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The Ripple Effect of 51 Years

After 51 years of working, my mom finally retired in October.

We could hardly believe it. She had talked about retirement for years but always found a reason to keep going. Was it the love of the work? The steady rhythm of the paycheck? The fear of the unknown that comes when you step into a brand-new stage of life? If you ask her, she’ll nod yes to all of the above.

But my sister and I just kept thinking—what an incredible thing it is to reach this point. Fifty-one years in any profession is no small feat. That’s half a century of showing up, doing the work, caring about people, and making a difference.

We threw her a party, just a few hours long, in the small town where she spent her career. Over the years, her office had downsized, and in recent years she’d even been working from home. Yet when the day came, the room filled with coworkers, friends, and family—people from every chapter of her career. One after another, they stopped to tell her how she had affected them.

Driving home that night, I couldn’t help but think about teachers.

Each school year, you meet a new group of students and families. You collaborate with colleagues, connect with parents, mentor new teachers, and offer encouragement to countless others. You may not see the ripple immediately—but year after year, it grows. Your influence stretches far beyond the classroom walls.

When teachers retire, the guest list could fill a stadium—not because of the size of the school, but because of the size of their impact.

So this week, as you head into another Friday, take a quiet moment to think about your own ripple effect. The student who smiles because you noticed them. The colleague who finds courage because you listened. The parent who feels seen because you cared.

Fifty-one years from now, you might not remember every test or lesson plan—but someone will remember you.

And that’s the kind of legacy worth celebrating.
 

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