Bittersweet is the only word I can use to describe the way I feel about closing one chapter of my life and beginning a new one.
The Bitter
Leaving the Classroom
I’ve been a Preschool teacher for over 15 years and to say it was one of the best jobs I’ve ever had would be an understatement to say the least. Sure, it had its ups and downs, did I ever feel overwhelmed or stressed out? Of course, who doesn’t with their job. The difference with mine was no matter how bad of a day it was or how stressed out I was, it only took one child to turn it around. A smile, a hug, a laugh, a joke, or a simple Ms. Sam, “I love you.”
A huge part of this was also the relationships I was able to build with their families, it always made my heart melt when the parents said how much their little one is learning and how much they love coming to school. To a teacher that is gold, its why we do what we do, we want our children to learn and grow! This is something we teachers take pride in being a part of, we cherish those moments.
I couldn’t be the teacher I was without the help and support of my co-teachers. This group is more than my co- workers, they are my family. I have spent almost 10 years working beside them, we supported one another, kept one another sane, laughed together, cried together, experienced good and bad times and no matter what held that family bond.
All these are the bitter, I say bitter because I’m leaving those behind so to speak, the classroom I taught in, the school I was with for ten years, the children, families, and my co-workers. It will be hard not to have these people in my life every day, to lean on, to vent to, to laugh with.
The Sweet
My New Beginning
I will now be part of the management team in one of our newly built schools. I’m so very blessed to have this opportunity not to mention eager to start my new journey, alongside Mr. Ronny who is proving to be a great partner as we both navigate through these new roles, as hard as it will to leave behind all I’ve known for so long, I feel ready and confident for my next chapter and I have a few people to thank for this. Ms. Sarah, Ms. Jen and Ms. Leslie.
These ladies have been the best mentors I could ever ask for. Each gave me skills and confidence not to mention took the time to teach me all they knew. But I will cherish much more than that, each gave me more than just the knowledge to run a school.
Ms. Sarah taught me to be a confident leader, to trust your choices. Ms. Jen taught me to stay humble and true and Ms. Leslie taught me strength, to relay on my abilities. Lastly, Ms. Mollie, Ms. Cyndi and Mr. Richard for giving me the opportunity to grow and become a part of the TLE management team.
I wouldn’t be able to start this new chapter if it wasn’t for each and every one of these people, I have had the pleasure to know.
On to the next adventure!
-Sam Fulkerson
- Center Director at The Learning Experience South Lyon West
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