Well, we all made it. Today is the final day of the term and all the projects have been turned in and the tests taken and I know there are at least three high schoolers and one mom who are glad to see the term end. But, like so many things, this ending also has the wonderful seeds of beginnings wrapped up in it as well. Everyone is breathing a little easier, basking in some good tests and letting go of some not-so-good tests–and making all sorts of plans for how things are going “to be different” in the coming term that kicks off on Monday.
I’m keeping my mouth shut. I’m not going to tell them that I’ve heard all the declarations and promises before–the ones about perfect attendance and extra credit and not getting behind so there’s a nonstop rush to catch up as a term nears its close. Nope. I’m not saying a word about what hasn’t been done, or what could be done better, or, heaven forbid, what sort of ideal student “I” used to be when I was in high school or college. Instead, I’m choosing to let experience be the teacher now in these high school years. They are learning to work within (and without ) their own personalities and preferences–as well as within (and without) the institutional system that is public school. They’re all figuring it out.
When I jokingly asked my son if he was going to pass everything in his first term of high school, he thought hard for a moment and said, “I hope so.” I thought that pretty much said it all for a lot of things in life–we do what we can with who we are and what’s expected of us–not perfect, but we’re certainly in the game trying to figure everything out–and then, there is a certain amount of just having to let go and hope everything turns out. I’ve always told my kids that half the battle is just staying in, so, here we go–we’re all back in for another term!
See Also: Sharing a Computer and Walking a Mile in Our Children’s Shoes