They will always be a special group of Rebels - my Rebels

My first attempts at blogging were with the now-defunct Posterous blog site. I liked it and continued using it for a number of years until the dreaded notice about the site going black in the near future. Fortunately, it provided a means of archiving my posts, not that they were so earth shaking and full of wisdom. But they are part of a bigger story.

Recently, as I neared my retirement date (today is the actual first day of retirement in fact), our local School News Network shared some of my thoughts in an article titled "Friends of Students, Fighter for Justice." In it, I expressed some of my uncertainty when I moved from Wayland Union Schools to Godfrey-Lee Public Schools. I also explained my attachment to a class of students at the time -- 7th graders -- that helped pull me through.

I came across the following post from my old Posterous site which validates how I felt as those former 7th graders were soon to graduate:

Colonel B's Corner

This is an archived post

That Day is Coming

May 8 2008, 12:32 AM  by David Britten

Six years ago, I walked into Lee Middle School and my life has never been the same. While I have crossed paths with many past and present staff members and students, the Class of 2008 has in many ways imprinted on my life in ways no other class or group of young people have. It wasn't easy. They were seventh graders and full of energy, ready to test me and their teachers without even thinking about it. There were times I wondered why I had left the relatively simple and safe confines of Wayland for this. But something always struck me about this group. They had enthusiasm for life and that carried over into learning. I watched them grow and develop into fine young adults. We've laughed together and we've cried together. Now, in a matter of a couple of weeks, it will be time to let them go. It will be hard not to shed a tear as they walk across my stage with their diplomas in hand, but I'm sure the pride I'll feel for each and every one of them will carry me through the day. They will always be a special group of Rebels - my Rebels.