The Facebook Experiment

I am terrible at maintaining anything on the Internet. I stink at it. Case in point-my last blog attempt had only a dozen or so entries and it was 11 months between posts. I started a MySpace with the help of my sister but it lasted maybe a week. I am on the computer sooo much for work that when I come home I shy away from the Mac. However, last weekend I was convinced to join Facebook. I was persuaded by the fact that it is more private then MySpace and more fun. Hmm...I'd have to think about that. Reluctantly,I put together a profile and uploaded some pics. I decided to look up a couple of former students and the rest is history as the saying goes.

Facebook has been a lot of fun. I am a bit overwhelmed at the moment due to the sheer number of former students I have added as friends. I intend to make contact with each one. It has been terrific to see where former students are in their lives. Some of my former students are now 30!!! Can you believe it??? Others are married with children and some are still trying to find their way in this world.

It has been a true blessing to catch up with former students. When I was teaching I would become so emotionally invested in some of their lives. Especially the Class of 2000 from Santa Fe High School. I taught some of those students 3 of their 4 years in high school. I saw them enter as 9th graders and cried with happiness for them when they graduated. When that Class of 2000 walked away from Santa Fe High School, I did as well. Going back to SFHS in the fall without them was not an option. I remain especially close to one-Jenn- who is my surrogate 3rd sibling my sister and I always wanted!

I no longer teach, but I am still an educator and I still care about my former students. I am glad they are letting me catch up with them and pleased that so many want to catch up with me! I have a blackberry and that enables me to write on their walls or send a quick message. Thankfully, because of the blackberry I don't have to be in front of the Mac every night to keep up with Facebook. Without the blackberry, I would imagine my Facebook experiment would not be working out so well. : )

My former students are grown up or growing up-just as it should be!