Señora Cummins' Reflections

I love graduation:  the traditions, the nervous excitement of the graduates, the pride in the parents' faces. Last night I had to miss my youngest sons' beginner band concert to attend graduation.  I attended his brothers' junior high band concert last week but had to miss his.  He understood, but I know it still stung.  Being a working mom is tough. But graduation was beautiful.  I knew quite a few students I loved being a part of their moment. Faculty carry flags to represent the countries of our international students.  I love carrying a flag.  I can only imagine the courage it takes for a student to come to north Texas to attend college.   When I was in grad school and lived in Madrid I often felt like a fish out of water.  I am a kinder person, better educated instructor and more empathic citizen of the world thanks to my time abroad.  I will happily carry a flag to cheer on our students.

I find myself wanting "normal."  I don't know who I feel like I need to be "as normal as" or why. I heard on a podcast that expecting normal (pre-Covid) to return is offensive.  We've been changed and normal won't return.  Wow.  I hadn't thought of that. For me, I feel like I don't enjoy things as much as before the pandemic.  I have a deep sense of worry now that I didn't feel before. I'm also prioritizing balance more than I did before. I worked hard this past semester to not push myself so hard.  To rest.  To prioritize self-care.  I'm proud to report that I'm taking this time between the end of spring 2022 and the beginning of Summer 2 to be "off." Unfortunately, "off" is hard for me.  On the Ennegram scale I'm a 2 with a strong 3 wing.  The 3 in me really doesn't do "off" well.  But I'm learning. Pre-pandemic I had just transitioned my hybrid classes into the flipped model.  It was a ...