Back in June, I watched my students from my second year of teaching graduate 6th grade. Clad in stunning white dresses and suits, they proudly held trophies in the air as their parents clapped for their elementary successes. Not only had my students grown in size since I had last seen them, they had grown in maturity and knowledge. They boasted of getting accepted to wonderful middle schools while still reminiscing from their 5th grade days. It was eventful and emotional, to say the least. Their hard work and ownership over their education paid off.
I had the opportunity of sitting down with the staff of the school to a delicious meal of fried chicken, mac and cheese and collared greens. My old colleagues asked me what I was thinking of doing this coming year, and I responded, "Well... I'm thinking about moving to Kenya."
Their eyes widened and many of them asked, "Really?"
"Really," I said, confident in my response.
They exchanged more confused glances, smiling, but bewildered. One teacher responded, "You better e-mail!" as she handed me a slip of paper with her e-mail address.
Closing one incredible chapter in my life, I finalized the beginnings of a new one... a chapter that takes me across an ocean to Kenya.
