Had a situation yesterday. If you were listening to this student,
a confusion of hurt, shame, and bewilderment, gazing with empty eyes and
speaking with a pained voice, explaining an absence of over two weeks. She
was back in the class, but she was still absent. If you had heard the
story your muscles would have gone taut. Your lungs would have emptied.
Your lips would have straightened like a stretched rubber band. While
your blood would have boiled, tears would have swelled in your eyes. The
sweat would have poured into your palms as your hands slowly clenched into
fists. You would have been a mixture of anger and sorrow. No joy in
Mudville today.
And yet, it was a good day, a very good day. She felt she could
talk with me, whom she hadn't had a previous paragraph's conversation,
because she knew I am "for real." I was gratified, but I was happier for
her for being there when she needed someone. I listened in an
increasingly dense daze, said a few things, wouldn't let her walk
away--she didn't want to walk away--took her to my office, made a few
inquiries, left her in my office alone to make a phone call. She passed
me in the hall with an almost invisible nod and what I thought was a
slight, cautious glimmer of hope. Laying amid the landfill of my desk was
a piece of paper on which was written a simple "Thank you. I'm going to
get some help."
I walked out of the building into the brilliant sunlight and warm
air, paused for a minute, looked at some cooing pigeons, took a deep
breath, headed for the V.P's office to get some coffee, and then it would
be on the Union to grab a couple of sinful doughnuts and chat some
students whom I might find there. I have to admit that I felt energized
by an indescrible overwhelming sense of accomplishment. It was as if a
fire was burning inside me that was more warming than the sun shining down
on me. I was able to help that student in desperate need.
I put her message among my sacred objects of teaching because she
helped me realize that the greatest fulfillment of being an educator does
not lie in that pubication, that conference paper, that grant, that
reputation, that title, that position, that promotion, that getting
tenure. No, it comes when we use our unique gifts and our humanity to
reach out and help another person. The quality of academics does not run
from the outside-in; true north is from the inside-out. Teaching is not
about things or even information. It is about loving, a sense of purpose,
making a difference, leaving a legacy.
Doing something transcendant, for something higher than yourself,
for a purpose beyond yourself, for a person other than yourself,
contributing in a meaningful way truly nurtures the spirit and lights up
the soul. Then, teaching is a true joy, a mighty force, burns like a
glorious torch--and lives, and live, and lives on!
Make it a good day.
--Louis--
Louis Schmier [log in to unmask]
Department of History http://www.halcyon.com/arborhts/louis.html
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA 31698 /~\ /\ /\
912-333-5947 /^\ / \ / /~\ \ /~\__/\
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-_~ / "If you want to climb mountains, \ /^\
_ _ / don't practice on mole hills" - \____
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