Full Circle Moments

This week, I was honored to receive an email from a former student. She was in my Young Fives class, and while it feels like just yesterday, in reality she's now in tenth grade. Time really does have a funny way of sneaking by.

She explained that her teacher had given an assignment: reach out to your early education teacher, someone who made an impact on your life. I thought, what a great idea! As teachers, we pour so much of ourselves into those early years, but we rarely get to see the ripple effects years later.

In her message, she told me all about her life now. She plays lacrosse, rides horses, and just leased her first horse named Baloo (which I think is an amazing name for a horse, by the way). She asked how I was doing and what I'd been up to in the ten years since she was in my classroom. I gladly shared, but deep down, I wanted to know even more: what position does she play in lacrosse, what does Baloo look like, what is she dreaming about for college?

Still, the heart of her email wasn't in the details. It was in one simple line that meant the world to me: "Thank you so much for making Young Fives so fun and creating an amazing experience."

Those words stopped me in my tracks. We never truly know, in the moment, what kind of difference we're making. But every once in a while, something like this comes along, a small reminder that what we do matters.

I think all teachers live for these full circle moments. They're the quiet affirmations that our time, energy, and love really do leave lasting marks. And while I wish all my former students would reconnect (and yes, some have through graduation parties, weddings, and even baby showers), this message reminded me that even when they don't, the memories still live on in both of us.

So here's to Baloo, to lacrosse, and to the students who take the time to say thank you. You'll never know how much it means.