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MidReal Story
Lessons Learned: Heeyoung's Farewell Speech
Anonymous
Aug 29
Scenario:Heeyoung just retired after 20 years. She must make a speech for her retirement party.
Create my version of this story
Heeyoung Kim
retired teacher,friends with colleagues and former students,short grey hair,warm and introspective.
Jina Park
former student turned colleague of Heeyoung,respects Heeyoung deeply,long black hair in a ponytail,ambitious and caring.
Sungmin Lee
school principal and Heeyoung's close friend,balding with glasses,wise and humorous.
It's the day before the last day of class.
I'm done with all my lessons and exams, so I have nothing much to prepare except for a speech during the Closing Ceremony.
My colleagues and I are having a farewell dinner at a nearby restaurant.
The food is delicious, but I can't enjoy it because I'm so sad.
I'm retiring after teaching at this school for 20 years.
It's a bittersweet feeling.
I'm happy that I can finally rest and do all the things that I've wanted to do but couldn't because I was too busy.
But I'm also sad because I will miss my colleagues, the students, and the school so much.
One of my former students, Jina Park, is now a colleague and good friend.
She arranged this farewell dinner for me.
She has long black hair in a ponytail and a beautiful smile.
Jina sits across from me, her eyes twinkling under the soft restaurant lights.
"Heeyoung, try the bulgogi," she says, nudging a plate towards me. "It's your favorite."
I force a smile and pick up my chopsticks. The aroma is mouth-watering, but my appetite is nowhere to be found.
"Thank you, Jina," I say, taking a small bite. The flavors burst in my mouth, but they do little to lift my spirits.
Around the table, laughter and chatter fill the air. My colleagues share stories and memories, their faces glowing with warmth and camaraderie.
Mr. Lee, our math teacher, raises his glass. "To Heeyoung! For twenty years of dedication and inspiration!"
Everyone joins in, raising their glasses high. I lift mine too, though my hand trembles slightly.
"Thank you all," I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper.
Jina reaches out and squeezes my hand. "We'll miss you so much," she says softly.
I nod, swallowing hard. "I'll miss you too."
As the night goes on, plates are cleared and replaced with new dishes. The conversation shifts from work to personal lives, to plans for the future.
I find myself drifting in and out of the conversations, lost in my thoughts.
Twenty years. It feels like a lifetime and yet just a moment. I remember my first day at the school, nervous and excited. The faces of students who have come and gone flash before my eyes.
"Heeyoung," Jina's voice pulls me back to the present. "Are you okay?"
I blink and look at her. "Yes, just... thinking."
She smiles knowingly. "It's a big change."
"Yes," I agree. "It is."
The restaurant begins to quiet down as people finish their meals. Some of my colleagues start to leave, coming over to give me hugs and well-wishes.
"We'll see you tomorrow at the ceremony," Mr. Kim says as he heads out.
"Yes," I reply with a nod.
Soon it's just Jina and me left at the table. She looks at me with concern.
"Do you want to talk about it?" she asks gently.
I shake my head. "Not tonight."
She nods understandingly and stands up. "Let's get you home then."
We walk out into the cool night air. The streets are quiet, the city lights casting a soft glow around us.
As we reach my apartment building, Jina turns to me. "Heeyoung, if you need anything... I'm here."
"I know," I say with a small smile. "Thank you."
We hug tightly before she leaves. I watch her walk away until she's out of sight.
Inside my apartment, I sit down at my desk and pull out a blank sheet of paper. My speech for tomorrow's Closing Ceremony remains unwritten.
I stare at the paper for what feels like hours, but no words come.
Finally, I put down my pen and head to bed, hoping that sleep will bring some clarity.
But as I lie there in the dark, all I can think about is how much I'll miss this life I've built over the past two decades.
The next morning comes too quickly. I dress in my best outfit and head to school for the last time as a teacher.
The hallways are bustling with students preparing for the ceremony. They greet me with smiles and waves, but there's an underlying sadness in their eyes.
In the auditorium, I take my seat on stage alongside my colleagues. The principal steps up to the podium to start the ceremony.
My heart pounds as he begins his speech, knowing that soon it will be my turn.
"And now," he says finally, "I'd like to invite Ms. Heeyoung Kim to say a few words."
I stand up slowly and walk to the podium. The room falls silent as everyone waits for me to speak.
I take a deep breath and look out at the sea of faces before me – students I've taught, colleagues who've become friends.
But before I can utter a single word, there's a sudden commotion at the back of the auditorium.
The doors burst open and someone rushes in shouting something unintelligible.
I squint to see through the bright stage lights.
A group of students enters, holding a large banner that reads, "Thank you, Ms. Kim!" in bold, colorful letters.
My heart skips a beat as they make their way down the aisle, the banner swaying above their heads.
The entire auditorium turns to watch them.
"What's going on?" I whisper to Jina, who is seated beside me.
She just smiles and shrugs, clearly in on the surprise.
As the students reach the front of the stage, they turn the banner around to reveal dozens of handwritten messages and signatures.
Tears well up in my eyes as I read some of the notes: "You inspired me," "Best teacher ever," "We'll miss you."
One of the students, Minji, steps forward with a microphone.
She looks nervous but determined.
"Ms. Kim," she begins, her voice trembling slightly. "We wanted to do something special for you because you've done so much for us."
The audience erupts into applause and cheers.
Minji continues, "You've been more than a teacher to us. You've been a mentor, a friend, and a second mother. We can't thank you enough for all your hard work and dedication."
Her words hit me like a wave, and I struggle to keep my composure.
Another student, Jisoo, steps up next to Minji.
"We've prepared something for you," she says with a grin.
"Hit it!" she calls out.
Music starts playing from the speakers, and the students begin a choreographed dance routine right there in front of the stage.
Their movements are energetic and full of joy, and I can't help but smile through my tears.
The audience claps along to the beat, creating an electric atmosphere in the room.
As the performance comes to an end, Minji and Jisoo step forward again.
"We hope you liked it," Minji says breathlessly.
"We'll never forget you," Jisoo adds.
I take a deep breath and step back up to the podium.
"Thank you," I say, my voice breaking slightly.
"This means more to me than you'll ever know."
The students hand me the banner, and I hold it up for everyone to see.
The room fills with applause once more.
I look out at all the faces – my students, my colleagues – and feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
"I've been incredibly lucky to have spent these years with all of you," I say.
"I will cherish these memories forever."
As I step away from the podium, Jina wraps me in a tight hug.
"You deserve this," she whispers in my ear.
The principal takes over again, thanking everyone for coming and officially closing the ceremony.
People start to stand up and mingle, but I'm still standing there on stage, clutching the banner like it's a lifeline.
Suddenly, Minji runs back up to me.
"Ms. Kim! We have one more surprise for you."
Before I can ask what it is, she pulls out a small box from her bag and hands it to me.
I open it to find a delicate silver necklace with a pendant shaped like an apple – a symbol of teaching.
"It's from all of us," Minji explains. "We wanted you to have something to remember us by."
I put on the necklace with trembling hands.
"It's beautiful," I say softly. "Thank you so much."
Minji beams at me before being pulled away by her friends.
Jina walks over and puts an arm around my shoulders.
"Ready to go?" she asks gently.
I nod, taking one last look at the auditorium filled with people who have meant so much to me.
As we walk out together into the bustling hallway filled with laughter and chatter, I feel a sense of peace wash over me.
But before we can leave the building, another group of students rushes towards us with excited expressions on their faces.
