Wonderful student email

This morning's email--what a gem.

Last night's American Nature Writers class was the "report out" for students' Field Observations. I invited the editor-in-chief of the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine because she's interested in hearing new voices in the magazine.

Hi Julie, ​

Yesterday's class was awesome! Thank you for creating a space that allows us to be authentic.  It was nice to have Kathleen about of our class to hear her feedback which lines up with yours and the gentle way you encourage us to do and be more. 

Love, love, love the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Booklet.

I have attached my Field Note Reflection Paper.

See you next week!

Student

I needed this

Last night was the final class meeting for my Intro to GLBT Studies class: students planned a potluck, so we had a lot of cookies and pop, and although I did some teaching, mostly we celebrated and shared what we'd learned.

One student who's been struggling to come to class (and complete assignments!) said something that surprised me when it was her turn to talk: she said that she hasn't ever been one to speak up in class, but she's felt safe to do so in our class. That experience has enabled her to speak up in her other classes, too: she's gotten brave.

I felt proud about that! And then this morning, I checked into the class's webpage, and I found this message from her:

Subject: A letter to my favorite class <3 br="br">

First of all, I want to say that I feel so blessed to have met each and every one of you. You are all beautiful people. This class has meant so much to me, probably more than any of you will ever know. Like I said in tonights class, because of you all I was able to break from my shell and show you who I really am. Thank you so much for always accepting my thoughts and opinions with open arms. This class has had a tremendous impact on me as a person, and I will always carry that with me. You all will remain in my heart forever. Thank you, Julie for providing such a wonderful learning environment, and being a marvelous teacher. You are an amazing woman. Thank you all.

Much love,

[Student] (:

Doing the math

I've just added up the number of students I'm teaching this semester: 144.

Yikes.

That's 28 and 26 in my two sections of FYC. That's 30 and 31 in my two American literature courses. That's 29 in my WGST course.

All of them will be writing a lot for me, so I will be reading a LOT of student work. Not to mention all the reading I've assigned them: I re-read every semester, especially for the literature courses, because 1) I need the refresher and 2) it's fun!

I have *such* a great job, really -- I get to READ great literature (okay, and mediocre student essays) and then talk about what it might mean . . . with and to human beings who might not have a chance to talk about literature anywhere else but my class.

Yay.

Good colleagues

This weekend, I worked hard for the college, making good impressions, as did my wonderful faculty colleague Sue Powell from Nursing and my extraordinary student colleague Courtney Kokkler.

Both women hung in there when the other two volunteers didn't show up.  Both women spoke eloquently and informatively about the college's programs.  

Our booth's visitors picked up all of the admissions information and fun stuff I brought -- as well as almost 350 pens printed with the Q&S at Century student club logo.  "The best pens at the Park," I shilled, telling the truth.

I spent over $10.00 just on Smarties candy this year, over 500 pieces. "We're a college; have a smartie" I said on Saturday.  "We're a college; have a smartie, be a smarty" I said on Sunday, thanks to the talented Jeanne Cornish from Metro State.

Graduation

Most people wouldn't think that I'm a formal-event-type person, that a graduation ceremony would be something I'd attend. After all, why do we have to get gussied up and parade around with mortarboards to acknowledge what we've earned when *we* know what we've accomplished?

But this ceremony is one that matters, I think, as the concrete manifestation of our educational achievements.

And it's almost always a good celebration, even if ours is held in a hockey arena and feels like it: graduates and faculty down in an almost-pit, family members and friends on wooden bleachers without backs jutting out of concrete numbered steps. Even without regalia (didn't do the paperwork required since I'm just not on campus), I'll attend tonight, sitting on those bleachers, mingling after to shake students' hands. I expect to see some of my favorites -- I've been missing them this sabbatical!