The Old Guy Rules

Summer's been here for a few weeks now, and while it's been both enjoyable and relaxing, I'm going to admit something that may sound strange for a teacher to say:  I miss my kids.  Don't get me wrong idea, I am as happy about summer break as anyone, and I was so tired at the end of the year and needed to recharge my batteries.  Still, I had such great kids in my classes this year all year long, and I miss them.  

One of the best things about teaching is getting to know the kids in your classes.  I had to do that fast this year, as I had two classes that were only a semester long.  The kids in those classes were such great people that I missed them the minute they walked out the door at the end of the semester in January.  However, when my new classes started, THEY were such great kids that it softened the blow of losing my first classes.  I taught a new class this year for the first time, World Literature, and whenever you teach a prep for the first time, it's a little scary.  You don't know how the lessons are going to work and you worry about how the kids will react.  I found out soon that I had nothing to worry about.  The students in those classes were some of the nicest, most personable people I've met in 25 years of education, and every day was fun.  I had a Modern Literature class that I had been teaching for years, and those kids were a fantastic group as well.  It's funny to me that such a connection can exist between a bunch of 17 and 18-year-old kids and a 46-year-old English teacher, but I really felt like this year's seniors were like my own kids.  I was relieved to have the school year over and was looking forward to the beginning of summer, but from the day the seniors walked out of the building for the last time, I missed them.  It feels just like it did when my own daughter went off to college.  I was happy for her and knew she had to move on with her life, but I missed her so much.  That's kind of how I feel about my seniors.  Thank goodness for Facebook.

The seniors of the class of 2011 gave me one final gift before making their exit.  They elected me as the winner of The Hennessey Award, given every year to the teacher who made the biggest difference in the lives of the graduating students at Glenbard North.  I gave a speech at graduation, and it was truly the honor of my life.  I was a first-team All-American football player in college and was also inducted into Eureka College's Athletic Hall of Fame.  I've published a book and have won all kinds of sports trophies and power lifting contests.  But that award I received this year at graduation meant more to me than anything I've ever won because of the people who gave it to me.  As you guys head off to college and career, I hope you'll all remember how special you made this school year for me.  Thanks to all of you, it's the best year I've ever had in education and a year I'll never forget.