It Still Adds Up. Nothing Like Hearing From a Student of Yesteryear with an Update of Where They Are Now

It's even better when it is a Math student (because I really have no business mentoring the mathematical minds, especially since I finished my math days in high school after getting a perfect score on the NYS Regents). I moved to literacy because, well, I like language and stories. Still, I get students from time to time in Explorations (an introductory course) who also come back around in Philosophy (when it needs to be covered) and often in Content Literacy. For the last few years, I've also had students in Research and Capstone while I fill all the leaking holes in a dam that has always been collapsing. 

Julie was one of my students...quiet at first...apprehensive...nervous, I suppose, but always hard-working and brilliant. She went into the Math Department, excelled there, finished our program and became certified in New York. She reached out to say she's been teaching for a few years on Long Island, but she's really interested in getting cross-endorsed in English as a change of pace. In her words, "I love teaching, especially the students, but I realize I also miss learning. I love being a student more." 

Of course, I also encouraged her to think about Ph.D programs, as it's a good fit for lifelong leaners who also enjoy working with K-12 schools. We know the work never ends, and we find drive and purpose in accomplishing it all.

Yesterday, I got up at 6 a.m. to start grading. I didn't get to it until 2 p.m., however, because of email and text demands. The work comes at ya in stereo. Graduate projects take a long time to work through, especially when you're trying to stay accountable to accrediting bodies (which I hate doing, but when in Rome). I'm hoping I'll find more success today and know I will definitely find it on Saturday with a high of 50 and rain all day (why must it rain on the weekend?). 

Time to wipe this morning yawn away and get to work. I'm getting there...slowly but sure...it will get done.