Wrapping It Up

The school year is over. As of tomorrow, I am officially on summer vacation. That means travel, soaking up the sun and lots of reading. But before I get to that I'm looking back over the year to find the accomplishments of 2011-2012:

10 Things that deserve a pat on the back in 2011-2012

1. Helped kids get into big name (and small name) colleges and universities
2. Raised over SEVEN THOUSAND dollars for Relay for Life
3. Started teaching at Gaston College and made it through my first semester
4. Published my second yearbook with little drama
5. Started my photography business taking photos of prom, graduation, etc.
6. Watched my favorite senior girls become high school grads
7. Adjusted to new administration, new procedures and managed to adapt
8. Recruited an awesome yearbook staff for next year
9. Met lots of YA authors
10. Survived! Another school year in the books :)

Give yourself a minute to look back at what you have accomplished in the last year; give yourself a little love!

The times...

They are a'changin'

The only thing I know I've been able to count on is that nothing is fixed or permanent. My life (like most) has been a continuous set of ups and downs, joy and heartbreak, anger and forgiveness, you get the idea.

For the last 5 years I have built this little network of people that I love and am willing to share my life with. During these years I have managed to build new relationships and strengthen (some) older ones. I've been pretty darn happy between my stable marriage, a good job and a loving support network of people. That, too, is now changing.

My closest friend, maybe even the person I've been closest to in my entire adult life other than my husband, has taken a new job at a high school on the North Carolina coast in the Morehead City area. The school itself is one of North Carolina's best academically and has a super strong arts program and many financial resources. In short, it's a band director's dream gig. Oh, and the location isn't so bad either.

I find myself torn into two distinct pieces: one part of me is beyond excited for him. I know that professionally this is something most people only dream about in terms of finding a job that suits them perfectly and can support them adequately, and education is no exception. I am confident that he will go on and be successful with a new group of students and parents in a new town.

But then, there's this selfish part of me that doesn't want to give up my friend. Most of my close friends live at least 2 hours away and it has been so nice to have someone so close geographically. Our friendship is atypical; we're probably closer than most adult friends are. And now it's all...changing.

I don't know how things will go after July 1 when all the boxes are packed and moved. But I know that change can be good, if I let it.