What I have learned from the kids #2

1) It's all about loving the other person as a whole.

I gotta be honest, it is very easy for a teacher to have favorites... and non-favorites. I won't name who the kids are that I have no patience for, but they are definitely the ones who has taught me the most of what love is. Despite of my impatience and sometimes short-temper to their traits that are annoying to me, majority of them still would hug me at the end of the day to say goodbye, or to say that they missed me, or to say that "Ms. Chou beautiful". It's moments like these that makes me wonder "Why?! I'm so undeserving of it!".

2) That it's about "See you next time."

Good byes are sad. Especially today. Long story short and under certain circumstances, I had to quit my current job after finding a new one. Had to hug all the kids when it was their time to leave. And their eyes when I had to tell them, "Ms. Chou has to go somewhere far away".

Goodbyes are never fair. Nor can they ever be 100% joyful. But one student of mine today while hugging me to say good bye, instead of a "goodbye, Ms. Chou, I will miss you too", he said, "See you next time!" with a smile. And then a peck on the cheeks.

I will miss these kids. A lot. A lot, a lot, a lot, a lot. Their smiles when they have said, "good morning", and the moments when they left with a "see you tomorrow". Their teary eyes running toward me because of a small boo boo, or when their friend did not want to share with them. Their little furrowed brows when my voice had to be raised in order to make sure they know what is right and what is wrong. Their desire to just simply be loved and to be embraced every day.

I will miss them.

But yes. See you next time. Let's not leave with an embrace full of sadness or regrets. Rather, with the knowledge that your Ms. Chou was filled with joy and hope that you will grow up stronger. And wiser. And kinder. And sweeter.




See you next time.