A Chemistry Teacher Returns to Studenthood...

I recall one of my writing assignments from Honors English my freshman year of undergrad. We were given the task to "define empathy." If only I could get that same assignment fourteen years later, I'd ace it! I've returned to college after teaching for ten years. I am a student who thinks like a teacher. What does this mean? It means I hear a senior undergrad complain to our lab instructor, "there's too much work in here for a 2 credit class." I immediately think, "stop whining," yet I totally agree with her. It means that I do school work from the time I get home from class (5 pm) until the time I go to bed (~1 am), but I don't drink beer. (Incidentally, presently this suits me just fine, as I have no friends in Ithaca.) It means that, after spending hours on a lab write-up and not being in the mood to edit it, I make myself do it because I'd expect that of my own students. In a larger way than I thought, I feel like this year will be dedicated to them, my former students--the ones who love me (yes, there are a few) and the ones who hate me (I think there are a few more of those...). I've held them to a high standard and they've risen. Here's to holding myself to that same standard. I hope I rise, too.

Some funny moments from my first week:

• A sophomore asked me what year I was. I was so caught off guard that instead of saying, "I'm a grad student," I blurted out, "I'm 31 and have taught high school for the past 10 years." She replied, "wow, you don't look it." After hugging her in my mind many times over, I realized it was probably the adult acne that had thrown her.
• Apparently, Jansport backpacks are no longer "all the rage" as they were back in '96. (Though I fully endorse the brand, as the original from my freshman year is still kickin'.) Now there are lots of REIs and some expensive-looking brand with a fancy label (Swiss Army, perhaps?). I'll confirm the brand next week, as I'm going to scour the stores this weekend until I find one to call my own. I'm not kidding. I want to fit in. If I wore Mom jeans, I'd be swapping those out, too. So far, though, I think I'm holding my own fashion-wise...once I set the backpack down, that is.
• When I explained that I had been out of school for 10 years to a fellow grad student who'd recently arrived from China, she smiled and said, "Oh, are you married?" Oh, wait, wrong list, that's not funny :/

So, here's to putting myself in my students' shoes and making this a terrific school year. I heart Harriton. Soon, I hope to be able to heart Cornell. I'll let you know how it goes after I get my new backpack :)

Cheers,
Heather (formerly known as Miss Erney)