Ringing Like a Bell

For a variety of reasons today has been one of those days. You know the ones -- when you think about your life and what it means. Am I doing enough? Does my life count? What really matters? One of the reasons I've been thinking about those things is that it's the end of another school year. Seniors will be graduating on Saturday, which always produces a mixed bag of emotions. Between school and community events, I think I've spent more time with some of them in the last four years than their parents have. I'm always so proud of the students from our school because, on the whole, they are great kids, and they are sincerely headed out into the world to be productive citizens. I'm always selfishly sad to see them go because I will miss them, but mostly I'm just full of joy. After all, they are the reason I do what I do every day; it isn't really about money or any other reward I could get. I show up in my classroom for them. I'm using my most precious r...