Final Thoughts…English 1103, Section 090
Wow…I can’t believe it!! I just submitted the final grades to the first class I ever taught…for the English Department…English 1103…what a semester…I can remember the first night of class…I had to have a very good friend “stand in” for me because I was at my “day job”…Open House with my 4th grade students…why was I about to put myself through this? Teach all day then go to the college once a week to teach for 2 1/2 more hours…was I crazy? Yes! Was it worth it!!! Absolutely!!! This experience will remain in my thoughts for a very long time…I was so nervous walking up the stairs to get to my class of freshman students…my good friend and colleague Shana…who “stood in for me” had the students writing their introductory letters as a way to respond to the letter I wrote to them that Shana had just finished reading a loud…was I ready for this?? YES!!
I quickly learned that the students before me were very fragile writers…damaged by years of torture in high school, middle school, and elementary school…they didn’t like to write weren’t quite sure what to expect from me either…as I took over and started class…I reminded myself…”just be yourself” and everything will fall into place…my goal…as I stated that night…was to help them learn to love writing and view themselves as writers…TALL TASK…but I’m here to say…
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!
I just finished reading everyone’s portfolio which included a final reflective letter…each letter gave me a “window” into the heart’s and mind’s of each of the writers in our community…each writer talked about things they learned…highlights from throughout the semester…a-ha moments…etc.
The one thing that came shinning through each letter was that each student now enjoys writing…some more than others…but most impressive of all…each student now view herself as a writer!!! What a wonderful feeling to have at the age of 18…
I had to wait until I was 38 to experience that feeling and for each of my students to articulate in their letters was humbling…
Wednesday nights are going to feel really weird for a long time for I will truly miss engaging in the act of learning with this group…thanks to each of them for helping me along the path…I wish them all the best and would like to end by saying…
KEEP WRITING!!!
