One of my hardest good-bye moments was when I left my job. I had been at my job for 7 years. I started right out of high school and made many friends there. I worked my way up from a floater position, to the program coordinator and head preschool teacher. All of my early childhood education moments happened there, all of my experience was gained from this one place. These people guided me in my career. My boss became a very close friend and mentor. I was surrounded by women who were encouraging and powerful.  As the years passed I became one of them. I was helping the younger staff, teaching them and mentoring them.  Closing this chapter of my life and leaving this group of women was probably one of the hardest times in my life. But with the pain came joy and a new chapter in my life-motherhood. If I did not have my son, I would still be there working, growing and learning. But it was time for me to part ways, and take all my knowledge I gained from there and apply it to my own life.  And use this to further my career in the early childhood field. 

 

When I left the center to go on maternity leave they threw me a baby shower. This was very special to me and everyone involved, because even though it was never said people knew I may not be coming back.  There was a sense of joy and also sadness from my coworkers.

 

It is hard for me to say I will feel a sense of sadness when finishing up my Masters. I never really got a chance to connect with anyone in this program. Maybe I did not put myself out there enough. Or maybe it was because I stopped going to school when I was pregnant, so I lost contact with some of the girls I started the program with. Needless to say it will be hard to end this chapter in my life, because it has been a long time coming and I am ready to start a career.

 

I think that adjourning is essential in teamwork because it provides an opportunity for closure. If you leave something without ending it, you feel a sense of emptiness.