May 17, 2024: Spring 2024 Stand-Outs: Special Guests!

[Anothersemester comes to a close this week, and this time for my usual end-of-semesterreflections series I wanted to highlight stand-out days from my classes.Leading up to a weekend off for a very stand-out reason!]

YesterdayI wrote about my favorite discussion in one of my First-Year Writing IIsections—but when it comes to my favorite day in Writing II this semester, andindeed in any course this semester, and quite possibly in any course ever, it’sa tie between two other moments that complemented each other quite beautifullyand movingly:

--InFebruary, my sons were able to come to campus with me for the first time sinceSpring 2019, and probably the last time together as my older son will be headedoff to his own first year of college in a few short (so, so short) months. Takingno names at the all-you-can-eat dining hall was definitely the highlight forthem, but for me seeing them seated at a desk in the back of my afternoon WritingII section, and flashing back to all the times they’ve come to campus andclasses with me since I rocked my older son in his car carrier at the firstmeeting of my Summer 2006 Grad class, was just about the most beautiful thing Icould imagine.

--Butpretty darn close was my other special guest in that same section, just a few weekslater: my fiancé. We’re not online/on social media with our relationship, so Ihaven’t talked much about us in this space. But she’s my favorite (non-offspring)person and my partner in everything I do and am, including my teaching, and itwas so good to have her there, most especially in the same room where my sonshad been with me as well. The past and the future, right there in my Spring2024 present—that’s some stand-out stuff!

Specialpost this weekend,

Ben

PS. Whatdo you think? Semester reflections or other work you’d share?