By Constance Hallemeier
I LOVE EDUCATION! This is me, this is what I do, this is who I am. So, counting down the days to retirement is not something I am doing. I always miss the daily buzz of students when summer rolls around. Saying “hi” or “have a good day”, helping them out when they get stuck on a problem, watching the excitement when they learn something new, and seeing their projects come alive – it’s what I love. Saying goodbye every summer in education is not a new experience. We do it every year. Every spring, there is excitement about the end of the school year, the students who are graduating, the next steps in their lives, and in the fall, a new set of students walks through your threshold to bring your classroom back to life, completing the circle. But this year feels different. Typically, my summer goodbyes are temporary, with the expectation of returning in the fall. However, I’m retiring, so this summer’s farewell will be my last. Thinking about all those students’ goodbyes over the years can actually make retiring feel less intimidating.
Saying Goodbye to Students and Colleagues
For teachers, spring break brings relaxation and the anticipation of the end of the school year. Then the last two months are packed with awards banquets, class parties, field days, finals, cleaning out your classroom, and graduation ceremonies. There’s anticipation of getting grades, moving to the next grade level, and finalizing sport or activity seasons. At the end of the school year, students are nervous about the change, anticipating the summer activities, and maybe even a little sad about leaving their friends, routines, and familiar faces. There is so much excitement that you almost forget the end of the school year is drawing near, and the students you had last year will leave the school, some will return, some will not, some will be in a different class, and some will be in your class again. There are also the goodbyes to your colleagues, making plans for the summer, whether it’s professional learning, teaching summer school, or relaxing. Still, the goodbyes at the end of the school year are always bittersweet.
Lessons Learned
The cycle of goodbyes at the end of each school year has been helpful in my preparation for retirement. Each summer, I would reflect on the great things that happened in my classroom and the places I could improve. I would look at the growth my students made and celebrate their successes. As I retire, I plan to reflect on the years I’ve taught and supported teachers to collect ideas for future endeavours. I also plan to look back at the success my students are finding outside of the classroom to celebrate them, knowing that I was part of that success.
The Retirement Goodbye
However, despite the lessons learned this year, the goodbyes will be even more bittersweet. The beginning of the next school year will feel different. I’ll miss the excitement of discovering my new students and the surprise of seeing how much my returning students have changed over the summer as they pass in the hallways. I won’t have the surprise meeting with colleagues when we both end up at school to set up our classrooms. With retirement, I’m saying goodbye to my routines, professional identity, and classroom. However, I will still have great friendships and professional growth from my experience as a teacher. I will still relish in the success of my students, as I see them outside of the classroom. The yearly goodbyes have prepared me for this long-term goodbye in many ways, but I am positive I’ll feel the difference in August.
A New Kind of Classroom
With retirement comes new adventures, challenges, and routines. I am excited to begin this new chapter as I transition to uncertainty, possibly working with schools for professional development, standards alignment, and supporting teachers. My classroom will be beyond the school walls, including myself as a student. My classroom will hopefully entail continuing to support education, reminding teachers that they play a vital role in shaping the future workforce. My impact on education will always be what I’m most proud of and staying connected to the teachers still in the classrooms, learning about the changes in education, and sharing my knowledge will be what I hope to continue to share.
The End is Just the Beginning
The cycle of goodbyes is one that every educator knows and probably embraces, but doesn’t necessarily enjoy. What I am now realizing is this cycle prepared me for the emotional farewells of retirement. Teachers leave a lasting legacy through the skills they impart, the empathetic support they provide, and the consistent encouragement of students. The friendships created by sharing classroom successes and challenges are invaluable. These relationships continue to influence the future of students, teachers, and education. I am so delighted that I picked education for my career and was a part of impacting lives for thirty years. I will carry the lasting impressions from my students and colleagues into my future classroom of life.
