So it's not just back to school for my kids... it’s back to school for me too. I am starting my fifth semester as an adjunct professor. And just like the students- I get those first day jitters!
And the questions:
Do I have all the supplies I need?
Am I prepared?
Am I going to be interesting enough?
Even though I’m a newscaster I don’t often stand in front of a room full of people with their attention only on me. And keeping that attention is a challenge. Especially when your students are struggling to keep their eyes open. I used to get upset by that... how could a young adult be so disrespectful that they would lay their head on their desk and go to sleep while somebody is trying to teach them something?! But I never really thought about what the students have going on in their lives aside from their studies. Until last year, that is. That’s when one of my students stopped showing up to class. I emailed her to find out if everything was OK and she wrote back to say she had to drop the class (even though it was too late to get her money back) because she had to take on a third job to help her family.
So I will be starting this school year off with a little more understanding for my students. Even though I still expect them to get their work done, I won’t assume that all of their time is spent on studying and completing assignments. And I know now that those first day jitters may not just be about their new classes, but about keeping up with their work while also going to work and, for some, even taking care of kids.
Now let me go check (again) to make sure I have all the supplies I need.
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