My Last Day of School

Wow.

Well, this is it.

It feels so surreal! After five years teaching in Bangkok - my entire adult life so far - I've taught my final class at the school where I've worked since 2013. My last day of class was at the end of February, and now final exams are done and my last grades have been submitted. All that's left is the graduation ceremony.

My students really made my last week of class special. The M6 (senior) class that I've taught since M2 (8th grade) my first year is graduating. They were the first main English class I ever taught, and I've taught them every year since. I've really gotten to know these students well over the last few years. On the last day of class, they presented me with Thai flower garlands, like the ones we get at Wai Kru Day. 

Another class that made my very last day special was my M5 class (11th grade) who I've taught since their first year at Mathayom in M1 (7th grade). It was my first year and they were the first-year students. We were both new to the school together, and over the last few years I've gotten really close with this class. When they learned that I would be leaving the school, they gave me a final class that I would never forget.

After returning a final test to them and giving the class one last review for the final, they surprised me by singing to me and giving me a poster with pictures from our class over the years. On the back, each student wrote me a personal note. I can't begin to say how much this means to me.

I will miss this class! I was with them from their first year at the high school almost to the time they graduate. I've learned far more from them over the past  years than I've taught them, and I've always found it to be an honor and a privilege to teach their class. As I told them, after this year I may no longer be their teacher, but I will always consider them to be my friends.