Wrapping up

Tonight I wrapped up another semester and another class. At the end of the final and last activity one student asked, "What now?"

I jokingly offered, "Group hug?"

For one mere moment we did pause and contemplate the idea. Then chuckled. I bought them pizza, so we hung out a while and lingered over our dinner and talked.

We did have a good time together this semester. We all hung in there. Nobody dropped the class. Not one person missed enough to merit losing points over attendance. Everyone got to know each other pretty well. This class is focused on student future career and life plans. They take assessments, research careers, interview people, practice being interviewed, write papers, present findings, interact with each other, discuss diversity, create and share goals. It is rare that I don't have a student who does not teach me something new, give me new insight, share a new way of looking at the world.

This semester was no exception. I drove away from class with their finals tucked into my bag along with a letter they each wrote to themselves in the future sealed in and envelope and already addressed. I never read these letters, but save them in a drawer in my office until it seems like the right time to send them back their way again. I've had students tell me before that their letter reached them at just the right time. Good. That's the plan.