Joy from Teaching

It’s been hard for me to be my “normal” self during distance education. I’m goofy and silly. My favorite memories as a teacher include playing Just Dance videos during class and watching the most timid student in my class dance along. I also remember the day I let a student “pie me in the face” with a cupcake in front of the entire class. He loved it and I loved it and the whole class laughed. That brings me joy.

I told my students funny stories about my roommates. I remember one day telling them that my roommate had stolen my GUMMY BEARS. We all panicked. I immediately made it an assignment for them all to draw a comic of this disastrous event. We giggled as we worked. I even had a student turn me into a superhero and my ‘evil’ roommate who had taken my gummy bears into a villain. He made a series of comics for me throughout the rest of the year. That brings me joy.

I long for these moments that don’t come as naturally in an online setting. It took till yesterday, for me to have a REAL conversation with my students. It took till FEBRUARY. Nearly 7 months. Three of my students lingered behind after our live session. A natural conversation just naturally sprouted… the students asked me about my roommates they had heard me talk about before. Their interest brings me joy.

I confessed to them that one of them was my boyfriend! They were so excited. They wanted all the details. I showed them a picture of him and I. They LAUGHED OUT LOUD. They saw how short I was. They didn’t even know. They’ve never seen me standing in reference to anyone else. My boyfriend being a foot taller than me, they loved i t. Their smiles bring me joy.

I love my students and the way they love so fully brings me the most joy.