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| My Christmas Card |
When one works in education, the year is measured in semesters. Yes, there are months and weeks, but there are mid terms and summer sessions and other ways to mark the passing of time: Registration, Drop/Add, Last Day to Withdraw. This term has been quite a challenge as I took on a Freshman seminar. Many schools have this course: A wide-ranging introduction to college and (in our case) the liberal arts, discussion of the summer reading assignment, etc. plus whatever content the instructor chooses. Most professors use their area of expertise: sociology, world religions, American history. Others focus on study skills and time management. The goal is the same: to ensure that first year students make the transition from high school to college and know what support services are available to them. They get out of their dorm rooms and become part of the college community: taking classes, actually studying, going to different events on campus.
This year I was recruited late to teach this course - about a week before school started. The students who registered for Section 21 were late registrants as well, for a number of reasons. About 1/2 dozen lived far from campus and didn't attend any of the early registration events held during the summer. Other students were recruited late to play on different sports teams; still others decided in August to go to college. All in all, a very diverse group: African-American & white, 3 times for men than women, about half from North Carolina, plus students from Florida, Pennsylvania, British Columbia, Oregon and a few more states. Most students play a sport: I had students athletes who swim, play soccer, football and baseball, run track.
When I was deciding whether to take on this course, my colleagues gave me this advice: It's a huge amount of work, but it is the most rewarding thing that you can do. Well, they were right on both counts. It was a colossal amount of work. I had to pull together a new course with very little prep time. I made my content analyzing primary sources - - it is my actual job. I was absolutely terrified of the advising component - I could ruin their lives! It is the busiest time of year for my 'real' job - in-school workshops for teachers as well as high season for Smoky Mountain Fibers.
Turns out, I loved the kids. They were charming, energetic, bright, passionate about that they like. Except for a few exceptions, they also had terrible study and time management skills, hated to read, were addicted to their phones. In other words, they were 18 year olds, most away from home for the first time. Again, with exceptions - they were excellent at factual recall, not so good with synthesizing what they learned. Most of them got through high school without ever cracking a book. They also found out the hard way that that wasn't going to cut it any more. But the semester is over and the grades are in. There were a few D's and a few F's and one young man whose wake up call came too late - so it's academic probation for him.
Will I teach it next year? I doubt they'll ask me - I feel I made a mess of it. On the other hand, I'll be at least a year smarter and would certainly benefit from this year's experience. My colleagues insist that I'll be asked to do it again. Warm body and all. We shall see...
Requisite Fiber Content: I am one hat and 4 days away from 50 Hats in 50 Days. Actually since I have 2 hats and a pair of fingerless gloves on the needles, I'm about there. I'll finish at least #50 this evening - a dark brown tweedy hand spun in my Trailside pattern. I am looking forward to 2 weeks off to knit a few gifts, then stuff for me. I'll also take a little trip, get some exercise, read some good books (or trash!), card wool for spinning, put the studio back together, and get a bit ahead on my Etsy shop that I have been letting run itself (see Freshman class above). The list is making itself!
My relationship of the last 6 years ended amicably of late, so I am regaining some space in my house. Although I'm a tiny bit lonely and the gourmet meals are no longer coming out of the kitchen, I'm enjoying cleaning out closets and dressers drawers. My waistline will benefit from lighter and earlier dinners as well. My independent spirit is happy to be single again!
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