Officially Hosted the 14th Celebration of Teachers and Teaching Last Night at Fairfield University (Small Crew This Year, But Mighty)

We saw our Freshman Covid students graduate last year, the ones who spent their first year of college online, although they lived in dorms. We think, as a result of this, a generation of kids soured to the idea of teaching, so this year we only certified 21 students (only two in English). The good thing about my position at the University is I get to see the kids as undergraduates and graduate students...the growth is amazing, and these few were dedicated to the purpose and cause. 

In true Crandall fashion, I wrapped a gift for each of them and this year, instead of the perennial tradition, I gave them a starfish to go with the Boy and the Starfish story. I told them that teaching isn't about content all the time, but about working with the kids who want the least from you...but giving them your most.

Dr. Covadonga Arango-Martin, Director of the Spanish Language Program, and winner of the Jeffrey P. Von Arx S.J. Community Engagement Award this year, offered keynote remarks. She shared here teaching in Spain, then Iowa, followed by a doctorate and doing the incredible partnership with Cesar Batalla K-8 in Bridgeport. It was a great way to start the event.  From there, each of the seminar instructors introduced their students and gave special remarks about each one of their students: intimate, sincere, and personal.

I'm actually waking up this morning with only one meeting needed in their afternoon. There is no grading to be done. No classes to prepare for. I might float around in my imaginary pool all day. Wouldn't that be nice.

My need sent me this action shot, which is pretty cool, because it shows a body covered with poison ivy covered up. While I spoke, I didn't feel the need to scratch and itch. I'm ready for all that to go away. 

Now, I have deprogram myself some for waking up at 6 a.m. and working until 11 p.m. each day. It takes a while to do this, especially when the job goes 7 days a week for 30 straight weeks. I have writing needing to be done, the summer program for youth to get going, a teacher institute to plan, and perennials needing to be divided and annuals needing to be planted. 

I'd also like to unwind some of the crazy intensity of a semester that just was (once again full of insanity, impossible expectations with little to no support, and pretty awesome students - the students make it all worthwhile...as always).