Christmas Is Coming

Today is one of my favorite days of the school year. Since I took this job and began teaching sixth grade only, I have had a party after school on the last day of the semester. Today was no exception. But this year, it wasn’t just a normal party. Good heavens no. One of the parents took the initiative in planning it. I have always done pizza and drinks and a movie kind of thing. But not this time. She insisted that “there has to be music. Kids this age love music.” She also had some of the sections bring chips, dip, sweet junk food, pizza money, and drinks.

I clearly don’t know what kind of music people my age like, let alone what kind of music people less than half my age like. And none of the parents who helped plan it wanted to do the research to find out what kind of music kids like, get some, and be sure that it is audience-appropriate. But things fell into place. One of my clarinet players’ dad is one of the top DJs in town. He volunteered to bring a set up and DJ the event for free. He played cumbias and more cumbias. He played some YMCA. He told them he was going to take them back to their elementary days and played the Chicken Dance. And of course, the perennial favorite Cha Cha Slide was played in two different versions. I never had anything like this when I was in beginning band! The kids all seemed to really enjoy it.

But that’s not the reason this is my favorite day of the year. Nor is it because I don’t go to work for the next two weeks. I actually enjoy the time off, but I enjoy my job more. I am doing what God created me to do. So why do I love this day? Because I see the fruit of my labors.

When we have an awesome concert like we did on December 12th, I get to see the rewards of the work the kids and directors have put in together. When I get Christmas cards and gifts from students and parents, I get to see the reward of the personal investment I am making into the lives of each of them. That feeling alone is what makes education incomparable to any other career path.