Ode to My Former Students

Quick background: I quit teaching less than two years ago. For 10 years, I taught a program called Responsible Citizenship to 12- to 17-year-old students for five consecutive years. These students were particularly committed to changing the world and left an indelible mark in my professional life.

Dear former students,

During the years I had the opportunity to spend with you, I had the pleasure of seeing you grow, inside and out. I was surprised daily by how you grew more mature with every new day and every new project.

From the first day of school to your graduation, I loved guiding you with your projects, on your path to discovery and throughout your education. I loved seeing your faces change and grow more mature.

I cherish memories of our lunch hours spent together planning international internships, internships in Montreal, and in our region. I fondly remember weekends spent getting involved by cleaning up parks in our community, clearing out rocks from our local farmers’ fields, participating in fund-raising events and all the other activities you organized. I can picture you working as a team, collaborating, planning your projects, cooperating, panicking a little sometimes, going off on internships, coming back, evolving…

Your personalities, so vastly different, have left a mark on me each in their own way. Each one of you has given me memories that will last a lifetime. The only thing I wished for during my career was to succeed in sowing the seeds that would allow you to become involved citizens, to make you want to try to change the world and make it your own.

Today, now that I’ve left teaching and the school world behind, I remember you all. Your smiles, your moments of sadness, anger and pride, your energy and all your beautiful qualities. You have marked the beginning of my professional career. I hope that I’ve also made a mark in your lives!

To all my former students, thank you for getting involved, participating in our projects, and pouring your heart into our work. Thank you for all the projects you worked on and all the experiences that we shared. You have made me into the professional that I am today. You’re doing so well as adults (or not-quite adults)! It’s time for you to put into practice all that you have learned over the years and make your own personal mark in your community.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela