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You never know what a class is going to be like until you walk in there and they’re all looking up at you….. The PFSP class, though, took one look at me and dove in and I loved it. I think Alex R had his hand in the air within the first 15 minutes of class. I walked in that first day and watched all of you listening to the presentation as to what this program was going to be and I remember thinking, “Wow, this sounds very official and yet I will be anything this class won’t be too stuffy or crowded with rules.” I was so excited to see how interactive, diverse, and interesting this group was — and I’ve never had a class like this, that became a family. I almost cried this morning, and I never cry in class. You all touched me and taught me an enormous amount — for that, I can’t thank you enough.

So for each of you:

• Andreia — thank you for your smile and your patience, and for keeping an eye on Ryan Barry for me. : ) Your sweet nature and bright mind will make you an excellent teacher (and if you teach high school, all the boys will stay after so just be warned…)
• Ariel — You’ll be a damned good lawyer one day soon, and I will be able to say I knew you when…
• Ryan Barry — I think I have never had a student be so nice to me right away. I would say you were sucking up, but that’s not really what it was. As my brother would say (and this is the highest praise he can give), you’re a gentleman.
• Ryan Buchmuller — “Gimp”. Honestly, what were you doing in any of these summer classes anyhow? You better be in my literacy for PE teachers so you can keep the discussion up on a higher level
• Amy — I was so glad when you started talking more in class, you had so much to say that was thoughtful and interesting. I also really respected how your presentation didn’t shy away from the really tough aspects of the issue.
• Niki — take a deep breath! You know so much more than you think you do and the best thing you could do for yourself is to believe that. You’re a bright bright woman who will go far!
• Akeem — You earned my respect the first day when you looked me in the eye and introduced yourself. You can’t even imagine the role model you will be for your students and your athletes.
• Allister — You were one of my quiet but mischevious boys — super smart, and smooth to boot. Just be sure to get enough sleep at night, you hear? : )
• Alex R — I don’t think I’ve ever had a student participate so much in class, and bring so much to it. Remember to slow down and trust in what you know, and in your ability to hear as much as you say. I have a feeling you have amazing things ahead of you
• Yunhee — You were another of the quiet ones until your presentation…. and all of a sudden, you were the teacher, teaching us all so much. I bet you’re fantastic with kids and patient too. I hope I get to see you be crazy sometimes
• Woojae — You had a lot going on behind the scenes, convincing your parents about your change of major. I was so impressed with the book you put together to show them, and your video. You’re already more than halfway there. Can you get me discount tickets when you get to Broadway? : )
• Alex Jacques — I know *exactly* about being confused. You know what you want out of life, just tune the rest of us out and listen to what your heart has to say. That girl in the graduation gown and shades in your video is the confident woman you will be. What you want *is* good enough
• Janelle — I think you have the talent and the initiative to be a director. No one ever swayed you from your learning and your goals through this whole class, and with this group — that’s saying a lot. I wish I had just part of your drive
• Ron — You’re going to break hearts in Manhattan. Just don’t forget MSU and your dreams and we’ll get you back here come Spring semester. Promise?
• Maulik — Who knew you were such a joker? So glad you made it, from birth to this class. I know you can be a CEO, and a good one. There’s too many evil businessmen out there — I would love to see you be one of the good ones
• Patrick — Why didn’t you tell us more? I wanted to hear more of your story, and your smile was one of the things I needed at the beginning of every morning to get me going. You hide your brain under a rock, but when you let it shine, you really shine! You’ve made us all proud
• Stephanie — How did you put up with us all? And why the hell were you in this class? Smart girl that you are, I am excited to see what you choose to do because you won’t do a half-assed job of it. It’s the quiet ones who surprise us the most….
• Tiff — I loved how you kept me honest. I knew that if I couldn’t tell Tiffany why she had to do something, then it wasn’t worth doing. Will you teach me how to dance sometime? I bet you can cut up something fierce…. and you did so well in this class. Remember to be soft, we love you and the world is just there for your taking.
• Rinam — do you know how amazingly well you are doing, given how short a time you have been here? And how beautiful you are, all around? Someone needs to tell you, each and every day
• And Jeff. Of everyone, Jeff, you taught me something new each time I walked into that room. Because of you, and how open and honest you are, you taught me to be a better teacher and a better person. Thank you and thank you. You’re in some ways a real hero to me, and to the rest of the class I think.

All right, I’m out. I need a nap, and then I have a two-foot tall high stack of papers that needs some red-pen love or else my grad students aren’t getting their grades.

Thank you, every one of you, for being a part of the class this summer. This is what teaching is for — to teach the teacher how learning can be done.

Peace. : )

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 2nd, 2007 at 8:46 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.