It’s almost June, SENIA peeps, and that means that soon, “School’s out for summer. School’s out forever.” Are you singing that tune now, and will it be stuck in your head for the rest of the day?
As fun and exciting as this time of year is with field days, celebrations of learning, and graduations, for me the end of a school year is bittersweet, as it’s also a time we say goodbye to our students, friends, colleagues, and graduates as they (or you) move on to different grade levels or adventures. In the international world, we experience so much loss, and are “Way Too Good at Goodbyes,” (Are you singing that song now?) Being good at goodbyes does not make saying them any easier, and sometimes it seems easier to just dig a hole and jump in until the goodbye season is over.
But I encourage you to say them. In May of 2020, we left Thailand, thinking we were going home for the summer, but the pandemic had other plans, and we ended up repatriating back to the USA. By doing so, we dug that hole and jumped in, missing all of the important goodbyes. So that made it easier, right? Wrong. I still have a hole in my heart the size of Bangkok knowing that I never had the opportunity to hug good friends, wish my students well, and officially say, “See You Later,” to the country who hosted my family for so long.
Goodbyes prompt us to reflect on the positive experiences, connections, and memories we have shared. Expressing gratitude and appreciation for the time spent together strengthens relationships and fosters a sense of gratitude for the impact others have had on our lives. Saying goodbye helps us develop resilience and adaptability skills. They teach us how to cope with and navigate the emotions that come with change and loss.
Goodbyes create space for new connections and experiences to enter our lives. By letting go of the old, we open ourselves up to fresh opportunities, relationships, and personal growth.
So SENIA friends, before you are “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” and go your “Separate ways,” be sure to wish everyone “Happy Trails” and say (or sing) “Bye, Bye, Bye!”
And then head out and do some karaoke.
Lori Boll
SENIA International Executive Director
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