And thus ends another year

Yep, once again, Mock Trial is over. We finished in the Elite Eight at State this year, but did not place in the top 3. Is that okay? I think it is. I think mock trial is about teaching students about our system of government and judiciary. It's about understanding what we do. It's about meeting other students. Somehow, that message got lost this year. Somehow, pride and vanity and envy took center stage. It was sad to see my senior students in tears, partly because it was their last year, but partly because they didn't advance further. However, the fact remains that, in my three years as coach with two other fine attorneys, the team has taken themselves to the Elite Eight each of those years. That's a measure of their dedication. To denigrate that by mourning the absence of "First Place" makes me feel that we taught nothing. Then again, I am the teacher coach, not the fun coach or the father coach, so it stands to reason that I did my job and filled my duties. I have sincere doubts that I will coach next year. It's too straining on me.