I just had one of the most meaningful experiences of my professional life. Actually, it rates pretty high in my personal life too. Community College faculty gauge their success in a variety of ways. For example, do your students come to class? Are they engaged and actively participating in lecture? Are they doing well on homework and exams? Did they pass the course?
I myself have self-evaluated, and have been evaluated on all of these aspects of teaching. I was reminded today, however, of the ultimate measure of success as a CC teacher. Today, a former student and present friend graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from George Mason University. Lisa was one of my first students when I started teaching at NVCC. Believe me, I pushed that girl like you wouldn't believe and she responded with nothing but dedicated effort, true class, and above all, hard work. When she asked me for a Letter of Recommendation for George Mason University I wrote for her a letter which, to quote from the musical 'Annie', "shines like the top of the Chrysler Building." She got in, and she's been working hard ever since.
I was honored when I received an invitation to attend her graduation, which I was happy to attend this morning to bear witness to her accomplishment. It feels good to push your students to learn, to excite them, to motivate them, and to set them up for success. I found that all this pales in comparison to what it's like to graduate one. This is now the new standard of my success.
So now, ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pride and humility that I present to you Ms. Lisa Payne, B.A. Well done, Lisa! Well done!
