Thursday, May 1, 2008

Adventures with Tears

This evening was graduation. We have over 800 graduates so afterwards it's a mob scene. I stumbled onto two graduates in the auditorium lobby and one grabbed me for a hug. She said, "I wouldn't be here it if it wasn't for you." This student was in my fall classes. She came to me explaining she was struggling with depression and her doctor wanted her to drop out of school. She explained she really didn't want to drop out and wanted to know what I thought. We worked out that she would simply do what she could with the fall courses and I'd give her incompletes for the courses. I also avoided placing any spring semester students with her preceptor, so that she had a place to finish the practicum.

Recently I had begun worrying about her. If she didn't get these courses finished the grades would turn to an F at the end of this semester. Then suddenly in the e-mail I began to receive her undone assignments. In the last two weeks she has turned in everything and I've turned her incompletes into grades. But even before tonight I had good news. Her practicum activity involved working on a huge project between two state agencies, and now she has been asked to continue on the project as a paid consultant. She is thrilled with the confidence that has been given to her. She is also heading for graduate school to become a Nurse Practitioner to specialize eventually in pallitative care.

I was in tears with the hug and statement, "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you." It's not been an academic year that I've enjoyed at all. It is so good to find out I did something for someone!

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