But slowly they emerge. An early trickle of students. She’s stretched out on the long expanse of green with a friend. It feels so leisurely now, in August…
At the Law School, the orientation program brings all first years to campus. Since I teach two classes for first years, I’m there as well, with introductory classes today.
To me, being in school again is not unlike being at a family reunion. I know the analogy fails somewhat: I have never met my students before, I see very few of my colleagues in the course of the summer. But come fall (and it is fall now, for real… see this on my walk home?)...
…come fall, I am more than ready to plunge into this new, expanded family halfway up Bascom Hill.
Those of us who love the raw challenge of teaching can never have enough of the first days of fall. I’m one of them.
Most of my favorite times at Madison were right before classes started and right after they ended. I love the tranquility of campus with just enough movement thrown in for it to still feel alive. I wish I could teach there...maybe someday. Have a wonderful semester!
ReplyDeleteI'm flashing back to Joe's law school days, particularly the start of his first year. Maybe it was the shot of the inside of the building, or maybe it's the overall tone of the post, but either way, I'm can remember it well right now. Good luck with a new semester and a whole new crop of law students!
ReplyDeleteI always loved this time of year in Madison, when the campus looks great, everybody's in a good mood, and the work hasn't reall started yet. Little to those tender 1Ls know the miseries that are in store for them.
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