A thirty-five-year veteran teacher sits alone in their classroom for the last time. The retirement paperwork is signed. The final student day has come and gone. The principal and staff honored them with cake and a plaque at the end of the year faculty meeting.
The teacher has passed along supplies to colleagues, packed up their belongings, and cleared out thirty five years worth of educational materials and supplies. It’s a bittersweet feeling– ready for the next step of the journey, yet deeply reflecting on everything those thirty five years held.
Their replacement has already been hired: a brand new teacher fresh out of undergrad. The veteran teacher was a part of the hiring committee and felt confident this new teacher would be a perfect fit. As they finish packing, the veteran thinks it would be a good idea to share some wisdom and leave a piece of advice.
As the veteran teacher contemplates, thousands of students’ faces flash through their mind. Hundreds of moments follow–some joyful, some painful, some chaotic, some quiet. Every emotion imaginable passes through them, and in that moment, they know what they want to leave.
The teacher reaches for a notecard and writes down 4 simple words. Then they pull a hot glue gun out of a box on their desk. As it warms, they laugh, thinking about how much faster glue guns heat up now compared to when they first started teaching.
Once ready, the teacher glues the notecard to the base of the top desk drawer–the drawer the new teacher will soon open.
The veteran stands back and looks at the message. They know these words will help the new teacher navigate everything this profession has to offer. They also know the words will matter far beyond the classroom.
The teacher looked down at the card one last time before they left the classroom for good.
It read:
“This Too Shall Pass.”
PeaceofAB 