Through the Window

Samantha Behne

Planning a wedding while teaching full-time is no joke. There are endless lists, Pinterest boards, and countdowns—kind of like prepping for a new school year. One of the first big tasks on our list was finding a venue, which is no small feat in our area. Fortunately, my parents found one they thought I’d love and, with my blessing, booked it before I had the chance to visit in person.

A few weeks later, we finally made the trip out to see it. It was a holiday weekend, so the venue was closed, but we didn’t let that stop us. We peeked through windows, strolled the grounds, and imagined how everything would come together. I loved it instantly—even without seeing the full inside. I could see the potential, feel the excitement, and envision the day just from those glimpses.

Still, I said to my parents, “I can’t wait to see the whole place. I want the full view so I can start really planning the details.”

And that’s when it hit me—how similar this moment is to teaching.

Right now, as the school year wraps up, I find myself reflecting. Throughout the year, we see glimpses of our students’ growth. We peek through windows—small moments of insight, achievement, struggle, joy. But it’s not until the end of the year that we start to see the fuller view. We step back, take it all in, and realize just how far they’ve come . . . and how much we've all grown.

And similar to planning a wedding, the clearer the view, the more meaningful the planning becomes—especially when we start thinking ahead to next year.

So, as we close out this school year, I’m doing what I did at the venue: standing still, looking carefully, and appreciating the beauty in what’s been built. I may not have had the full picture from the start, but I can see it now—and it’s everything I hoped it would be.