The semi-formal soiree was decidedly elegant and sincerely
comfortable. Ascending the steps in
proper form, teachers in brightly colored neckties and delightful dresses
mingled amidst waiters serving hors d’oeuvres and cheerful tenders splashing
burgundy wine into crystal chalices. Teachers surfed the crowd as if picking out the perfect wave to converse with for a
short time and then moving on to the next.
Everyone discussed stories about their students, both triumphs and tribulations,
expressing wonderfully powerful experiences.
One man shared that he had seen eleven students pass away throughout his
time teaching. One student was killed
earlier this year because he had taken another student’s girlfriend.
Stories like this brought my educational experiences into a
sharp clarity. I realized how often I take for granted the opportunities available to me as an educator. With the potential to change lives, we must
be on our game all day, every day. The
world depends on us to love and educate it into a heightened state of
consciousness and connection for all of humanity. My
time talking to other teachers was exhilarating. I now feel ignorant to what others across the
country must experience. YNI will be an
enlightening opportunity to realize the deeper message available to me in my
profession.
Dinner was adorned with too many types of silverware. We laughed as me made awkward attempts to
figure out which spoon or fork was appropriate for the different parts of the
meal. Our salad came to us wrapped up
with a giant leaf of lettuce and was held together by a pickled slice of
cucumber. The meals accommodated all
types of eating habits, ranging from vegetarian to carnivore. Finally, dessert was a tasty treat of
pistachio mousse and peanut brittle bark.
Throughout the feast, waiters served wine, water, and coffee poured from a French press. Soon, the evening came to a conclusion.
When everyone finished their meal, they broke into various different groups. Some people went back to the hotel to relax and go to sleep, some went out on the town, and others found quaint nooks to complete their assignments for the next day. Regardless of their next destination, everyone seemed decidedly content and satisfied from the day’s events. That night, I slept like a baby. I was exhausted, both physically and mentally, and had a busy start in the morning.
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