My First Compliment

Today I was told by one of my students that he likes my class the most. "You actually teach," he said. "Usually we just get assessed and that's it." He had no idea how incredible it made me feel. I had been through two and a half weeks of the ringer, and was beginning to feel like the kids didn't like me. Then today, as I was describing Beowulf's stature to them, a moment happened. It was that surge of electricity and awareness that I've heard fighter pilots describe when they shoot down a bogey. The kids were getting it. And they were enjoying it as well. At least, most of them.