A Personal Reflection: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Posted on by

Yesterday was a turning point in my life.  Since August, 1982, I have been a law professor.  Over the course of thirty-two years, I have taught over 4000 students various law courses, including copyright law, trademark law, antitrust law and contracts.  The students I’ve taught have been overall very hard-working, determined, and excited to be in law school.  I’ve enjoyed every semester, though perhaps not every day that I’ve taught during those semesters.  Sometimes I was tired, impatient, or disappointed; sometimes the students were bored or unprepared or frustrated.  But those were the rare days.  Almost all the time, I loved being in the classroom.  I loved helping students to learn, laughing with them, pushing them to try harder, and delighting in their successes.  It was never boring for me; it was almost always fun and rewarding.

Yesterday was my last day teaching law students.  After thirty-two years, I’ve decided to retire from the law school faculty and pursue other interests, including but not limited to genealogy.  I was not tired of the students or teaching, but it was time for a change.   I hope to find new ways to use my skills and love of teaching as a volunteer, working with a different type of student, teaching something other than law.  I want to learn new things myself.  I want time to do the things that I’ve not been able to do while working full time.  But I will miss teaching law students and preparing them for a profession that they are so excited and proud to enter.

Yesterday I said goodbye to my students.  I got choked up.  It caught me by surprise how emotional I was, how sad I felt.  I thought I would want to celebrate.  I’d been counting down the days all year.  Until this last week.  Then suddenly I no longer was counting the days.  It suddenly felt scary and sad.  Don’t get me wrong.  I have no second thoughts; I know this is the right thing for me and the right time to do it. But after 32 years, if I didn’t feel a little sad, what would that say about those 32 years? As my brother-in-law once said in a different context, if it doesn’t hurt when it’s over, it could not have been worth very much.

Yesterday is over; today I am processing what it meant.  But tomorrow I will start thinking about what is ahead.  I still have exams to grade, recommendation letters to write, one more faculty meeting, and graduation to attend.  But after that I get to start a brand new chapter of my life.  The third chapter.  Chapter One was preparing to be an adult: childhood, adolescence, and education.  Chapter Two was being an adult: raising a family, owning a home, having a profession.  Chapter Three?  I don’t know what Chapter Three will bring.  I hope it brings new challenges, new experiences, new discoveries.  I hope it brings time to reflect, time to give back, time to be with those I love, time to learn and write and think and read—all the things I love best.  I know that a big part of Chapter Three will be learning more about my ancestors, more about my family.  I know that this blog will be a big part of it as well.  All my life I have wanted to write.  This is my chance.  This is my time.  Tomorrow is here; yesterday is over.

 

Enhanced by Zemanta

27 thoughts on “A Personal Reflection: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”

  1. As a new-found cousin, I congratulate you on finding such a rewarding path and following it to fruition. You have already shown your decision-making abilities to be on target; I have no doubt that the choices you make for Chapter Three will make you happy. I look forward to our eventual meeting and marathon conversation!

    Like

    Reply ↓

  2. I’m sure all those lives you’ve touched over the years appreciated your guidance. Now you can guide yourself into the next fun stage of life. The best is yet to come.

    Like

    Reply ↓

  10. Amy, congratulations! I understand the sadness, but there is much ahead that will be rewarding. I had to quit teaching (English at the university) in 2005 because of medical problems, and it was very sad and exciting (I was burned out by department politics). I actually haven’t missed it that much, and it’s been in part because of the blogs (I have 3 haha). The best advice I can give is to not let yourself get back in the position of grading again ;). I always hated it, maybe because of all the papers to grade. Essay answers on law tests have got to be very stressful to grade.

    Like

    Reply ↓

  11. Amy congratulations on your amazing 32 years of being a law professor – no small feat indeed – that’s lots of law school students whose lives you’ve affected – I’m sure you will be missed! As you say though this is a new chapter in your life so I’m sure it will be challenging, but rewarding times as you plan for the future. As a newly-found cousin I look forward to meeting you and the family and would look forward to a reunion – here’s a toast to the future!

    Like

    Reply ↓

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.