Guest Coach for a Day

Hey, here's one that's not about the baby!

I was asked to be a guest coach for the Men's Basketball team at the school where I teach. They ask faculty to join the team in practice that week, eat with them at the pre-game lunch and then sit on the bench during the game and huddle up with the team during time-outs. I got to guest coach during the last game of the season and while we didn't come up with the win it was one of the best experiences I've had. The team was so welcoming of me even though most of them had never taken a class with me and had no idea who I was. When all was said and done I now have basketball players giving me hugs when they see me on campus, there is just no better feeling than that and it's one of the reasons that I truly treasure my job at this small Christian college. This definitely never happened when I was teaching at Purdue!

I look forward to guest coaching again someday and hopefully bringing a win with me! Thanks team for letting me pretend to know anything about basketball and letting me be a part of the family if only for a few days.

Craziest "semester" ever!

This past week I taught a 3 credit hour course, usually taught over a 16 week period, in just 5 days! It was intense, exhausting and a lot of fun. I was at work from 6:30-5:00 every day and I couldn't talk at the end of the week but it was great getting to know the students so well. Today I am thanking MLK Jr. for a day of rest and contemplation before beginning the regular semester in the morning. Good stuff!

Saying Goodbye is Bittersweet

Today marks the last day that I will teach a class at Pepperdine.  I still have final exams to give next week but for the most part I'm all done with my job here and am just wrapping up the loose ends.  This week, as I secured some boxes to begin packing up my office I felt a twinge of sadness about the prospect of leaving.  There have been some rough moments in the 2 years that I have worked here but for the most part I have truly loved the experience.  I have learned so much in the last 3 semesters and I wouldn't trade my time here for anything.

Leaving isn't all sorrowful though, it also has a sweet side.  As I pack up and count down the three months until moving day I am also counting down the days until I begin my new career as Assistant Professor of Sociology at Abilene Christian University!  That's right, now visiting or adjunct in front of that title.  I'm very excited to be working with a great team and am looking forward to the variety of classes that I am going to be teaching.  It's going to be a great change!