Sad, but happy.

So I saw the acupuncturist again yesterday. That has been my fifth appointment in the last five weeks. She wants me to see her once a week for the next month, and then switch to once a month... works for me. My health plan is paying for it anyway, and it gives me a good excuse to go to the city every week!

I told her that I'm a bit confused. I'm on CD 33 today and no signs of AF being en route. Normally, 4-5 days prior, I'm hit with nasty PMS... sore/tender breasts, bad bloating, unable to sleep, and irritability and mood swings. I've had none of this this month. I even asked DH if I was mood swinging, because quite honestly I'm not sure if I can be the proper judge of this one. He swears that I'm not. So that's odd for me. I asked the acupuncturist about it... her response? "That's good, you shouldn't have PMS - if you do, then your body is not doing what it's supposed to". The fact that my last two cycles were 17 and 24 days respectively has me a bit confused over nothing on CD 33, but I'm willing to keep waiting. I would normally be thinking that I"m pregnant, but there is no chance of that given that I clearly didn't ovulate. So be it. It allowed me to have a bit of fun at our staff party this past week. Hopefully AF shows up soon and we can get started on the next cycle.

On the sad but happy note... last night was graduation at the school I teach at. This has been an amazing year for me. In my first year of teaching (2009-2010), I had the most horrible year possible. It was horrible and I almost contemplated quitting the profession. I got a transfer to my current school and what a change. I loved it! Everyone is amazing - the admin, the staff, the students! Everyone!

So last night was graduation. The students all looked so grown up and amazing. It was so nice to sit and watch the kids be honoured for all of their hard work. Small town grads are great too! They are so personal and special. Each student is honoured individually and gets their own time to be special.

I have had the honour of developing special relationships with a few of the grads. Some of the kids I haven't had much chance to get to know unfortunately. Our paths didn't really cross too much. Others, however, I've had a lot of interactions with. Two girls in the class (Janelle and Sky) have become my shadows for a lot of this year. They are amazing girls - funny, beautiful, and completely lovable. They looked outstanding and so grown up. I am going to miss having them around everyday. Sky has already told me that she will be calling me to set up a lunch date next year. And the funny thing is that she will. On a side note, her brother may be my biggest fan. He's already told me that the first day back at school in the fall, we're going for lunch because he will have had two months without me and he can't handle that.

The other two graduates that I have had the amazing honour of know very well are twins. Garrett and Josh are the sons of the principal of the school. There is just something about these two boys - they are SO charming. They know just what to say when to get what they want. I don't think that I have the ability to say no to them. In the last couple of months, I became Josh's go-to person. Before school, after school, during school, during class, it didn't really matter, he spent a LOT of time in my classroom. He's a great kid - smart, funny, kind, and good looking. He's got a very bright future ahead of him.

I know that a teacher isn't supposed to have a favourite student, but it happens... we try, but it just does. Mine would definitely be Garrett. Garrett has always struggled with school. In a different school in grade 7, he was put in the "dumb" class because they figured that he didn't have much in terms of ability. Garrett has a mild form of cerebral palsy, and has a brain tumour, but this has not let anything stop him. He was a star of the football team and one of the most popular kids in the school. He was put in my class in September because he was refusing to take math. In second semester, he tried math and after struggling begged admin to let him back into my class. This was a month in and he could only come in with my permission - well he asked me and naturally I said yes. Garrett and I have had so many great conversations. This boy is a hard nut to crack. He is so tough on the outside. But, underneath it all he's a big softy. His father called me into the office a few weeks ago and asked if I would have a heart-to-heart with Garrett. Garrett has been struggling to decide what he wants to do with his future and had the attitude of "I can't do it". His father had tried talking to him, and so had a couple of other teachers and nobody could get through to him. His father (also my boss) told me that Garrett basically idolizes me and thinks that if I say it, then it must be true. I naturally agreed and had a sit down with the kid. He told me that he didn't figure it was worth trying because he'd just fail. I told him that he was full of shit and that he was so full of potential and all he had to do was put his mind to it and he could succeed. Anyone who tells him otherwise is wrong and he shouldn't listen to them.

So yesterday, he walks through the arch to go up to the stage, I nearly cried. After the ceremonies, the kids all have their own family parties. We had invites to four of the parties. We went to the two girls' parties briefly, and then headed off to the twins party. We got out of the car and were swarmed by students. Both boys (Josh and Garrett) came running up to me and gave me a big hug. Then they spent the next hour that we were there standing there visiting with us. At one point I went to get a drink. Garrett followed me. He said "you aren't leaving right away are you?" I said no, and asked why. He said "well, I, I just wanted to make sure that I said goodbye properly". He had tears in his eyes and said "thanks so much for being there for me... you're the only teacher who has actually truly cared and hasn't dismissed me. without you, I would have given up this year". He's such a smart kid, but totally underestimates himself because he has been underestimated for years.

Near the end of the evening, we went to say goodbye to the boys. Josh gave me a big hug and told me that he will be emailing me and that he also expects to have a lunch date in the fall with me. Such a sweet kid.

Garrett came up to me, gave me a big hug and thanked me again. He pulled me aside and told me that because of me, he had decided that he was going to check out the graphic design program that I recommended for him. Then he said that he would see me this summer when he came to visit because "I can't get through two whole months without - you're the best thing that has happened to me in a very long time... oh wait, that sounds creepy... well you know what I mean".

I'm going to miss those kids, but I can't even express how proud of them I am!