Last Wednesday felt a bit out of the ordinary. I woke up early, heading toward Rogersville to photograph the Hawkins County Teacher's Assembly for Horizon Credit Union. This annual event gathers teachers at the start of the school year, supported by a host of sponsors. Though I've captured these moments in Hawkins County before, this year's venue, Cherokee High School, added a different dimension to the experience. The 25-minute drive from Kingsport felt like passing through the ghost town of my past attempts to blend into a stepfamily. Memories of the little house on the corner, dairy trips from Johnson City, basketball games, cross-country meets, and a parade of obligations played like a mirage of a former life.
As I walked through the halls of Cherokee, familiar faces quickly brought back memories. It was heartening to reconnect with old friends and witness the unwavering dedication of this community of educators. From elementary teachers and counselors to Tennessee's first and only National Teacher of the Year, Missy Testerman, these individuals continue to inspire. Starting the day with these remarkable educators was a privilege, reminding me of the resilience and selflessness that define them. Their work is challenging, often thankless, underpaid, and all-consuming, yet they persist because their cause is greater than themselves.
As I drove back, the melancholy of old memories lingered, but the journey was brightened by a familiar omen. Just past Surgoinsville, I spotted a hawk perched on a hay bale, surveying the pastures. It was a perfect shot, and though I had driven past, I turned around to capture it. The hawk waited, and I'm glad it did. For those few moments, I felt a connection to the symbolism these birds hold in both Greek and Celtic mythology—symbols of prophecy, knowledge, and messengers of strength and resilience.
In that moment, it struck me that things are the way they are because they are as they should be. The hawk, a reminder of adaptability and the natural flow of life, reinforced that the past and present are intertwined, guiding us forward. Just as the hawk stands as a sentinel over the fields, we too are observers and participants in the journey, shaped by our experiences and moving toward what is meant to be.