The end of a semester is bittersweet for me. Although I look forward to reading a book or
ten over the summer, I will miss the past few months of teaching writing,
literature, humanities, and speech. I will also miss reading all the essays
from my students. I'm sure my students will have nightmares about the phrase
"cite your work", but in the end, I hope they learned something of
value that will help on their journey. What they don't realize is, I always
learn from them, and this semester, thanks to some excellent work by my
students, I learned quite a bit.
As a final thank you to all of my students, and an
opportunity to give them some additional bits of wisdom from someone who has
'been there, done that', I've made a list of things to consider---academically
and personally. Good luck---go forth and make a difference.
1. Never underestimate your ability to change the world-I've
thought about this my entire life. I am one person, what could I possibly do?
As I've gotten older, I've realized that my small contributions add up. I've
raised two wonderful men who will make bigger contributions than I ever could.
I teach others the value of education and I teach them to express themselves
through writing. You don't have to feed an entire village. Teach them to grow
crops, and they will feed themselves.
2. Practice reading, writing, and speaking in public-In a survey of
employers conducted by Hart Research Associates, eighty percent stated they
wanted grads with better oral and written communication skills. Of course,
taking courses that focus on these skills is extremely important, but just like
everything else, practice is the key.
3. Listen to others opinions and arguments with an open
mind- You may not agree with them, but hopefully you can gain an understanding
of why they feel the way they do. This is a necessary skill for compromise and
is important in all aspects of life.
4. Expect the unexpected- This semester, like every
semester, there have been work conflicts, illnesses, new additions to families,
and deaths. You can't always prepare for these things, but they are going to
happen. Prepare yourself. Remember, you can't always control 'the problem', but
how you handle the problem is completely up to you.
5. Education comes in many forms- As I've said, I always
learn from my students. I have learned about conflicts around the world that I
knew little about, different religions, lifestyles, and public health concerns.
I can tell you about the fascinating social life of a ladybug and what fracking
actually is. I even learned how to heel a calf in a parking lot at College of
Southern Nevada. Look at every experience as an opportunity to learn something.
You will be surprised at the knowledge you will gain.
6. Continuing on number 5, you will be amazed at the things
you will remember. A lot is two words. I
can thank my high school English teacher, Phyllis Abbott, for drilling that
into my head.
7. Read and write outside of your comfort zone-It's good to
get angry once in a while. When you read something that gets under your skin,
stop and ask yourself why. I have a few essays I assign every semester that are
meant to do just that. It always works, and students begin thinking.
Additionally, you may be surprised to find that you actually enjoy reading
certain things that you thought you weren't attracted to. This semester, I have
had students that learned that they loved reading plays and that they connected
with Langston Hughes' poetry. Try it,
you may like it.
8. Once in a while,
take the 'other side'- Really. You might learn something about the issue, the
opposition, and/or about yourself.
9. Question everything-In a world where we are bombarded
with information, remember, it isn't always reliable information. Don't blindly
follow what others tell you. Find the answers for yourself and make your own
decisions.
10. Be yourself, appreciate others, show compassion-I know
that a lot of students, fresh out of high school, are trying to figure out who
they are and who they want to be. It's a tough time, but it is also an exciting
time. Be yourself. Uniqueness is a fantastic trait. Do what you love. Appreciate the uniqueness
of others. Life would be boring without human variety. Show compassion. Remember the essay we read about compassion? It is
one of my favorites, because after thousands of years of teaching and preaching
compassion, we as humans still can't do it consistently. Try.
Thank you for another great semester!
Teachers, Instructors, Professors: What did you learn from
your students this semester?
Students: What did you gain from your studies?
