As teachers, we often do not get a chance to see the impact we make in our students. Sometimes, though, we are lucky enough to get a small glimpse.
Today we had Open House as we welcome students to the new year. We meet families, distribute schedules, and answer questions. It’s always one of my favorite times of the year. The excitement is electrifying, and I love seeing all of the new faces. I wore my blue flight suit so everyone would know I am super passionate about the subject I teach, and I loved seeing the reaction from students and parents.
But I have to say one of my favorite parts about today were the visits from former students. Students starting or continuing in high school as well as those starting seventh and eighth grades. It was really nice to see so many students from this past year (okay, just a few months ago), stop by to say hello and ask about how the weightless flight went. I’m looking forward to having a chance to share the details of the journey with them in more details. And many mentioned they had already watched the videos. Finally, one student brought me this photo. He had wanted to give it to me in May, but it didn’t arrive in time. I’m not sure exactly what long term impact I will have on these students, but they definitely have left an impact on me.
