Last Day of Classes

This week I have taught my last classes and given the final exam to my tens. This year the students are especially difficult to let go. Some of them are off to better things. My independent study, whom I call the "Little Prince" due to his natural, relaxed propriety, is off to study in Oxford. My student intern, who is one of the most intelligent, caring, and organized students I've ever had, is off to Princeton. My sevens have been fantastic, but I won't be teaching them next year. I will, however, be teaching them again the following year. My tens this year will still be around the school, but I'll never teach them again as a group so it won't be the same. They've been so much fun and I know that they've had fun as well. They're bright, creative, open... they're definitionally cool. The morning tens gave me a really thoughtful gift. Every day during morning break I buy a cup of coffee which I nurse throughout my next two classes. I should have known something was up when they started asking me all sorts of questions. Did I drink regular lattes? Mochas? What, regular coffee? What, no cream and sugar? Only black? Isn't that gross? Doesn't the coffee get cold? Isn't that really gross? So, apparently overwhelmed with pity that their teacher was drinking lukewarm coffee, they bought me a thermal mug. However, it came with a removable liner and they all signed it. I nearly cried. Additionally, they all pitched in and bought me a Starbucks card for a very healthy amount. When I protested that it was too much, they replied that I was stuck with it since they couldn't return it. They're amazing.