Adjourning Phase

I have been in several groups in the past, and the adjourning phase has always been simple. The group of individuals where the adjourning phase was the hardest is in situations where the adjourning phase is abrupt. When you work with people, you are a team; you have a common goal, and you form bonds that last outside of the work day and group you are in. even though I have not had a job where I had a specific project and team members, I count my jobs with team members as my teammates as well as groups I have worked with in the past while working on academics.

 One of the jobs I had when I lived in Georgia, I was an early preschool teacher for this company for over two years. This was a big accomplishment for me because I had never been at a company that long, and I loved the children, families, and colleagues I worked with; well, the teachers at least. There were new owners that took over, and soon started to ‘clean house’. I remember coming in on a Monday and working that day, and that day seem to be off for me. At the end of the day, the owners told me to come into the office, and they fired me for reasons that were made up and false, and I had to leave without saying goodbye to my coworkers, children, and families. I was so distraught and hurt by this action because I had been with these ladies for over two years, and we had formed a wonderful bond, and we worked on being the best educators we could be, and to have it ripped away from you, and not be able to say good-bye or have what you have done celebrated makes the adjourning phase more difficult.

I wish that I could have left on terms that were my own, and have been able to talk to my families and children and coworkers so that it wouldn’t have been such a shock. My families in my classroom were so hurt and disappointed in the management team. I even some parents pull their children from the program because of my abrupt departure. I did work for a school that celebrated me leaving by throwing me a surprise going away party. That brought tears to my eyes, and it is something I will never forget because it was special and made me feel appreciated and special; it made me feel part of a team.

I think I will take a lot away from the individuals I have worked with and met via my online program, but I imagine the adjourning phase to be simple and sweet because there has been no face to face meetings. I think that adjourning is an important phase because it is completing and ending properly. You can sit back and discuss things on terms that puts what you have done into perspective, as well as any last or final thoughts so that you can truly learn from your peers.