Totally Tuckered

Today was one of those days when I realize I'm actually more than okay. My classes went really well. I got a good phone call. I helped a colleague proofread a project. And I handled a student issue well.

Sometimes, when I'm getting ready to enter a classroom, I wonder what the heck I think I'm doing, and why anyone would think I can teach. Today, I taught. I helped people learn, helped people put things together mentally. Some days I have my doubts, and it's hard to walk into a classroom. Today was almost magical for me. (And, I hope, for my students.) Today was why teaching is such a rewarding profession.

Every so often, you hear from someone unexpected about something you did. Sometimes, the feedback is a sort of thank you. Today, I got a phone call like that. The dominant metaphor used, though, was "standing in front of the train." So I'm not sure I want to reify that one. Remember the picture of the person who stood in front of a tank in Tiananmen Square? I admire that person's pure fortitude. But I don't think I could ever be that person, even metaphorically. I wish I could.

I had really great office hours. Two students, very different things to talk about, both good conversations. I love talking to students in office hours.

I'm tuckered. My voice is ragged; either from talking or I'm catching a cold (sort of rare for me, fortunately). But I did a lot of talking today (a lot of class time, and then outside of class, too).

One of the things with teaching a night class is that I try to keep good energy going, and then at the end, it takes me some time to wind down. I'm winding now, though.