And How Do I Say Goodbye?

42 years, 10 schools, and approximately 7,000 kids.

I’ve taught K-8 in a church basement; I’ve taught 3rd-6th-grade girls’ P.E.; I’ve taught inner-city high school kids; I’ve taught celebrities; I’ve taught the sons of celebrities; I’ve taught teachers.

I remember names and faces and words spoken and jokes shared and tears cried and the trials and the celebrations.

I remember the students who inspired me and created with me.

I remember the ones who said things like “You and your husband are so different…he’s funny.”

I remember the ones who prayed for me and with me.

I remember the ones who came to my wedding.

I remember the ones who gave me an invaluable gift of a battery-operated baby swing for my first child after putting up with my pregnancy-induced moods all year.

I remember the ones who came into my room at lunch to play Jaci Velasquez on my computer because they knew I was a Christian and would let them play the CD.

I remember the one who said “I can’t call House on Mango Street fiction, Mrs. Hagberg…it’s my real life.”

I remember the one choking on a chip who survived in spite of or because of my Heimlich maneuver.

I remember the students who changed my life.

I remember the ones who thought they couldn’t write, but did!

I remember the kids encouraged by my college friend, a poet, who read each of their poems and gave them affirmations and advice.

I remember reading together.

I remember the messages from former students who loved what we read😄

I remember sharing Hmong New Year with students

and their graduations

and their Eagle Scout ceremonies

and their hockey games

and their concerts

and their 4-H events

I remember having the most fun I’ve ever had with colleagues who became lifelong friends!

I remember Winter Camp

and taking risks

and chilling with kids at Catalina.

I remember the poems written on a rainy day by the fire

and the “Where I’m From” poems that still bring tears.

I remember surprise blessings and notes I’ll keep forever.

I remember serving with my students

and cheering with them.

I remember the 9th-grade boys who hung out in my room after school to play games.

I remember singing “Forever Young” as I said goodbye to my juniors, knowing that I probably wouldn’t see them again.

I remember the one I called on speaker phone during class to wake him up and get him to class — the class he had to get to if he wanted to be allowed to attend prom the next day — because an absence, even if due to seeing the midnight showing of “Avengers Endgame,” wouldn’t be excused by the school.

I remember the kids who invited me to their football games

and their friendship circles.

I remember beginnings.

I remember celebrating with my students.

I remember having a former student from one of my first schools, an Oxnard Fire Dept. member, speak to my seniors at my last school.

I remember my kids

and hanging out

and dancing

and Shark Tank teams

and attending their plays.

I remember reunions with my first students.

I remember the girls, now women with kids (and grand kids!), who invited me to lunch with them — and I’d thought they’d forgotten me or moved on.

I remember those who’ve passed away — those faces never pass away in the memory — forever I see their eyes, their smiles, their teen selves in my classroom.

I remember so much more, so many more, with so much gratefulness for a life of joys, challenges, mistakes, achievements, and most of all, relationships that will remain forever in my heart.

and so one last time, I sing “Forever Young”

“May the good Lord be with you
Down every road you roam
And may sunshine and happiness
Surround you when you’re far from home
And may you grow to be proud
Dignified and true
And do unto others
As you’d have done to you

Be courageous and be brave
And in my heart, you’ll always stay
Forever young, forever young
Forever young, forever young

May good fortune be with you
May your guiding light be strong
Build a stairway to Heaven
With a prince or a vagabond

And may you never love in vain
And in my heart you will remain
Forever young, forever young
Forever young, forever young
Forever young, forever young
Yeah

And when you finally fly away
I’ll be hoping that I served you well
For all the wisdom of a lifetime
No one can ever tell

But whatever road you choose
I’m right behind you, win or lose
Forever young, forever young
Forever young, forever young
Forever young, forever young
For-Forever young, forever young”

Writer: Bob Dylan

and then pray Colossians 1:9-12

“Father, I pray that You will fill them with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding, that they may live a life worthy of You, Lord, that they may please You in every way, that they will bear fruit in every good work, that they will grow in the knowledge of You, that they will be strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might, that they may have great endurance and patience, that they will joyfully give thanks to You, Father, who has qualified them to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. Today by Your Spirit make real all their inheritance in Christ Jesus.”

THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES OF 42 YEARS.

SINCERELY, LAURIE