow!”

.

.