The Very Last Day of Institute

It's bittersweet, packing up and leaving my little room at Temple University. Friday was the last official day of Institute, a bit anti-climatic if you ask me. I took the yellow school bus to Munoz-Marin Elementary School for the last time and ripped down all the posters and signs that had taken me hours to create. We all ate pizza together in the library and then my working group gathered to vote and pass out Institute superlatives. The awards included "first to have kids," "most likely to succeed," "most likely to be a school administrator," "best professional dress," and so on. I was pleased to receive the award for "next Institute staffer"!
I spent the afternoon cramming many items into my two suitcases and then headed out with my working group to downtown Philly and a packed karaoke bar. One of the other girls and I agreed that we were glad to be there, but didn't really like noisy, crowded places in general. The guys in the group got me to drink an Amaretto Sour and that was all for me. Padee and I took a short walk and when we came back a few of us were already ready to hit the sack. I said goodbye to my group members, knowing I would see them in two weeks at our next TFA training event. I actually got pretty upset when I realized that I would have to say goodbye indefinitely to Anthony, my advisor, right there in that crowded, loud, smokey bar. Still, I teared up when he hugged me and said, "Keep being a super-star. Make me proud." I ended up driving a car full of people back to Temple (the designated driver gets the wheel) and then quickly fell asleep, reflecting on the past five weeks.