Happy Moment #21: Helping a Former Student

I think when you are a teacher -- and probably most especially when you are a teacher of writing -- you get to know your students and want the best for them. Because I read a lot of student essays, I feel like I get to know my students in ways that are more personal than someone who teaches, let's say, chemistry or history. Sure, I do read essays that are along the lines of "here is what I did on my summer vacation" and "here are all the reasons I love my boyfriend." But as we start to "push" the thinking of our students, we see them opening up and exploring the many facets of rhetoric. Sometimes I read heart-breaking stories of tragedy and loss like dead wives or burned down houses or sexual assaults. I've read my fair share of kids thinking about the effect of divorce in their families or how their parents have worked multiple jobs to keep food on the table. Students will write about the many times they have either tried to kill themselves or wanted to quit school. We writing folks are trying to help our students learn the art of critical thinking and reading. We hope they get an appreciation for language and communication. We even hope that they can take these skills on to courses like chemistry and history and understand the ways in which language and rhetoric can be utilized and powerful.

It can be exhausting. But it is also the reason that I love my job -- I don't think I have a lot of talents in this word -- but I do think I am good at taking a text that a student has written and helping that person "play" with their words and their sentences in ways to make it more effective. I help them identify their argument (or thesis) and how they can use their experiences or observations as proof for what they feel or think. I have worked hard over the years to develop a style of comment review that is both encouraging and critical at the same time.

So, of course, I hope that students leave my class and go on to awesome things in this world! I always hope that they find their passions and discover ways of making those passions a way of life (perhaps through a future profession or job). I don't often hear from former students but when I do it is always an amazing experience -- perhaps it is silly to say this, but I feel like I helped "birth" them intellectually and I always feel proud -- almost like a mother! -- by their accomplishments.

Jennifer was one of the first students I had here at SWIC in the early 2000s. I adored her as both a student and a person from the start and I still remember how brave she was in exploring the works of Gabriel Garica Marquez, a writer who can be daunting for many of my LIT 205 (Non-Western Lit) students (but a fabulous writer who they need to read!). After finishing at SWIC, Jennifer transferred to nearby SIUE and we continued a friendship that grew (and she was even there at the beginning of my relationship with Jim and later was a bridesmaid at my wedding!). Eventually, she and her husband and daughter moved from the area but we stayed in contact via Facebook as best we could. I was delighted when Jennifer asked me to help with her capstone courses as a committee member so she could complete her DSW (Doctorate Specialist in Education) degree from the University of Tennessee. I was delighted to video conference into her defense after reading the amazing research that she has just completed. In essence, she found a gap in the research, notably the issue of multiracial adolescents and bullying. And remember that feeling I noted in the previous paragraph? Yep, I feel like a proud mama duck. I was there at the beginning. I was so touched when she said in the video conference that I helped her direct a critical eye at race.

THAT makes me happy! So, you know what? I will keep slodging through essay after essay. I hope that other "Jennifers" happen in their own individual ways. Heck, even one Jennifer is worth it!