As teachers, we face very important and, at the same time, very challenging jobs each and every day. The decisions we make have a great impact on the future, maybe not so much on us, but those we call our students. It is an enormous responsibility we take on. Have you ever thought about 20 years from now seeing the little eyes you look into every day attached to a much older face. What would you say to yourself? Would you be able to look and say, “ I am proud f or what I have done to affect this persons life?” I think the answer for all of us would be, “ I hope so.” There is no definite answer, not yet anyway. We can’t step into the future and find out. We also can’t go back and fix any mistakes we might have made. This leaves the weight resting on our shoulders each minute of every day we spend in the classroom, staring into those tiny little eyes. I am sure we all have stopped and thought about it, at least for a few brief moments.

What we can do now is try to do the best we can do. In order for us to achieve success, we must have the proper tools, as with any job. We must be able to walk in and know we can fulfill our responsibility to the children, to the parents, and to ourselves. I am very glad that I came to Happy Marion. I am very glad that I woke up that April morning and decided to show up for the interview. With all that the school has given me, I feel grateful. The training courses that I have attended, the support of the directors, and the general camaraderie amongst my coworkers provides me with the resources I need to sleep at night, to wake up each morning, and to look toward the future in those tiny little eyes and smile. I hope each of you feels the same.