On Teaching

[expanded title: on why, in spite of my stresses and frustrations with it, teaching is a very, very cool thing to do]

As I walked out of class the last few times, I realized that when I'm teaching I am fully focused. All my attention is on the students, on the material, on facilitating the learning process. I work the whole time I am in the classroom to get their attention, their caring about the topic, to assist them in gaining understanding of what we are learning. Interacting with the students before and after class is one of the best parts of the job - finding out who they are, finding ways of connecting with them, and helping them as best I can to fulfill the goals of the course and their own potential.

As I walk out that door, in addition to a huge sense of relief comes elation over a job done well, at least to the best of my abilities. And with that is a sense of perspective on other worries in my life: they're relatively irrelevant.

And that is the best thing I can say on teaching.