Last day of school

It's my last day of school. I have two exams to give tonight, the grades to enter, and then I'm a free woman. I should be thrilled. Summer vacation is almost here and mine's going to be incredible. Plus, I get to walk away from all the frustrations at the institute, the snarky teachers, the snarky students, etc.

But I'm sad. This hasn't been an easy year, but it's a hard one to walk away from. I'm a damn good teacher. I care about my students, expect big things from them, and treat them like adults (which they don't always take well). We laugh together every day -- at ourselves, at each other, and at life. I know all their names, even the ones from last semester, and they call me by mine. I know about their families, their struggles, and their passions. I'm buddies with the maintenance guys and a devoted fan of the students who work at Coordinación Docente. I know the ropes. I'm still sometimes against them, but their presence no longer surprises me.

It's almost time to say goodbye and, damn it, I'm not ready.