Crunch time for me!
Not only are there mountains of papers to grade and semester grades to calculate, but also my husband and I are traveling to Kansas this weekend for our nephew's confirmation in the Lutheran Church. My mind is spinning as I am trying to finish the grading for the three on-campus classes I teach, so that after I return on Monday, I can focus on the two online courses.
Bittersweet time of year for sure. I just read Jessica's post about the end of the semester, graduating, reaching for one's dreams, not giving up.
This semester has been fulfilling for me. So many of my students have expressed to me how much they have learned in my classes, how much they have enjoyed my classes, and how much they will remember from my classes. One student even complimented me on 'setting the bar high' for my students. She truly believed she achieved so much more because I did, and she didn't want to disappoint me. Seeing my students improve their skills in writing makes me happy. Watching my students walk across the stage makes me feel like I have helped them achieve their dreams--for a career, for a better life for themselves, for an easier life for their families.
But the end of the semester is also sad. I enjoy getting to know many of my students. We share stories. They tell me about their lives. They listen to me share stories about my daughters and my grandchildren. They understand when I am nervous about my daughter and her husband and the little girl they have in foster care. I listen when a student tells me her husband just told her he was filing for divorce so her focus might be off for the evening. When classes end, so do our conversations.
Such is the journey we are on called life. Full of encounters and experiences. Full of new friendships.
I wouldn't trade it for any other profession in the world.
I have to say that I was very nervous at the beginning of the fall semester when 222 started. I like to read, but I never thought that I was very good at interpreting stories and finding that deeper meaning. I purposely took that class to challenge myself to do just that and I am so thankful that I did. I liked it so much that I took 223! The pod system that you and your daughter created is wonderful and I have encouraged other students to take these classes!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jessica. What a joy to have had you this entire year! Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate the recommendations too!
DeleteI understand exactly how you feel! It's crunch time for everyone at this point in the semester. I've got PowerPoints to make, blog posts to write, two tests to take, and probably something else that I'm forgetting. Not to mention, in the three weeks following the end of the semester I have several writing assignments to complete as I prepare to go to Louisiana for the summer to work at a junior/teen camp. Nothing beats the feeling of accomplishing another semester, no matter how stressful and busy it's been! As you said though, it's bittersweet in some cases. I will miss this great class and the awesome people in it. Our lively IM discussions, our discussion board conversations, it will be missed. I was very hesitant to take on online class but I'm so glad I did!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tara. I am glad to took the plunge into not just any online course, but this one!
DeleteI think that during "Teacher Appreciation Week," is the perfect time to make this response to you Mrs. S... but I mean it ever day-
ReplyDeleteMrs. S. You are truly one of the most inspirational teachers I have encountered! I hope that our communication does not end with graduation this weekend- I feel that I have so much more to learn from you, and I just enjoy our talks and your insight. I hope that you know how deeply grateful I am to you, and for all of the help that you have given to me the past couple of years! You are a wonderful teacher! I hope that in a few years, I will be able to say that I am even half as inspirational to my students as you have been to me. Thank you for EVERYTHING! Thank you for your dedication to your students, for your passion for your profession, for setting the standards for your students high, (it makes us reach further than we realized we were capable of.) Thank you for your creative style of teaching and developing lessons, and thank you for your patients, understanding, and all of your help and advice!
Thank you. Now I am sitting here crying. You have no idea how much this means to me.
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