When you get back on campus the places that you haven’t seen a lot recently welcome you back like you never left. Your colleagues are relaxed or stressed, and all points in between. But they’re all happy to be there. The Samford campus is an unusual place: everyone is generally pleased to be there. Anyone, anywhere can have that occasional bad day, but everyone I’ve ever met in five years at SU has this pleasant know-I’m-fortunate-to-be-here way about them. I noticed it my first year and I’ve never found an exception.
There are new faces in your classroom, of course, but there are plenty of familiar things:
There’s been a regional blood shortage all summer. I’m sure they’ll be parked out front frequently.
Had a great first day back. Met with one of the section editors of the paper. He’s got big plans in store. Finished preparing things for class. Printed a lot of stuff. Xeroxed even more. Talked with some of the faculty.
Taught a class. Or at least gave them all the first day speeches. Not all of the jokes got laughed at. At least two students in the room are from across the country.
Met with the new crop of student workers we’ll have this year. Visited the library. Talked with another faculty member. Did some newspaper research.
And on the first day of classes I finally left at 7:30 p.m, ready for a great semester.
It is a special thing, being on a happy college campus. I’m fortunate. And if I hadn’t been hungry, 7:30 wouldn’t have seemed like a big deal.
But I was hungry.
