I Wish I had More Time

This week was my final week at Cowanesque Valley High School. I knew this week was going to be tough, but I had no idea it was going to be this tough. This week was full of ups and downs, but it was all worth it in  the end. I started off the week with my second supervisor visitation. I was able to complete some demonstrations, and I was very excited to see the students participating in hands-on activities, completing something tangible that would be displayed to over 150 people during the FFA banquet. My students worked very hard Monday and Tuesday, producing the centerpieces and setting up the cafeteria for dinner beforehand. We were Learning to Do, and Doing to Learn, part of the FFA motto.

So Tuesday finally came around, and I was so excited to attend the banquet. I was expecting a very hectic time and my teachers running around like crazy, but it was very laid back and well planned. Everything ran smoothly and dinner was excellent. We were able to have the auditorium for awards, and the FFA officer team did an awesome job with the ceremonies and awards presented. Excitingly enough, I received one myself!!! I was shocked when I received an Honorary Chapter Degree from the Cowanesque FFA.


I was so taken back and blessed to have this opportunity to work with the students that the award made me speechless. I was so overwhelmed at the hard work that was done throughout the whole year by these students. It was incredible to see the student success all through the FFA. Honestly, even as a student teacher, I WAS SO PROUD OF MY STUDENTS! I could not imagine how Mr. Heyler and Mr. Boyer were feeling. The couple hours spent at the banquet revealed how much FFA really means to the communities and families involved. I saw the impact that we, as Ag educators and advisers, have on our program, and especially, the students in the FFA. I left the banquet glowing with pride and excitement, and best of all was that I was going back to teach those students tomorrow!

On Wednesday, I was very excited to teach, continuing to build the FFA chapter through recognition awards/degrees by teaching the students about the Agriculture Experience Tracker (AET). It was so simple to do this because I have enough iPads for every student, so convenience was not a problem. I felt very good teaching this lesson, because I want this class of freshman to be the first to apply the AET system every year until graduation, and hopefully by then the whole FFA chapter is completing AET records. I was so excited because I was able to begin something and maybe, just maybe, leave my mark on this Agriculture/FFA program.

Heading to the back side of the week, it was all starting to get sad. Everything I had worked towards was coming to an end, and all I wanted to do was buy more time with my students. On Thursday, the students were realizing that I was leaving and moving on to another teaching site. A few of them asked  me if I could stay longer, and that gave me a good feeling inside. It seemed I had made an impact to some students in my short time here, and I was very glad to hear that. I taught my normal classes, but there was a part of me that was not ready for the day to be over.

"My last day........ is this really it?"

I guess I never thought I would have to deal with the end. I had not only found a new place, but a home away from home, a career, mentors, and many other things in my 7 weeks at Cowanesque. I felt like I was abandoning all of my students and the school. I had the hardest time looking at all of their faces because I had become a part of their lives just as much as they were a part of mine. As teachers, we have an undeniable passion, for learning, with the compassion and understanding of students. The rapport I built with those students was unlike anything else I could ever explain. I laughed, got mad, bonded, guided, and became a role model for over 70 students. My last day was relaxed, and that was mainly because of the half day. I sat and spoke with my teachers after the students left, and I just couldn't believe the experience I had. I know not everyone will remember me or what I did at Cowanesque Valley High School,  but I will never forget them. I will keep them close to my heart, and do my best to come back and stay in touch. I can only look to the horizon, the next chapter, and the exciting opportunity to teach at Shaver's Creek in the coming weeks.

It was a pleasure to write for you.


"Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting." - J.M. Barrie