a.k.a. V.J.

Yesterday was the first day of classes for the Fall ’23 semester at SUNY Oswego. When I was a student, from elementary school right on through grad school, starting a new academic year was always a bittersweet experience. There was a sadness over the end of summer mixed with the excitement of a fresh start. All these years later as an instructor, I still feel the same way. The emotions are less acute now, but they are still there.

The first class of any semester is anomalous, unlike all those that follow. It’s all about introductions, icebreakers, syllabus review, and tone-setting. The first night of a fall Monday class is doubly weird, as my classes only meet once a week and the following Monday is always Labor Day. That second session two weeks later, after the holiday, tends to feel like starting all over again from square one.

Last night’s class went off without a hitch. It’s a good group of students and the subject-matter for this course –Integrated Marketing Communications (read: advertising and promotion) — is material that particularly enjoy.

On my way home after class, I stopped at a convenience store to grab a snack. The chatty cashier at the checkout seemed curious about the fact that I walked in wearing a full suit on a warm summer night. She asked, “Did you do something awesome today?” When I told her that I had just finished teaching a class, she opined that teaching people something new is “incredibly awesome.” Indeed, it is.