I knew that this semester would be different than the last, and it certainly would not look or feel anything like last fall’s return to campus.
What I wasn’t ready for was how exhausting this week would be.
I taught on-campus throughout the pandemic, but something was different this week. As I sat back and reflected on it, I’m sure it is a combination of the reality that we are still battling this horrible disease on top of all the wrongs in the world around us. I know between fires, floods, and archaic new laws in some states, my head and soul are in a constant state of emotional highs and lows.
The students (at least in my classes and those I’ve talked with) have a mix of excitement and nervousness. Many of them haven’t been in a classroom in over a year and a half. Being able to hug their vaccinated friends and catch up with their Professors outside on a bench feels good. But, all of us worry that it could be snatched away in an instant.
Through multiple conversations with staff and faculty, I can confirm that the students aren’t the only ones with conflicted feelings. So much extra work has been piled on top of all of us in the midst of so many changes that it is taking a toll. I hope that things get a bit smoother and a bit better for all around us in the days ahead.
I’ve always believed that I’d never ask someone to do something that I wouldn’t do myself, and thus I’m going to try and blog on this site throughout the semester. My Digital Marketing students must set up a site and then blog weekly about their chosen brand they’ll be auditing for the semester. I’m looking forward to how each decides to set up their site and see how some go above and beyond the assignments with this technology.
Now it is time to pour another cup of coffee and plan out my classes for the week ahead. After some of the curveballs that this past week threw at me, I need to adapt a couple of things I had planned to make them work in our new reality.
