You know it's a good day when Frema busts out the liquid foundation

Tonight is the last session for my blogging class at Saint Joe. Thirteen weeks have passed since the first time I took my place behind the front desk and wondered how in the hell I was going to fill up two and a half hours when all I wanted to do was curl into a ball and die. I was nervous about not sounding smart, afraid that either my students would withdraw upon hearing the logistics or stick it out and laugh behind my back. To be honest, I suspect a few of them actually do that, but I did it to some of my professors, too , so I guess it's just par for the course.

When I first learned I was pregnant, one of the first things that came to mind was this class. I knew I'd be cutting it close in terms of my due date, and I worried it would be too much for me to handle. Now that I'm on the other side, though, I'm so happy I stuck with it, because even though it's been time consuming and hard and more than a little frustrating at times, it's also been a lot of fun. My students are very interesting people, and I've loved discussing their views on all the different blogging topics we've covered--when they actually decide to talk. It was also a great distraction when the less-than-stellar aspects of gestation started to take its toll and all I wanted to do was curl into a ball and die. Again.

Teaching has taught me a lot of things; I wouldn't be surprised if I ended up learning more than my students. Did you know that sitting in the back of the room doesn't make you're invisible? And those "discreet" eye rolls we used to share with our buddies when we thought the prof wasn't looking? Turns out, not so discreet after all, and boy, I bet that made the poor guy feel like an asshole.

Not that anything like that's happened to me. And if it did, I'm certainly not bitter.

Also, grading can be really, really hard, especially when the point total is low and the student is a pleasure to have in class.

In the long run, I know my sensitive nature is probably not cut out for teaching. However, I'd love to one day have a job that involves more interaction with young people. I'd laugh a lot more and waste a lot less time in meetings where my behavior consists mostly of nodding and smiling and feigning interest in the latest company PowerPoint.

I really enjoyed this experience, and I'm proud of myself for trying something new. I'll miss my students and my weekly sleepover at my friend Maia's house. But I'd be lying if I said I was sad. I've had an extra skip in my step all day long, because tonight is the last night Luke has to tape The Office for me. It's the last night I have to spend away from him before the baby comes. It's the last time I have to force myself to stay alert for the ninety-minute drive to Rensselaer. And tomorrow morning will be the last time I have to pull myself out of bed before seven o'clock to get started on the drive home.

I'm happy, and I know it. Clap your hands.

Comments

[Amber]

Just to let you know, I really enjoyed the class. I find it very unfortunate that there were not more students enrolled to liven up the conversation a bit. I really think that the class was valuable and you did a great job teaching it. And I loved having a young teacher! And being able to read your blog while enrolled in your class has been a great thing too, I think it's let me get to know more about a teacher than I ever have before. So thank you for not backing out of the class when you found out you were pregnant! And good luck with the baby!

Amber

[Audrey]

I can't believe it's already the last night of your class. It seems like it's flown by! Way to be such an awesome teacher that you even have admiring students leaving you blog comments -- you must have really kicked ass! (Not that I ever had any doubts.) Seems like it was a very successful class and you have a lot to be proud of.

[Katie]

Congrats on making it through! It's a wonderful accomplishment :)

[Art Nerd]

Congratulations on surviving the semester! I can't imagine working full time and teaching- my first semester, I only taught two sections of the same class, and I felt like I was prepping ALL THE TIME. Pretty draining, isn't it?

Do you have a stack of final papers to grade? That's always the worst part for me, the time between the end of classes and the morning grades are due. Ugh!

[Liana]

* Clap clap clap clap clap * :) Way to stick it out! And yay for having one less stressor close to Freka's arrival.

[TasterSpoon]

Don't you have the last laugh against the eye-rollers when it comes time to submit grades?

Extra credit to Amber for smooching up. Extra EXTRA credit for doing it in a COMMENT - isn't that what the class was all about?

[daddy d]

Good job. It was hard with the baby timing, even more so. Now it is almost baby time and school work is all done. Yea!

[Christar]

Yay, that's so exciting! I'm excited this semester is almost over, thank goodness! I have just about had it with school... But at least a well~deserved break will help.

[ambitiousmrs]

I am very impressed you were able to take on this challenge while finishing up gestating. That's hard work in itself.

I tagged you to do a meme on my site. I'm sorry to do that to you but I thought at least it might provide an easy NaBloPoMo entry.

[Molly]

I'm so impressed with everything you've juggled all at the same time this year. You're one to be admired.