I love my job

I just had my first Eng 101 class, and boy, was it awesome! When I was walking back from AUP I was reminded of why I love teaching: the ideas that get put out there. Every time I teach it only reaffirms that we must not, ever, underestimate our students. Ever. I had students today who articulated -- much more eloquently and "smartly" that I would do -- how identity, and identification, works. They discussed how it necessarily always involves something seen (which presupposes a social component), and this "seen" thing is usually different than what is "real." Whooo boy. Deep, eh? Even critics don't usually deal with that question, because it's too big. For them: no problem!

Overall, my class has good karma! I mean, it's been said in the past that I generally have a great rapport with the students in my classes, and I always try to catalyze the energy in the classroom, but boy, we really connected today! I think their energy is going to be great! Maybe it's because a lot of them have already had Eng 101 before. Maybe it's just the time, or the day, or some other unknown factor. It's early to tell. But boy, I had so much fun... and I hope they did, too! :) And we even learned a new word today (well, they did): "loquacious." I hope this is a harbinger of what's to come!

People ask me all the time what I plan to do when I'm done with my PhD, and I always tell them that I'm already doing it. We're always reminded of our "dream job" in our culture; I've got mine and I thank God for it almost every day. I may be crazy, but my "dream job" is literally doing exactly this: teaching writing to first-year (and older!) students. Perhaps I'm a sadomasochist, or enjoy martyring myself; it's a thankless job in many respects, and an extremely difficult one, but God, do I love it!

Enough hackneyed gushing about my job. (As I look over what I've said, I realize that this post is an exercise in overusing the exclamation point. I'm sorry, guys. But I can't guarantee that it won't happen again).