New Class, Different Day

Most of my classes throughout the years start off pretty much the same way: I tell students what to expect in class, have them fill out notecards articulating at least one goal for the semester and the best way they can achieve that goal and how I can help, we review important course information, I have them do a diagnostic writing in class, I find out what questions they have, and I answer their questions. Despite that routine, and my familiarity with it after so many years of teaching, I always have first-day jitters. I'm sure I've talked about that before, and also mentioned that some of my musician friends have said it is like any kind of pre-performance butterflies and when I (and they) stop having that, it's time to change jobs. The jitters are always worse when I have an evening class; I don't know what to do with myself beforehand and I have all day to go over and over materials and information that I know are complete. In other words, I have more time to drive myself crazy.

Tonight's class is a little different for several reasons. It takes place on a military base, all of my students are active duty (I think), it is a hybrid (part online, part face-to-face), and I haven't been told the location of the classroom. I am meeting the enrollment coordinator an hour before class starts and he will lead me to the location. My guess is that this has less to do with national security and more to do with the logistics of room assignments. I am excited, as I always am on a first day, and although the course is different in many ways from what I am accustomed to, the basics will be the same. The former instructor at the base has been tremendously helpful and is a very nice person. As I was logging onto my computer to type this post, I saw that she had sent me a quick email. She said, "Let me know how the first night goes. You will love them, and I know they will love you." How very thoughtful, especially because the reason she left was to take a full-time position at another local college and is busy settling into her new role. I have been so very fortunate in my life to have kind people who have encouraged me in my life and career -- and in whatever ways those two intersect.

Off I go to meet a new batch of students!