Tomorrow afternoon I will enter the building that I have not entered since I left and will probably not enter again. I have not entered since my work there was determined to be "unnecessary". I will go to hear my student perform her composition at the commencement of the Honors College.
She was accepted to the Oberlin College music program, but chose to remain here and study environmental science and continue working with me privately. The composition is her Honors College capstone project for which she was awarded Best in Arts and Sciences.
It’s difficult not to be smug, knowing that my “unnecessary work” has, in a small way, helped to produce such results. It feels like my capstone, as well.
And, so, we entered and exited. Ema is on her way to a new chapter and, I guess, so am I.
She played well and the music was well received.
I was reminded of Longfellow's "A Psalm of Life"
"Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem."
Good on you, and good on your student.
ReplyDeleteI think there must be any number of people who, once retired, in whatever circumstances, don’t enter the building again. The door of the building has opened out onto other possibilities.
Thanks. I'm just trying to figure out what those possibilities might be.
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