New Haven Independent

Posted by: Genesys | June 7, 2006 1:05 PM

Ms. Coggio, I can't believe you're not going to be here next year. Literature isn't the same with out you!!! I will never forget all the things you have done for me and my classmates. Thank you for everything. I love you!!!! Keep in touch!!!

Posted by: Miss | June 8, 2006 7:41 AM

Genesys,
I know. It's hard for me to believe I won't be here next year, either. But it's exciting, too. (I hope Literature won't be the same for you next year because that would mean you'd be repeating the grade...!!)
It's nice to hear that you've had a great experience with Literature this year, and I'm really glad you've been happy with having me as a teacher. I think we've had a lot of fun. I just want you to remember all of the amazing and difficult things you've managed to accomplish--writing a collection of deeply personal vignettes, writing a script and then performing it, reading some very difficult books, and participating in conversation that went well-beyond what many people would consider "high school" ability. You've done really well this year; I want you to remember how many awesome things you've done this year and I want you to use those awesome things next year as motivation.

Love,
Ms. Coggio

Posted by: Genesys | June 8, 2006 11:13 AM

Ms. Coggio,

I always ment to ask you this question, but I never got around to asking you. What made you decide to go to another school next year?

Posted by: Miss | June 8, 2006 6:07 PM

Hi Genesys,
Mostly it was the fact that living and working in another country has been a dream of mine that I've been putting off and putting off and putting off. I really put it on hold after I graduated from grad school and decided to come work in our school.
At that time, I was in a pretty serious relationship and placed a lot of value on trying to find a permanent, steady career. So when I found our school and saw who I'd be working with and got to meet the teachers, I knew it was the place I wanted to be. We have a pretty great school, I think. I knew that if I was going to put my traveling dreams on hold again, they needed to be on hold for a pretty great school.

But when you want something bad enough and you keep putting it off and putting it off and putting it off, it eventually starts to nag you. Have you ever read Langston Hughes' poem "A Dream Deferred"? You should maybe read it and find out what he means when he talks about people putting off dreams for a while.

It's not so much the fact that I want to leave NOW because something happened at school. It's only that my little dream has become so nagging that I should probably listen to it and follow it now rather than later.

By the way, I got your e-mail with your final project. I think it's awesome...but what happened to the part you were going to include about your mom's seizure? I'll work with you on it some more.

Posted by: genesys | June 8, 2006 8:57 PM

Ms. Coggio,
thank you for saying that about my finaly project. I think I put alot of effort in it becuase i want it to be really good and my boyfriend read it just before i sent it to you and he laughed at the part about the fish tank then he got really serious when he read about my mom becuase he knows how I feel about my mom. So I think it would be a great idea that you help me becuase I can't carry you in my pocket so I can ask you about something when I need you. I totaly understand what you mean about putting off your dreams.
Love,
genesys