Back from the break

It's interesting to have a "break" when the work one does is not at all onerous. I was just talking to Paul and explaining that coming here to work in the WC feels no more challenging or taxing than keeping any kind of appointment: seeing the doctor, whatever. I just have to be at a certain place at a certain time, and to bring some sort of brain with me. Easy.

I had four appointments back to back today, which was busier than I've been so far, but not at difficult. (There is potential for me to have six in a row. That will be taxing.) Two, of course, had ESL problems--and one got relatively testy when I told her that there were more profound problems with her essay than just grammar and idiom issues. She didn't want to have to rethink or rework anything--and she even said that she doesn't care about learning how to write; she just wants to take her classes in fashion design and get a job. (Fair enough, but ... don't you think you might have to write something from time to time both in your classes and once you have that job? And yes, that how clearly and well you do that writing will make a difference? But when we say that, we're talking to Ginger--as in the Gary Larson cartoon: "Blah blah blah, Ginger.")

The other student with ESL troubles actually is doing pretty well--and was able to hear and catch some of his errors as soon as I'd pause my pencil over them. Lovely to hear him say that he actually finds grammar fascinating. I think he'll do well--in large measure because he wants to.

Then there was a student I'd worked with before and by whom I was extremely impressed: he's writing a transfer essay, and he has wonderful things in his background to recommend him highly. He didn't give himself much time to rework, however. The essay was much improved over the first version I saw, but it still needs work. I did something I probably should not have done: I gave him my email so, if we can't meet before the essay is due, he can share it with me and I can give feedback.

Which is proof positive, as if it were needed, that I really love doing this.

Student number four had started an essay and it was fun to talk him through making sure he truly answered the questions posed by the professor. He had good ideas, but they needed to be drawn out of him. Writes OK, too.

Meanwhile, over the break, I did work more with the friend's children I've been tutoring--or one of them anyway. (The other is waiting to find out the next step for his big research paper, at which point he will contact me.) Working with this girl's essay has been a true delight. She is smart and highly articulate, and she had very interesting ideas. I did find myself reminding her that she needs to be proud of her accomplishment even if she doesn't win the contest for which the essay was written--and she should be. She worked hard on it, and the result was stellar. Any of my colleagues would be thrilled to bits to have a student of her caliber even in an upper-level course.

And I am reminded of the benefits of white, affluent privilege. This girl has gotten top-notch education her whole life, and it shows. She's gotten it because of the luck of who her parents are and where she lives. But I don't want to get into the discussion of how socio-economic status affects educational opportunity. It does, but ... what a morass of social ailments that whole discussion stirs up.

In any event, I'm now in the office. I don't think I'll get any clearing out of files done today. That requires a certain amount of energy and devotion of time that I feel I lack at the moment. Perhaps tomorrow. However, I have some time to fritter away between now and my Monday appointment. Unfortunately, I can't eat fritters of the glutenous variety, so I'll have to fritter in some other way (though the idea of hush puppies is very appealing).

Until tomorrow, y'all.