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April 27, 2006
All My Little Chickens
It's come to the end of another semester. I just finished giving a final to one of my students who needed extra time, while the rest of the TAs give the final to the large class of students. Sigh, I realized partly through that I won't have the chance to say goodbye to all of my students, as I usually do after the final. I always feel a little melancholy at the end of the semester, after investing for months in students, and not knowing whether I'll ever see any of them again.
But as I sat outside earlier in the finally sunshiney Pittsburgh weather, one of my old students passed by and smiled at me. She was my Bouncy Ballet Girl, always cheerful and talkative, sometimes painfully so. We even caught her dancing to her seat in front of a couple hundred students. Now she wants to be a lawyer, and she plays her music appreciation CDs for her friends, trying to get them to like classical music, too. Well, in my nostalgic mood, here's a short "hall of fame" of my favorite (or most memorable!) students.
*Concussion Boy: Earlier in the semester, someone punched him in the head, and he's been struggling with post-concussion syndrome all semester. At first, he seemed a little flakey, but he's worked sooo hard for the past couple of months, meeting with me almost every week. I think he made an A on the final. *proud*
*Love Birds: I always seem to have a pair of these. My pair this year are quiet and sweet, I don't think they know that I see them holding hands and occasionally giving each other a quick peck. I had one pair another year that didn't turn out so well, breaking up in the middle of the semester, with one of them requesting to be moved to another class. Drama!
*I Won't, Won't, Won't Fail This Class Indian Boy: I loved this kid. He failed the midterm, which steeled his determination to pass the class. Always respectful, and incredibly determined, he met with me several times, and the professor, and sent lots of e-mails. And pulled off a big old A in the class! He has become our motivational example for nervous students. And he wrote neat papers about Indian classical music, very cool.
*Pot Head Boy: Okay, we don't know for *sure* that he was taking illegal substances, but sometimes he would be so spaced out, none of us knew what to do with him. He was really smart at the same time, so sometimes his questions or answers would be random, disconnected, but brilliant sounding. Like synapses in his brain had been fried on something.
*I Work Full-Time So I Can Put Myself Through School, So I Take Every Assignment Seriously Italian Boy: Enough said, he was an example to every one. And fun, too!
*My Mom is in Prison, My Grandma Raised Me, But I Know That God's Going To Bring Something Good Out of This Girl: Okay, I get choked up just thinking about her. It was years ago, but I wish I could see her one more time and give her a big hug. She was always so cheerful and upbeat, and even when she was crying in my office, she still had so much hope.
...oh, no...another sad one!
*Both My Parents Died Last Year, But That Hasn't Shaken My Faith in God Boy: I hope someone's taking care of him. Again, years ago, but I still think about him and hope he's getting through life okay. So much suffering.
Time to grade finals. Maybe I can add more later.
Jo | By Tim and Jo | 05:32 PM
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