Oh my… I can’t believe how much has changed.

Over the last five years, I’ve celebrated several successes and peaks.

We got married, bought a house and a minivan, and had one child (so far). I started grad school (MSA), transitioned from a fifth grade teacher to a STEM Specialist, presented at several conferences across the country, was featured in a few books by friends who became authors, consultants, and edupreneurs, launched kylehamstra.com, joined social media, and grew in my journey with so many people in my professional and personal learning networks.

The good times were so good, that I just wanted to camp out there… forever. I wanted to hit the pause button on so many cherished experiences, relationships, and memories. Mentally, I wanted to stay in the past, fleeting as it may be. While my heart forever cherishes good times like these, deep down, I knew they couldn’t last forever. But I struggled to move forward, because I loved–and still love–the people who were there with me in those moments.

I wanted to hang on and never let go.

But people, life, and dreams move on…

Over the last five years, I’ve persevered through several challenges and valleys. 

Growing pains are real. If you’re not investing time and energy in things that make you uncomfortable and force you to grow, then you’re not really living life.

People close to me know the hurdles I’ve jumped, the hoops I’ve gone through, the circumstances I’ve overcome, and the demons I’ve battled face-to-face.

Game. On.

The challenging times were so challenging, that I just wanted to camp out there… forever. I wanted to hit the pause button to analyze so many negative experiences, relationships, and memories. Mentally, I wanted to stay in the past, fleeting as it may be. While my heart forever stressed on what I could neither influence nor change, deep down, I knew it couldn’t last forever. But I struggled to move forward, because I loved–and still love–the people who were there with me in those moments.

I wanted to hang on and never let go.

But people, life, and dreams move on…

Moving Forward

By not letting go of the past, I deprive myself of present and future opportunities.

It’s hard for me to let go of the past because I truly appreciate the people who invest in me and strive to do the right things for kids, education, and humanity every day.

It’s easy for me to move forward because I truly appreciate the people who invest in me and strive to do the right things for kids, education, and humanity every day.

Hello, 2020!

While it’s not easy to let go…

I’m with you.

I’m all in.

I’m all yours.

I’m moving forward…

Leaving DDE tonight… Are those cumulonimbus clouds? Precipitation coming? See DDE's Weatherbug Station! #sci5E11 pic.twitter.com/4cA6Vvib2w

— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) August 30, 2013

Blogger’s Note: This was my third tweet–ever. I remember being the last person to leave school–again–this time, on a rainy Thursday night after clearning off my fifth grade teacher desk, upon finishing another wonderful day directing our After School Program.