Surviving and Even Thriving

I survived the first week of classes. The experience was a combination of exhiliration from doing what I love (teaching) and frustration/sadness/guilt of having to repeatedly tell students that the class is full but I'd be happy to put them on a waiting list. The stories that students come up with to encourage you to add them to the class are sooooooooo guilt inducing. I gently, but firmly, reiterate to them that my hands are tied, there are limits placed by the "higher ups" that are completely out of my control and that if an opening occurs I'll contact them. This is what the beginning of the week was like. Then as each day passed, I slowly saw students begin to drop the class, I contacted the students on the waiting list, the students then inform me that they have found another class to take and no longer "urgently" need my class....but wait a minute...what happened to your empassioned plea about if you don't get into my class that you won't be able to graduate or your great aunt Tilly will die?????!!!! I've been played. I wasted all my guilt on someone who is less than deserving. This semester is worse than any other I've experienced. With the budget cuts there are fewer classes available to serve the same amount of students, which results in these pressure induced interactions with students. All I can say is thank goodness that part of the week is over.

Last night Mona and Mary took me out for my birthday dinner (my birthday was over a month ago and very well celebrated). I swear, this birthday has been the birthday with no end. Don't get me wrong, if someone wants to take me out, buy me a wonderful dinner, and give me a present, I'm all in. They took me to my favorite restaurant, Fifth Street Steakhouse. Dinner was great as usual. We were able to get caught up with Mary, because she has been out of town so much visiting her new granddaughter in Wisconsin. Mary gave me a beautiful shawl and pin. I loved both. I'm a lucky girl to have such great friends.

I went to the department office today to sign my contract for the semester and was pleased when I saw, for the first time, the words "full-time" instead of "part-time" on my contract. This may seem like a minor point, but it isn't. The way in which contracts are written up are dictated by union contract, so procedures are very specific. Therefore, once a full-time contact has been given, they are contractually obligated to give full-time contracts first crack at available courses. Bottom line this means that I moved one notch up the "food chain." It means that I have just a smidgen more job security and that's always a good thing.