Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

I wanted to thank you all for a wonderful semester. I enjoyed having you all in my classes and I have to say you all put up with my craziness rather well. :) I hope that throughout the semester, I was able to show you how important writing and communicating well are, but more than that: I hope you all never stop learning. Learning is a process that happens with everything we do. We begin learning through play as children and later move on to more formalized learning, but it doesn't stop at school. We learn in our everyday lives, in our interactions with others, and in our traveling through daily routine. In our jobs, with our friends - we learn. Even when we're old and gray (cliche, yes, I know), we are still learning. Heck, I am constantly learning new things from you guys! So I challenge you to never stop learning because it will make you a better person.

College is an experience that is meant to enrich us; take advantage of that. Start what you finish and never give up. You will be stronger for that. Today's quote of the day is perfect: "Success is a journey, not a destination" (Ben Sweetland). Success also takes many faces, so don't settle for a simple explanation. Aim for success in every aspect of your lives, and remember that success is more than just money, fame or recognition.

I was honored to have you all in my classes and I wish you the very best. I hope you will continue to stay in touch, either via email or this blog. If you plan on keeping your blogs, let me know. I can "follow" you that way. One of the most rewarding parts of teaching is seeing students of mine graduate and continue, succeeding in both their personal and professional lives.

So good-bye, farewell, and in words from Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet: parting is such sweet sorrow.

ASSIGNED TOPICS: ALL CLASSES

We're nearing the end of the semester. In a week and a half, classes are over and we're left in the disarray of finals week. Then, it's officially summer (well, not officially in the sense of the season, but officially in the academic world). So what do you have planned for the summer? Are you traveling anywhere? Are you taking classes (and if so, what classes)? Are you relaxing, heading to the beach? Is there a special even planned?

For me, I'm looking forward to relaxing, writing, and spending time with my son! I will be teaching, but it will be online, which means that my days will be free! I hope to enroll my son in music and swimming classes, and I'm looking forward, in May while he's still in school, to spend some hours in a Starbucks, writing, reading, and drinking my caramel macchiato. I also hope to sew. Yes, you read correctly. I'm hoping to sew. On my to-do list for sewing are sheets for my son and Halloween costumes! I also want to practice some photography techniques. AND I'm looking at possibly taking a class online. Oh yea, I still want to go to the pool/beach and get some sun! Who knows if I'll have enough time to do everything, but the biggest thing is that I'm hoping to relax. I do have one "vacation" planned, and that's a Disney cruise to the Bahamas. =p I'm SO looking forward to that, especially because the grandmas are going so that means we can truly relax! This will be my second summer off since I was seventeen! I plan on squeezing every second from it!

Some Pictures

View of Disney's The Contemporary Resort

Morocco Pavilion at Disney's Epcot
"Hey Guy" He was looking right at me.

Goofy in front of USA Pavilion at Disney's Epcot (Flower & Garden Festival)

NYC Scene from Disney's Hollywood Studios (Formerly known as MGM Studios)

Not Disney - this was taken at Florida Gold Coast Railroad Museum where they had Day Out With Thomas the Train.