The Season of Extremes

The end of the semester comes with enormous stresses, primary in the form of workload (grading), more celebrations than any sane person could want to attend, and fatigue. But, in truth, what I find most exhausting is repeatedly bouncing from one extreme emotion to another.
  • The anticipation of being almost done...The reality of how much work is in front of me.
  • Thrilled with a student's learning...Disappointed that a student missed the mark.
  • The excitement of launching a new group of MSW graduates into the world...Disappointment about the students who didn't make it
  • Thrilled to finish grading...Exhausted by students who challenge their grades.
  • Proud of my students...Concerned about students who plagiarize. 
  • Excited to watch students walk across the stage...Knowing that we have to get another group ready next year.
  • Celebrating the completion of another academic year...Daunted by the coming year, revisions to syllabi, launching new initiatives
  • East...West
  • North...South
  • Up...Down
  • Right...Wrong
It is exhausting. Don't get me wrong, aside from the grading, I really like this time of year. There are so many celebrations and each of them are important...as are the milestones that we pass with our students each year. It really is a wonderful time of year, but very tiring. Let me close this post with pictures that illustrate the positive side of the extremes.


BSU MSW students celebrating their success at the end of the year!
Students posing for a picture (yes that is a student holding Drake behind my head - pic from 2009)

The reception after our commencement ceremony. This is always a wonderful moment for me.

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