School's out, and it's time for farewells

A City Times reader muses on what makes goodbyes bittersweet for a teacher

I remember the first batch of senior students I had to say goodbye to. They were noisy, cheerful - rambunctious even. But when they walked out of the auditorium in that school in Calcutta, India, I was left with a strange sensation - one that I hadn't experienced before. Today, in Dubai, eleven years later, I get that same bittersweet feeling every time a batch of my seniors graduates.
Every year I enter new classrooms and find before me teenagers waiting for me to take them through another year of learning. So I tell them about the brilliant works of Shakespeare, we debate about the relevance of his plays and the verbosity of old English prose. We interpret poetry, marvel at authors' use of language and laugh at the complex rules of grammar. Through it all, together we derive life-affirming lessons from literature. We discover wisdom, cheeky anecdotes and profound truths that help us understand the complexities of existence just a little bit better.
Gradually I push them forward, towards new learning and soon another year in their school career ends. That is how the system works. However, while the students move on, I (and I think many teachers do the same) spend the rest of my days entertaining hopes and dreams for their future success - lives of grandeur and big achievements. I continue to watch from the sidelines as they become men and women ready to take on the world.
After investing so much into what we teachers do it's rather difficult to simply say 'goodbye' to students and not know where they are headed. We know that as bright and hopeful as it may seem, the path ahead could be a difficult one. One that has both struggles and successes, love and heartbreaks, none of which we teachers could really prepare them for, no matter how much we try.
Through the years we become a part of each other's lives, and I let go reluctantly, in the hope that whatever they do it will all work out well.
One of the best feelings in the world is when your old students come back to the school to meet you, and you realise an unbreakable bond has been created, one that eclipses any sadness that may linger after all those goodbyes were said. That you may have positively influenced them, in academics and in life, even in a small way, is an inspiring thought.
After eleven years as a teacher, I have realised that moving forward is inevitable and while there is a tinge of sorrow in farewells, the overwhelming emotion will always be pride and joy. Graduations will always be bittersweet. but mostly just sweet.