Austin Mann

It is coming to a close as they say, and I am getting ready to move on and graduate. Looking back on my past two years I realize it has really been a great experience. A song has been playing in my head nonstop these last few weeks titled The Last Goodbye by Billy Boyd.

 

 

I saw the light fade from the sky.

On the wind I held a sigh,

As the snowflakes cover

my fellow brothers

I will say this last goodbye.

 

Under hill and over tree

 

To new form lands

 

I'll follow thee.

 

I will say this last goodbye

 

If I had to write myself a letter telling me about what was to come it would be as follows:

            Dear Austin,

You are embarking on an adventure the likes of which you could never comprehend until you have reached the end. Buckle up as you are going to have some long sleepless nights ahead of you. Frustration will become an emotion you feel all too often. Anger and doubt will creep upon you while you lie in bed wondering if you can pull through. Students will test your mettle and you will have to find out just how far you can go before you lose your composure in front of your students. You will be brought to tears. This is not the end however. You will make friends that will become a family to you. Yes you will cry, but some of those tears may in condolences for a student who lost their mother, or tears of joy at helping a student come back from the brink and graduate. Yes you will doubt yourself and your teaching at times, but help will come from the most unlikely of places. Students will make you laugh. You will tell stories and jokes. You will break up fights and couples kissing in the hallways, but you come through with dignity and poise. You will watch friends get married and see other become engaged. You will experience joy and heartache at the same time. Hold fast though your students need you to be strong. Yes, you will get angry when you have to repeat the instructions for the fifth time even though the instructions are on the board, the handout, and not to mention the class calendar the students so conveniently have in their folder that you keep so that they won’t lose it. Your technology will fail multiple times. Don’t sweat it, actually do sweat it, you do great under pressure. Back up your KPTP when that time comes around. You’ll save yourself a vacation to Disney World. Remember that you are not alone and that you have your class family and professors that want to help you succeed in your journey. Graduation is your goal. There will be times where you want to surrender and there will be times where it’ll feel like a piece of cake, but in the end you will push yourself farther than you ever thought possible.

Good luck Austin, I know you’ll do it! I did.

Austin Mann