Mary’s Minute
“I don't believe you ever
get closure on anything. Things leave a permanent mark on you.” ~ Allison Anders
Today was the last day of
the 2019-2020 school year. This would
have been the annual end of the year breakfast, my first as Sheridan superintendent. I would have had the opportunity to express
my gratitude to the Sheridan staff for their wonderful start to my time here
and congratulate them on a great school year.
It would be a day full of good byes and best wishes – a way to say good
bye to the school year. Likewise,
yesterday students would have hugged their teachers and friends. Seniors would have walked the halls, yelled
some hoorays, and shed a few tears.
Instead of saying good bye
and feeling a sense of closure for a successful year, this week felt fairly
mundane. I shouldn’t speak for all staff
and students, but for me yesterday and today felt like the days before – not good
not bad, just another day. Certainly, I
feel no sense of closure. I think this is
what most seniors who mourn is that lack of closing this incredibly important phase
of their live.
We need to ask ourselves
if we need closure, or do we just keep living, and graciously accept the permanent
mark that all of our experiences leave upon us?
Maybe closure is over-rated. I
know it is hard for me to grasp that right now, but I am trying. I am a crier (just ask my kids), and closure
for me equates to nostalgia, which for me leads to tears. No tears today, but certainly these last few
months have left marks on me. I am
trying to take it all in and decide if closure is necessary.
I think this year we
traded closure for confusion. Either
way, as we think back on our experiences – seniors reflecting on their entire school
career, teachers as they think of the school year, or me as I consider my first
few months in a new community, we may not have closure, but we definitely have
memories. Let us savor those!
I wish
you well!
Mary
Mary,
ReplyDeleteI could not have imagined going through this pandemic with anyone else. As my father had often said, “Show them what you are made of.” You have definitely have shown me what you are made of. You have handled this chaos in a way that has been outstanding. You have been supportive not just to your students and parents but also to your staff. Yes, this is not the way anyone one us could have ever imagined, but you have made a bad and difficult situation better.
Kim, You are so kind! It is my pleasure to work with you and to be part of this caring community!
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