Proud Mama

My work centers around administering the graduate program in my department, so I am heavily involved in everything that pertains to the graduate students, from their academic work (coursework, exams etc.) to their employment (teaching assistantships etc.), to their fellowship opportunities... All the graduate students are my kids, so to speak.

It has been almost seven months since I began my position at the University. I cannot honestly say that I know each one of them well, but I have come to know many of them quite well, especially since we are rather close in age. As I have gotten to know them, I have had quite a few "proud mama" moments.

A student brought me chocolate from Europe where she was for Christmas. :) I had only been with the department for a little over two months then.

In the middle of this semester, we had oral exams for two students, who approached the exams very differently. One of them was fairly calm and confident while the other had been nervous and worry-sick all week. Before her oral, the second student was waiting outside of my office and was clearly anxious. So I talked to her briefly.

After the exam, she was literally hopping and bouncing into my office with a huge smile on her face. She passed! I was the first person she saw and with whom to share the good news after she walked out of the exam room. She also thanked me for calming her down (which I did not know I did). :)

A student also invited me to her birthday party recently. The gesture was very nice and I went for a while. My students are a very tight-knit group, so most of them were at the party. I talked to quite a few of them. When one of them saw me, he told me right away that his big presentation went well just that afternoon. The only congratulatory words I did not say was "I am proud of you, son." (he is older than me)

Another student passed an exam last week. He came to me to give me a fist pump!

A few senior students who are beginning to get into the job market have also talked to me about how the economy has been affecting their job prospects. They even let me read their rejection letters. Of course, whenever it happens, it is also time for me to encourage them to hang in there.

Throughout the last few months, I have also had long chats with some of them, sometimes about things casual and sometimes confidential. I am thankful that they trust me enough to tell me many things.

To my surprise, many of them have also expressed to me their appreciation. It is so nice of them to say the things they are never obligated to say.

I am a proud mama.