Long, good day

17 June 2025: 

Things I did today: slept in a tiny bit because I slept awful the night before, mowed the lawn, had lunch with Tim and two recent graduates, helped do a bit of advising for the last group of entering first-year students, did some planning for next semester with Tim (we are taking our students to the Poe House), did some research work, hosted trivia, played with BabyCat and the laser pointer (a promise I made to her yesterday), and listened to a heck of a thunderstorm roll through (with Jo hiding under my chair). 

Not the most exciting post, but I kind of like days like this. 

Summer Advising

10 June 2025: I can't even begin to write about the state of the country right now--and more and more, I ask myself how "normal" it is to keep acting like things are normal. But I can't/won't let the bad guys steal every moment of peace or happiness. So, here's a post about some good stuff.

I got to help another group of incoming English majors register for their first semeter--and helped some students in other majors, too. It's not nearly as much fun as it used to be, as I know I have posted about so many times. But I still got to meet these new students and spend time with my colleagues and just feel good about the work we do. 

I'll take it.

Some of the good stuff...

2 August 2024: Met with an advisee today to talk about her coursework (could she double-major? do a 4+1?, etc.). She's such an interesting and impressive young woman: married with two kids and a full-time job, but also carrying a full course load and killing it. I get the sense she didn't have it easy when she was a little kid, but she is so strong and determined. And she keeps saying, "I just want to help people and I see that happening in a classroom or school." What a blessing she'll be, whatever she ends up doing.

This kind of work? Always the good stuff!

Summer Advising 2024

18 June 2024: Well, Summer Advising was very different than ever before. Just one day for me this year (it was divided by colleges) and budget cuts meant all I could do was get a small stipend to help my chair. Of course, I said yes, but man, it's just not the same.

Still...there's something wonderful and energizing about helping a student make that very first schedule and seeing all of my colleagues work so well as a team. 

Two incoming majors...

19 July 2023: Spent about an hour today (total) in Zoom meetings with two incoming first-year English majors, tweaking their schedules and talking about their academic and career plans. 

When I scheduled these meetings yesterday, I was wiped out from the special Faculty Senate meeting and just all of the fall-out from what's going on at the university. Lots of anxious, confused, angry, and scared colleagues. So adding meetings to my schedule wasn't ideal--I really need/want to focus on my writing. 

But (and I guess this is predictable by now, an arc familiar in these posts?), I am really glad I had the chance to talk with these two young folks today. They are full of energy, potential, and enthusiasm. They are overwhelmed and even quietly afraid, like one should be when taking on a new challenge--and it feels so good to see that, recognize it, and reassure them. They are engaging and charming and impressive as heck already. 

The conversations reinvigorated me and remind me of something that gets a bit lost in the summer: students are always, always, always the best part of the job.

(Also managed to get everything on my daily list done. Invigorating!) 

Session D stairwell thoughts...

16 June 2023: There was a moment today--in the midst of a busy advising session, when I was walking a piece of paper down to the room where I could get an override entered for a student--when I thought to myself, "God, I love this." 

And then I sort of laughed because remembered how hard this week (month? year?) has been in many aspects of my work life. And how hard things are going to be for the University for the next couple of years (at least). 

I sort of smiled to think that I had forgotten all of that in the moments before--in fact, during the entire time I was advising incoming students this morning. And I was so grateful for the good parts--always the best parts: working with students. What a blessing that the good parts will--in every way--help us through the hard parts.

Then I got my head back in the game, got the override approved, and headed back upstairs. 

2 down, 3 to go...

9 June 2023: Completed Session B of Summer Advising today, which went much better than Tuesday (stressful!). It's not nearly as much fun as it was back when I started (before they switched formats and made everything so rushed), but it still is lovely to meet and work with the new students. 

June Friday...

2 June 2023: Finished my entry on the Civil War today, attended the summer advising training, and handled (as well as possible) an Assistant Dean crisis. Left work a bit early to take in movie and take the evening off. Saw Boogeyman (it was fine/good enough) and got some dinner. 

Spring advising

27 October 2022: I know I have posted about this before (and recently!), but advising started today and I got to sit with a transfer student (and new-to-me advisee) and help her see how she can graduate on time. It's so cool to see them relax and see how everything is manageable. With patience and clarity, you get to demystify the process. 

"Are you feeling better yet?" I asked her about half-way through. "Yes, I think so..."

And when we were done, with three semesters mapped out and instructions for who she needed to talk to in other departments, I asked her, "How are you feeling now?" 

"So much better. Thank you!"

Shew, that's the STUFF!

Advising prep...

20 October 2022: It's a Fall (and Spring) Break tradition--me going through degree evaluations and planning for my advising sessions, which always start the week after break. Since I really like advising, I don't mind this work, which I usually do with something on TV in the background (in this case, the Yankee playoff game). 

It's neat to work through my checklists, marking off accomplishments and progress, seeing students inch closer to the finish line. This semester includes some nice milestones: a very sweet advisee finally passing Praxis I, another arriving at the stage where our appointment is just me saying, "You did it. Have fun student teaching next semester." 

Also exciting to break out some fresh forms for brand-new students, with their whole Shepherd experience only now unfolding.

Summer Advising: DONE!

21 June 2022: Hard to believe it, but we finished first-year advising today. It went just fine and was kind of fun, especially working with my colleagues face-to-face and (of course!) meeting the new students. 

And for a metaphor that seems quite fitting, as I pulled onto my street today heading home, I stopped my car to help a turtle cross the street. (Also had a student say she was moving as fast as a "herd of turtles" today, so ha!)

Now it's onto just writing, writing, writing (and Assistant Dean stuff) (and course prep) from here until the semester starts. The writing was going well post-advising this afternoon...until the power went out on campus. Let's hope Word managed to save a decent portion of what I had drafted. If not, I have my chicken-scratched draft/additions. That's tomorrow's problem, though, as the power hadn't come back on (along with access to the network drive) by the time I left campus. This evening, I am focusing on reading for the next entry, on The Country of the Pointed Firs. 

Tuesday check-in

14 June 2022: Tiny bit of writing this morning, advising mid-morning through mid-afternoon, a bit more writing mid-afternoon until the early evening, and then a bit of reading. Called it quits (work-wise) by 6:30 because my brain said "done." 

Not bad--just enough writing/reading to keep the worst of the stress vibes away. If I am done with the entry I am working on now by the end of tomorrow, I'll feel even better. 

Summer 2022 Advising: In person!

10 June 2022: After Tuesday's session was shifted to virtual, to was the first in-person summer advising session since June 2019. It was a long and kind of tough session, but it was nice to be back. 

Today's math...

7 June 2022:

• 10: Hours on campus
• 4: Students advised; 3 virtually and 1 in person
• 500: The amount of money we need to find to cover the furniture Rachael and I want to put on the Knutti porch
• 908: Number of words I've managed to write (so far?) on my "Life in the Iron Mills" entry today. I am still behind where I want to be this week, but given the chaos since Sunday, I will happily take this.

New little wheels

21 October 2021: One of my advisees gave me this little car today. Since it's only his second year, it was the first time we actually met in person. He was like, "Your office is pretty cool. I've only seen the wall behind you before!" Noticing the little toys and tchotchkes I have, he handed me this sweet blue ride, saying he and his friends collect them. Made me smile.  

Spring 2022 Advising

20 October 2021: Today I met with advisees for the first in-person scheduling sessions in two years. (In-person office hours have been happening all semester, but advising just started.) Though they could choose Zoom or in-person, all but one have opted for in-person. I get it. 

Last advising appointment

1 July 2021: Finished my last summer advising appointment today. It went well enough, working with a friendly new Spanish major. So the whole endeavor didn't end with a whimper, but it sure wasn't a bang. Just...different. Each session was kind of fun in the moment, but (to sound like a broken record) I miss working with and seeing my colleagues at "camp."

June wrap-up...

30 June 2021: Someone appreciated me taking a shorter workday today. Been a busy June: teaching, advising, grant writing, search committee chairing, and good progress on a big writing project. "Miles to go" and all that, but whew!

Can we bottle this?

26 May 2021: Just finished my first advising meeting of the day with a delightful incoming Communications major. She was such a pleasure to work with: polite, accommodating, but also willing voice her preferences. She was a bit nervous but excited to be going through this process. When we finished and I told her we were done, her eyes got big and she said, “That’s it? We're done? That’s my schedule?” And she flashed the biggest, sweetest smile. Amazing. It really can be a gift to do this work.

Year 2 of COVID A&R

12 May 2021: It's our second time advising incoming students during a pandemic. Today we had our (virtual) workshop and once again, all appointments will be via Zoom. No socializing, no laughing with my friends/colleagues who I don't get to spend time with otherwise. In other words, just about all the fun is gone. I am really hoping it will be back next year.

I am also reminding myself that last year went just fine and brought the fun and satisfaction that comes from meeting new students and helping them build a schedule. I'll take what I can get.