I had a very good teaching day yesterday. First, it started with this gem I received from a student:

As we are more than halfway into the class, I would like to tell you that I have learned a lot from your class. Although I am grumbling about the heavy workload, the class has a highly effective structure for producing a lot of writing. The scaffolding from reading and annotating a work, and then writing our own piece after close analysis, makes the writing process very doable. To paraphrase, we read one, then write one.

I would highly recommend your class for any aspiring or professional writer, who reports difficulty writing. There is no way to have a creative block as long as the student does all of your skillfully planned assignments and turns them in on schedule before the due date.

Thank you very much.

Then, in my night class, one of my students was hungry. As happens when hunger pervades, the class discussion turned to food. Now, we weren’t actually having a class discussion. Technically, my students were working on their upcoming assignment, but as we all know, when you’re hungry, you can think of nothing else. I explained to them that I totally understand because one time I was so hungry that I stopped class and gave an impromptu lecture on Thrasher’s fries because I was craving them but could not get any and didn’t know when I ever would again because I was living in Florida at the time.

So, you know. I get it.

They were talking about Mediterranean food, and I told them about an amazing Greek restaurant not far from campus and then one of them said, “We should take a field trip and get some for dinner.”

Then another chimed in with “Yeah! We can go on Memorial Day.”

I said it was an excellent idea, and that the food is worth it.

Then a young woman said to me, “You have to come, too.”

Moi? Their teacher? On a day off from school when they can hang out and talk trash to each other without the spectre of homework looming nigh?

And she said, “Otherwise, it won’t count.”

WELL. To say I was flattered is an understatement. I was (still am!) touched that they want to include me. They made a tentative plan for dinner (“We’ll meet at 6, the same time we have class”) so we’ll see what happens next week when they firm up (or not).

As I was telling my mom about the exchange, I remembered that a couple of weeks ago, one of my students sent me this email, telling me she nominated me for a teaching award (edited to remove personal info):

I would like to nominate Professor Akilah Brown for her outstanding dedication and impact as an instructor in my class. Returning to school after 20 years has been both exciting and challenging for me, and at times I feel behind compared to many of my classmates. However, Professor Brown has created an environment where I never feel uneducated or like a burden.

She is incredibly patient and kind, always taking the time to ensure I understand the material. When I struggle, she explains concepts in ways that are relatable and engaging, making the class both enjoyable and accessible. Her teaching style has helped me build confidence in my abilities and stay motivated in my academic journey.

Most importantly, Professor Brown has fostered a safe and supportive classroom where I feel comfortable asking questions and seeking help. That sense of encouragement has made a significant difference in my experience as a returning student.

I truly appreciate her dedication, compassion, and the effort she puts into helping every student succeed. She is an exceptional educator who deserves recognition for the positive impact she has on her students.

I thanked her for telling me (as well as the first student), letting them both know that as instructors, we often don’t know what impact we have on our students, so it’s a gift to hear it.

These are the moments I’ll be holding on to as I enter grading jail (a prison of my own making, sigh) and we roll into the end of the semester.