Hey, I need to talk to you about something. Something that’s been on my mind lately.
Oh, I don’t know, a year or two now. Just let me explain…
Look, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately, and… well, I just don’t know if this is meant to be. I know we’ve been together for years, and we’ve had our share of great times and hard times. Things were really tough in the beginning, but once I better understood what this relationship was going to require of me, I adjusted and adapted, and then things were much, much better. I was able to commit more of myself to what you needed and deserved. I stayed up late, long hours for you, devoted entire weekends to making plans, and constantly assessed where we stood, just like you wanted me to do. But you had to know that I couldn’t keep up that intensity forever, right?
It’s just that, I dunno… Have you ever arrived at a place where you wondered if this… us… we would be together forever or just for now? I mean, the last eight years have been a lot of work and a lot of fun, but do you really see us together forever?
I have to be honest – I don’t. You’re great, really, but I’m just at a place in my life where I need something… different. I’m not the same guy I was eight years ago.
It’s not you. It’s me.
***
I officially resigned my teaching position today, and accepted a full-time, tenure track school psychologist position at another school, to begin in 2009. Chapter Two begins now.
::clap clap clap:: another one bites the dust. :: clap clap clap:: another one bites the dust. And another one’s gone …
Just kidding. Congrats on your new position.
Damian:
Best of luck to you- that’s how we grow- so spread your wings and soar! Brian
Mazel tov, Damian.
Congratulations! I hope that your new position is everything for which your looking and more. I know you’ll still be doing great things for kids, no matter the “job”.
I can’t wait to hear about this next leg of your journey.
Congrats! May your new position be exactly what you need!
Wow… Damien… teaching gets the Dear John Letter! I’m sure it had it coming!
Congrats on your new role in the profession.. may your new mistress be everything you hope for.
Amusing that the required anti-spam word today is ‘bounce out’.
Congrats on finding a new ‘home’.
Having left the square confines of one classroom to work with a new breed of students (read: teachers), I can tell you that change, while uncomfortable, is exciting.
I used to tell my seniors, ‘hey, you’ve been doing this for 12 years. Aren’t you ready for something new?’
It’s no shock that I worked in a classroom for 12 years. I followed my students.
I don’t have to tell you that I know where you’re coming from, do I? (Though I will tell you I’m already missing the classroom, just six months after resigning!)
Congratulations and good luck!
Welcome to the club! Let me know if you need anything! The first year is always the most exciting and daunting. Like teaching, you need colleagues to bounce ideas off of and of course, vent! I think school psychologists with teaching experience are the best, because they don’t go into classrooms to consult about a child with a behavior problem and ask, “Say, have your tried rewarding him?” or “What about moving his seat?” 😉 Best of luck to you.
Congrats…it seems a lot of us are leaving teaching for something different, I wish you the best of luck! There is a good life after teaching, but missing and not missing the kids will be a part of it.