The Perfect Gift

Today was the last day of the school year.

When I got up, the first thing I thought was "you've made it! No more 6am starts for 6 weeks!". It was a funny day. A bit stressful as we still had things to finish; a card for one little boy who's leaving the school, and a card for another member of staff that's leaving.

It could have been me. My good friend S is leaving today. And I will be very sad without her there. She has been an unexpected gift (that sounds very corny!) but it's true. Not only have we become good friends, bonded partly through our dislike of the establishment and a lot of the unfriendly people in their employ, she has given me invaluable advice and direction at a time when I've needed it most.

She has been the only person who saw something in me worth saving, and made it her mission to empower and aid me to do so. It hasn't all gone to plan, and her belief was that the best thing was for me to get out too, but she has certainly sowed the seed and helped me to help myself. 

So it goes without saying that I have had to push it to the back of my mind that she's going. I wonder what it'll be like in September, not having a little refuge to go to, a person to chat with endlessly about all things school related and personal. Those words "come down" (to my room) so that we could snatch five minutes of conversation before we were interrupted by a bell! 

She is going on to better things, having decided that teaching is not for her. I selfishly hope she will be back, but I hope for her that her new job brings her the fulfilment she craves that was not created by teaching. I have said for a long time that I want to leave, but she's kept telling me that I do like to teach, and that she sees it. 

I think she's right. When I imagined that it could have been me leaving today, I felt a bit relieved that I'm not. Maybe it's the safety feeling. It's safer to stay put. 

When I got home I opened my gift, this little heart. The words are just perfect, and I shall treasure and try to put into practice its words. 

*** I realise it seems a bit morbid- we are keeping in touch and have plans to meet up! It's a bit weird when you've seen somebody every day for a year and now you won't though. I'm a bit sad.